With the defending national champions set to take the field in less than a month in Dallas, Florida State enters 2014 with limitless expectations and a ton of talent. Among the story lines for Florida State this offseason has been the schedule. While the ACC doesn’t look to be overly difficult this season, the top-ranked Seminoles will play one of the nation’s tougher non-conference slates.
While Florida State could play as many as 15 games in 2014, we know for sure that the Seminoles will play at least 12. With the 12 regular season opponents set for FSU, here is a look at where each contest ranks in terms of difficulty from easiest to most difficult:
12. The Citadel – September 6th
The home opener for Florida State should be nothing shy of a laugher as the Seminoles take on a FCS squad in the Citadel, that finished just 5-7 a season ago. Florida State blew out the Bulldogs 62-10 in the last meeting between the schools in 2005.
11. Virginia – November 8th
Florida State’s first game in November will pit the Seminoles against a Virginia team that finished just 2-10 a season ago without winning a single ACC game. FSU will have two extra days to prepare and this one is at home. Coincidentally, Virginia is the last ACC team to defeat Florida State in Tallahassee.
10. Wake Forest – October 4th
Wake Forest has not been an easy opponent for Florida State to take on over the last decade, but the Demon Deacons will have to replace their leading passer, rusher and receiver from last year while operating under a first-year head coach in Dave Clawson. Florida State defeated Wake Forest 59-3 in Winston-Salem last season and has outscored the Deacons by a combined 83-0 margin in the last two contests in Tallahassee. Wake Forest has not scored a touchdown in Tallahassee in eight years.
9. Boston College – November 22nd
The ACC finale will match Florida State against the opponent that played it the toughest during the regular season in 2013. Boston College however, loses 51 percent of its offense from a year ago with the loss of Heisman finalist Andre Williams and receiver Alex Amidon. FSU has won the last four meetings in the series.
8. at N.C. State – September 27th
N.C. State may have finished winless in ACC play and allowed 35 first quarter points to the Seminoles a season ago, but Florida State should know better than to take a trip to Raleigh lightly. N.C. State rallied from 16 points down to stun Florida State in the last meeting at Carter-Finley Stadium in October of 2012. The Seminoles have not lost an ACC game since.
7. at Syracuse – October 11th
Florida State pounded Syracuse a season ago in Tallahassee, but the Orange will be a tougher team to beat in the Carrier Dome. The Seminoles have not traveled to upstate New York since 2004 when a late interception by Sam McGrew preserved a 17-13 FSU victory.
6. Florida – November 29th
Despite a 4-8 finish a season ago that was capped with a 30-point drubbing at the hands of rival Florida State, Florida remains the last team to defeat the Seminoles. The Gators will also be one of the more talented teams that FSU faces this season and this contest could be for Florida head coach Will Muschamp’s future.
5. at Miami – November 15th
While Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher is a perfect 4-0 against Miami with the average margin of victory coming by 18 points, the Hurricanes will be one of the few teams on the schedule that can match Florida State’s speed and athleticism. Running back Duke Johnson and receiver Stacy Coley are each burners and if Miami can hang tough early as it did in Florida State’s last visit, this one could remain interesting late.
4. vs. Oklahoma State – August 30th (Dallas)
The season-opener in Dallas will pit Florida State against an Oklahoma State squad that is just three years removed from a 12-1 finish and #3 national ranking. The Cowboys are losing a number of key players, but always seem to have offensive firepower and will be facing a Florida State defense that is replacing five starters.
3. Clemson – September 20th
Clemson is losing a lot on offense with Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant all in the NFL, but the Tigers should be much improved on defense. Clemson has yielded 100 combined points to the Seminoles in the last two meetings and gave up more points to FSU last season than any other opponent ever at Death Valley. Despite that, Clemson holds a 6-5 edge in the last 11 meetings. The September 20th showdown in Tallahassee will be critical to the ACC race as the winner of the last five contests has gone on to win the Atlantic division.
2. at Louisville – October 30th
Thursday night road games have traditionally been unkind to Florida State and that’s what will take place on Halloween Eve as the Seminoles visit Louisville. The Cardinals do lose a three-year starter at quarterback to the first round of the NFL Draft, but have a lot of talent at the skill positions. The last trip to Louisville for FSU also came on a Thursday night in 2002 as the Cardinals stunned fourth-ranked Florida State 26-20 in overtime.
1. Notre Dame – October 18th
Should the Seminoles and Fighting Irish each play well early, this could be a top 10 match-up with a pair of quarterbacks never to lose a regular season game. Notre Dame loses a lot, but should be more explosive on offense with quarterback Everett Golson’s return. While FSU holds the all-time edge over Notre Dame, the Seminoles have never topped the Irish in Tallahassee.
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