There are still so many questions that Florida State must addressed at the ACC Kickoff on Monday, July 22. Here could be the top questions that could be asked at the meeting.
Peter Holland Jr. Liam Rooney
Tallahassee Democrat
The spotlight will be on Florida State football at the ACC Football Kickoff.
The annual media day, which starts at noon on Monday, July 22, and ends on Thursday, July 25, is held at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The four-day event features interviews with all 17 head coaches and participating players.
FSU, Georgia Tech and SMU are the featured schools on Monday. FSU coach Mike Norvell will be joined by offensive lineman Darius Washington and defensive linemen Patrick Payton and Joshua Farmer.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips is scheduled to address the media at 1 p.m. Monday.
ACC Network will provide live coverage for all four days. FSU alumna Taylor Tannebaum has been named the new host of ACC Huddle.
The Seminoles are coming off a 13-1 season. After missing the College Football playoff despite a perfect regular season record and ACC Championship, FSU suffered its lone loss against Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium.
FSU will open the season in Week 0 against Georgia Tech during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, Aug 24.
Kickoff is slated for noon on ESPN.
Here are four questions regarding FSU heading into the meetings.
Will FSU make the 12-team playoffs after being snubbed last year?
Norvell and returning players say they have moved past missing the College Football Playoffs last year.
Now, it's a new season with a clean slate.
The College Football Playoff system has expanded to 12 teams. That should give FSU a better shot at the 2024 National Championship if it has similar success from last season.
With the Seminoles returning key starters on defense like Payton, Farmer and defensive back Shyheim Brown, plus adding talented recruits in both recruiting high school and the transfer portal, expect another strong season on that side of the football.
The biggest questions concern the offense.
Losing star players such as quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, receivers Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman and tight end Jaheim Bell forced the Seminoles to dip into the transfer portal.
Norvell again successfully navigated the portal, however, signing veteran quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, receiver Malik Benson, running backs Roydell Williams and Jaylin Lucas, among other high school and portal recruits.
Winning the ACC this season would guarantee the Seminoles a playoff spot within the new system, a stark difference from last season's four-team playoff.
With the talent on the roster, there is reasonable belief that FSU could be part of the inaugural 12-team playoff.
According BETMGM , FSU's odds of winning the national title is a +2500.
Could this be the last time we see FSU, Clemson in the ACC?
With the current litigation between the school and the conference likely leading to FSU's exit from the ACC at some point, fans are wondering if this could be the Seminoles' final season in the conference.
The program has until Aug. 15 to announce its intention to depart rom the league following the 2024-25 season.
However, months of litigation would suggest there's really no end in sight for FSU at this moment. The Seminoles, of course, also need a landing spot.
The SEC and Big 10 continue to suggest they are not interested in further expansion. However, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has said he plans to keep his options open amid any possible future college football realignment.
Currently, FSU is locked in litigation with the ACC in both Leon County and North Carolina. As those cases proceed through the legal system - and that could still potentially take years - the answer for the school's conference future will become more clear.
What should we expect from FSU QB DJ Uiagalelei
Uiagalelei is not Jordan Travis, but the transfer quarterback has a skill set that could fit Norvell's offense.
FSU's season could depend on the production of the Oregon State transfer. The Seminoles hope to see Uiagalelei show a similar level of play to what he had with the Beavers last season when he threw for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Uiagalelei chose to step away from the ACC Kickoff, leaving Norvell and returning players to speak on his behalf on his expectations.
Uiagalelei didn't have a strong outing during the Spring Showcase back in April after completing 12 of 26 of his passes and no touchdowns. However, he had a strong spring showing in practice, often dictating the offense and creating plays to move the ball down the field.
The fifth-year senior has the upper hand with his veteran leadership and knowledge of the ACC.
Uiagalelei played three seasons at Clemson, totaling 5,701 passing yards and 17 touchdowns with the Tigers in a system that never seemed to fit his skill set.
The Seminoles will face Uiagalelei's former team in week 5, welcoming the Tigers to Doak Campbell Stadium on Oct. 5.
Uiagalelei does have the arm talent and tools to take his career to the next level, however, he must identify his new weapons on the wide receiver corp.
Benson, an Alabama transfer, is expected to be the go-to target for the Seminoles.
WR2 is still up for grabs.
Peter Holland's projected final ACC Standings
- Florida State 11-1 ( 8-0)
- Clemson 10-2 ( 7-1)
- Miami 9-3 (6-2)
- North Carolina 8-4 (5-3)
- Georgia Tech 7-5 ( 5-3)
- SMU 8-4 (4-4)
- Duke 7-5 ( 4-4)
- Virginia Tech 6-6 (4-4)
- Syracuse 6-6 (4-4)
- Boston College 6-6 ( 3-5)
- North Carolina State 6-6 (3-5)
- Virginia 5-7 (3-5)
- Cal 5-7 (3-5)
- Louisville 5-7 (2-6)
- Pittsburgh 4-8 (2-6)
- Wake Forest 4-8 (2-6)
- Stanford 2-10 (1-7)
Liam Rooney's projected final ACC standings
- Florida State 11-1 ( 8-0)
- Clemson 10-2 ( 7-1)
- Miami 10-2 (7-1)
- North Carolina State 9-3 (6-2)
- North Carolina 9-3 ( 5-3)
- Virginia Tech 8-4 (5-3)
- Louisville 7-5 (5-3)
- Georgia Tech 7-5 (4-4)
- SMU 8-4 (4-4)
- Syracuse 6-6 (4-4)
- California 6-6 (3-5)
- Virginia 5-7 (3-5)
- Duke 5-7 ( 2-6)
- Pittsburgh 4-8 (2-6)
- Wake Forest 4-8 (2-6)
- Boston College 3-9 ( 3-5)
- Stanford 2-10 (1-7)
Florida State Seminoles 2024 Football Schedule
- Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
- Sept. 21 vs. California
- Sept. 28 at SMU
- Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
- Oct. 18 at Duke
- Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
- Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
- Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
- Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
- Nov. 30: Florida
- Dec. 7: ACC Championship
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
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