Florida State football has seen a decline in its roster’s talent for the 2024 season, with the Seminoles needing to replace key players like Jordan Travis, Trey Benson, Johnny Wilson, Keon Coleman, Jaheim Bell, Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kalen DeLoach, Tatum Bethune, Jarrian Jones, Renardo Green, and Akeem Dent.
This offseason, Florida State added new talents such as quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, wide receiver Malik Benson, and defensive end Marvin Jones Jr., raising questions about whether these additions will be enough to make a significant impact in 2024.
The over/under win total is set at 9.5, indicating that the general public remains optimistic about the Seminoles’ chances of success. Florida State achieved a great deal in 2023, including an undefeated regular season and a conference championship.
UPDATE: ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum believes that Florida State football will regress during the 2024 season.
Time to prove the doubters wrong! 🔥 #GoNoles pic.twitter.com/kx7I5T2JbT
— Norvell Central (@CentralNorvell) August 13, 2024
However, a bitter memory lingers as Seminole fans recall being left out of the 4-team College Football Playoff despite an undefeated season, with a one-loss Alabama team taking their spot. Since then, some outside the program have dismissed Florida State’s frustrations as unwarranted, including ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, who has previously criticized the Seminoles.
On Tuesday, Finebaum stated on ESPN’s First Take that Florida State “cried too much” about missing the playoffs, a comment seen by some as unprofessional. Notably, Finebaum works for the SEC Network, and the Seminoles remain part of the ACC. It raises the question of whether his opinion would change if Florida State were to join the SEC.
Nevertheless, it’s bold to suggest that Florida State will finish the season unranked after starting as the tenth-ranked team in the preseason AP poll and coming off a 13-1 season in 2023. Time will tell if Finebaum’s prediction holds true.
