The calendar has turned to July which means we’re just two months away from the beginning of the 2015 season. For Florida State, the Seminoles will look to win their fourth straight ACC championship.
The schedule for FSU in 2015 isn’t overly daunting, but as in any year, there will be some challenges. Here’s a look at the Seminoles’ 12 contests ranked from easiest to most difficult.
12. Chattanooga
Date: November 21st at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL
2014 Record: 10-4
After winning 10 games last season, Chattanooga brings a lot back for 2015 including quarterback Jacob Huesman and linebacker Nakevion Leslie, but the Mocs are still a FCS program and will get a more polished FSU squad when the teams meet in the Seminoles’ final home game.
11. Wake Forest
Date: October 3rd at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem, NC
2014 Record: 3-9
Year No. 2 of the Dave Clawson era looks to be another difficult one for Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons were one of the nation’s worst offenses a season ago and Wake just lost its best player from last year — cornerback Kevin Johnson — to the first round of the NFL Draft. Wake Forest has lost three straight to FSU and didn’t score a touchdown against the Seminoles in any of those contests.
10. Syracuse
Date: October 31st at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL
2014 Record: 3-9
Syracuse finished just 3-9 last season, but will get quarterback Terrel Hunt back after he missed the final seven games of 2014 with an injury. The Orange are however, losing a ton on defense after holding opponents to just over 24 points-per-game last season.
9. South Florida
Date: September 12th at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL
2014 Record: 4-8
South Florida is just 6-18 under head coach Willie Taggart and expectations for 2015 aren’t sky high. The Bulls do return leading rusher Marlon Mack, but the passing game for USF again looks to be in disarray. On the defensive side of the football, South Florida improved as the season went on last year and will return its top two tacklers.
8. Texas State
Date: September 5th at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL
2014 Record: 7-5
Few expect Florida State’s opener with Texas State to be anything other than a breeze, but the Bobcats are a lot more talented than some think. Texas State won seven games in 2014 and return quarterback Tyler Jones, who passed for 22 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions a season ago along with running back Robert Lowe, who ran for nearly 1,100 yards and 12 scores.
LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 30: Ermon Lane #1 of the Florida State Seminoles runs for a touchdown during the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on October 30, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
7. Louisville
Date: October 17th at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL
2014 Record: 9-4
With the exception of Florida State, no team lost more in the ACC than Louisville. With Michael Dyer and De’Vante Parker gone, Brandon Radcliff and James Quick will have much bigger roles within the offense. On defense, the Cardinals will have to find a way to replace Gerod Holliman, the nation’s leader in interceptions, but do bring back leading sack man Sheldon Rankins.
6. Miami
Date: October 10th at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL
2014 Record: 6-7
Miami enters 2015 with big hopes for quarterback Brad Kaaya, but the arsenal around him will have a number of new faces with Duke Johnson, Phillip Dorsett and Clive Walford all playing in the NFL. With Deon Bush and Tracy Howard in the secondary, Miami should be solid defensively after giving up an average of just under 35 points to FSU during the Hurricanes’ 5-game losing streak to the Seminoles.
5. N.C. State
Date: November 14th at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL
2014 Record: 8-5
After going just 3-9 and winless in the ACC in 2013, N.C. State was the conference’s most improved team in 2014 under second-year head coach Dave Doeren and should be even better in 2015. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett and wide receiver Bo Hines lead an offense that put up 41 points against FSU last season while the defense returns its top two tacklers and interceptions leader, Josh Jones. It is worth noting that in Jimbo Fisher’s tenure, the Wolfpack are the only ACC team to defeat the Seminoles twice.
4. Florida
Date: November 28th at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL
2014 Record: 8-5
With Jim McElwain taking over as Florida’s head coach, few know what to expect from the Gators in 2015. Demarcus Robinson is the biggest threat for a Florida offense that has a number of question marks — most notably at quarterback. Defensively, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III and linebacker Antonio Morrison headline a unit that was one of the best in the country in 2014. The Gators are just 1-4 against FSU since Jimbo Fisher took over as Florida State’s head coach, but hung tough with the Seminoles last season in a 24-19 loss in Tallahassee.
3. Boston College
Date: September 18th at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA
2014 Record: 7-6
As was the case last year, Boston College is losing a lot, but under Steve Addazio, the Eagles have managed to maximize their talent. Running back Jon Hilliman will likely carry the offensive load for Boston College this season while Justin Simmons leads an opportunistic defense. FSU will have to make a long trip on a short week when it faces the Eagles on a Friday night in September. Boston College has been Florida State’s closest regular season game in each of the last two seasons.
2. Clemson
Date: November 7th at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC
2014 Record: 10-3
The winner of the FSU-Clemson game has gone on to win the ACC’s Atlantic division in each of the last six seasons and 2015 looks to be no different. If quarterback Deshaun Watson can stay healthy, Clemson should be dangerous offensively as it returns its top four rushers and top three receivers from 2014. The Tigers lose a lot defensively, but Jadar Johnson and Robert Smith are a very talented duo at safety.
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 06: The Florida State Seminoles prepare to snap the ball for their first extra point attempt against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 1st quarter during the ACC Championship game on December 6, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
1. Georgia Tech
Date: October 24th at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, GA
2014 Record: 11-3
A rematch of last season’s ACC title game, the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets could each be in the top 10 when they meet in Atlanta. Quarterback Justin Thomas returns after an outstanding season while the defense returns linebacker P.J. Davis, who led the Yellow Jackets with 119 tackles and three forced fumbles last season, as well as leading sack man KeShun Freeman. Georgia Tech fell to the Seminoles 37-35 in Charlotte this past December, but FSU hasn’t defeated the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta since a 21-13 victory in 2002.
