Greg McElroy believes Florida State can be a two-loss playoff team

Florida State’s schedule might be a doozy in 2024, but Greg McElroy believes they can be a College Football Playoff squad this season, even if they slip up once or twice throughout the year.

On a recent episode of Always College Football with Greg McElroy, the ESPN analyst explained his belief in the Seminoles being able to make it to the dance with two losses, and how it could all shake out for Mike Norvell and company.

“Florida State comes into the season with the 31st toughest schedule, according to ESPN Analytics,” McElroy started. “They lose two of the following three, because I think there’s three games on Florida State’s schedule that rank above all else, as far as difficulty. Okay, one is at Miami, the other is at Notre Dame. That’s going to be a real tough one, because it’s November 9, and for all we know, in South Bend, Indiana, maybe it’s snowing at that point. Probably not, but possible.

“Then you have Clemson that comes to you. Okay, you win one of those three, meaning you lose two of the three. So, let’s say you lose at Miami, you lose at Notre Dame and still get a win against Clemson. That’s a team that’s likely going to be ranked in the Top 15 at worst, and then you might still have some other ranked wins at your disposal, as well.

“Going to have a win against Florida in that scenario. You’re going to have a win against Georgia Tech in that scenario, and you’re going to have a win on the road at SMU. A lot of people feel pretty good about what the ponies are going to do this year, as well. So, I look at Florida State, I think they’re in at 10-2, in an at-large situation.”

Evidently, McElroy believes that even if Florida State does fall to Miami and Notre Dame on the road, as long as they’re able to handle their business in the rest of their games, the Seminoles can make a run at a championship.

Regardless, Florida State fans won’t begin counting their chickens until they see it’s official from the College Football Playoff committee. After what happened to the Seminoles last season, we’re willing to bet there’s a bit of PTSD from everyone in Tallahassee.

Still, Greg McElroy makes an interesting case for Florida State, even if their season is far from perfect in 2024. Even with two losses, the Seminoles could be fighting for a title, with the expanded College Football Playoff.