Florida State is raising hell to leave ACC, but how much noise will Seminoles make on the field as Clemson showdown awaits

In recent weeks, Florida State (from its trustees, to its AD and even the school president) has stirred up all sorts of sound and fury over its desire to leave the ACC for a better media rights deal in another conference. 

The Seminoles’ hell-raising reached its boiling point Wednesday, as president Rick McCullough said out loud — in a public spectacle — it’s time to go.  

But another thing happened with FSU earlier this week too: The Seminoles were picked to finish No. 2 in the ACC in 2023. And while realignment rumors continue to dominate the news cycle, the actual season — i.e., the reason we love this sport so much — is rapidly approaching. 

So how much noise will the Seminoles make on the field in 2023? They have Top 10 hype, but can they finally deliver Top 10 results?

CLEMSON OR FLORIDA STATE FOR THE ACC CHAMPIONSHIP?

Despite his program being gassed up all offseason, Mike Norvell’s fourth-year team was not the media’s preseason selection to win the conference this fall. Clemson was, although not overwhelmingly so. 

And that’s the right call. 

Clemson received 103 of 176 first-place votes, with 67 people picking Florida State to win the league for the first time since 2014. 

With division scrapped, the two ACC rivals could square off twice this fall to decide the conference. The Tigers, which have won the league seven of the last eight years including beating North Carolina for the 2022 ACC Championship, host the Seminoles in a major September showdown in Week 4. 

Dabo Swinney has dominated the FSU series, winning straight games against the ‘Noles. 

The Tigers have question marks at receiver and offensive line (mainly depth), but quarterback Cade Klubnick is expected to provide a more explosive passing attack. Garrett Riley was the splashiest coordinator hire of the offseason and will, at minimum, modernize Clemson’s stale scheme. The Tigers project to field a Top 25 defense again, with eight starters back, including the best linebacker duo in the nation in Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter.

And yet, Clemson has enough flaws that there’s an opening for FSU to break through and win the league for the first time since 2014. 

Norvell finally has a squad that at least measures up to Swinney and the Tigers. Florida State returns Top 10 production and added a Top 10 transfer portal haul. The Seminoles have stars at every important position from quarterback Jordan Travis, to tailback Trey Benson, to edge rusher Jared Verse and receiver Keon Coleman. 

Norvell has methodically reestablished Florida State as a program on the rise, and the 2023 team is built to win now. Travis, Benson, Verse and Coleman won’t be on the roster next fall. Neither will a veteran OL or All-ACC wideout Johnny Wilson, defensive tackle Fabian Lovett and a host of other starters and contributors. 

Is it the Year of the ‘Noles? 

FSU will be tested immediately in its Week 1 marquee matchup against a Top 5 LSU team in Orlando, and while that game will have no bearing on the ACC standings, it absolutely could play a pivotal role in the Seminoles’ quest to end Clemson’s reign as the top team in the league. 

In three seasons, Norvell is just 1-7 against Top 25 teams. Say FSU does lose to both LSU and at Clemson in the first month of the season — a very realistic possibility by the way — well, we’re going to find out what sort of backbone this veteran ‘Noles team has if they start 2-2. 

Their playoff hopes would be dashed, but with an extremely manageable schedule the rest of the way (toughest game at Pitt in early November?), they should still get to Charlotte for a potential rematch with the Tigers. Will their focus and drive for an ACC Championship remain, though?

So while Florida State is at the center of college football’s current realignment rodeo, I’m more fascinated to see if the Seminoles can live up to their preseason billing.