The first game of the 2024 college football season provided what will stand as one of the most surprising results all year, as double-digit favorite No. 10 Florida State fell 24-21 to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. While this latest setback for the Seminoles doesn’t throw their season completely off the rails, it does re-contextualize expectations for a team that many saw making an impact on the national stage.
Florida State was picked to finish first in the ACC preseason media poll, garnering 81 of 170 votes for the top spot. By contrast, the Yellow Jackets came in at No. 9 — though one seemingly prescient voter did give them a nod for first place.
The Seminoles were a trendy projection to the College Football Playoff, an outlook backed by their preseason ranking as a consensus top-10 team. Georgia Tech didn’t receive any ballot consideration in either the Coaches Poll or AP Top 25.
This was supposed to be a moment Florida State flipped the page from last year’s disappointment and, in a television slot unburdened by any competing games, took its first step on a journey towards the 12-team playoff. Now there’s no margin for error.
That doesn’t necessarily bode well when taking a peak at what awaits on Florida State’s schedule. Week 1 doesn’t bring the sweet reprieve of a cupcake, tune-up game — they have to play ACC foe Boston College in a primetime slot on Labor Day.
Twelve days later, on Sept. 14, Florida State welcomes Memphis to Tallahassee. This being a Memphis team that’s fresh off a 10-win season, in which it nearly upset Missouri, with College Football Playoff hopes of its own.
Then the true conference slate begins in earnest. In fact, Florida State doesn’t play a non-FBS team until Nov. 23 against Charleston…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/florida-states-college-football-playoff-outlook-looks-bleak-after-upset-loss-to-georgia-tech-in-season-opener/
Author : Will Backus
Publish date : 2024-08-24 21:17:35
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