JD PicKell sets the expectations for Florida State in 2023

Florida State is coming its most impressive season of the Mike Norvell era, and the expectations will be higher than ever entering the 2023 college football season. On3’s JD PicKell set the table on what the Seminoles need to accomplish to call themselves an elite program once again.

“The expectations — obviously, let’s win the ACC. That is the bar that has been set. That pressure is a privilege,” PicKell said. “Mike Norvell has recalibrated expectations across Tallahassee by what he’s been able to do.

“Now, they’re thinking even national title. This coming season, let’s beat Clemson. I think that is the signature win for Mike Norvell to beat Clemson and establish himself as the top dog in the ACC. I think it has to happen.”

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PicKell noted the possibility for Florida State to win the ACC without defeating Clemson, the notion of, ‘yeah, you’re conference champs, but you didn’t beat the big dog,’ will be an easy excuse to criticize the Seminoles. And fair enough. If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man.

“Historically, the last few years, [the kings of the ACC] has been Clemson,” PicKell said. “For Florida State to stake their claim as an elite program across the college football landscape, beating Clemson optically, internally will be a huge morale booster and a signal fire to the rest of the college football landscape.

“Florida State ain’t going anywhere. We mean business, we’re not just a one-year wonder, we’ve been building this thing and it’ll keep building for years to come.”

The catalyst of Florida State’s jump from upper-level ACC team to full-blown national power rests in the right arm of Jordan Travis. With Travis at the helm, he racked up over 3,200 passing yards and 24 touchdowns during the 2022 season that saw the Seminoles rack up 10 wins for the first time since 2016.

FSU has already begun Travis’ campaign for the 2023 Heisman Trophy if you were wondering where the Seminoles’ anticipations lie. Whether those expectations end up becoming reality remains to be seen, but Florida State won’t have a cake-walk to the College Football Playoff — especially when they kick their season off against the LSU Tigers on Sept. 3.