The 2013 season was arguably the greatest ever for Florida State University as the Seminoles won a school-record 14 games and a national championship. In the process, Florida State set a FBS record for points in a season. FSU closed the year by rallying from 18 points down to defeat Auburn in the BCS National Championship.
After a stellar 2013 campaign, big things are expected from Florida State in 2014. The Seminoles will begin their defense of the national title on August 30th against Oklahoma State in Dallas, but FSU has a number of streaks on the line as the new season nears. Here’s a look at some of them:
37 Straight Winning Seasons
Not since 1976 — Bobby Bowden’s first season in Tallahassee — has Florida State suffered a losing season. FSU limped through the 2006, 2007 and 2009 seasons, but still managed to finish 7-6 in each of those years. After winning 14 games a season ago, few believe that 2014 won’t be Florida State’s 38th straight winning season.
16 Straight Wins
Dating back to the end of the 2012 season, Florida State has won 16 straight football games. The Seminoles can tie a school-record for consecutive wins by defeating Oklahoma State in the season-opener. Should that happen, FSU can set a new school-record by topping the Citadel in its home opener on September 6th.
Four Straight Wins Over Miami
Since taking over as Florida State’s head coach in 2010, Jimbo Fisher has yet to lose to Miami. FSU has won each of the four match-ups in that time frame with victories coming by an average margin of 18 points. Florida State hasn’t defeated the Hurricanes in five straight seasons since doing so from 1995-99. The teams will meet in South Florida on November 15th.
15 Straight Wins Over ACC Opponents
While Florida State has a 16-game winning streak entering the season, the Seminoles have also won 15 straight games against ACC opponents. The last loss for the Seminoles in conference play came against N.C. State in Raleigh on October 6th, 2012. FSU will begin ACC play against Clemson on September 20th in Tallahassee.
32 Straight Bowl Appearances
Florida State currently holds the nation’s longest bowl streak and certainly looks to keep that alive in 2014. Florida State has played in a bowl in 32 straight years and has not failed to make a bowl game since finishing 6-5 in 1981.
Six Straight Bowl Victories
While Florida State has appeared in 32 straight bowls, it has won the last six. The last loss for FSU in a bowl game came to Kentucky in the Music City Bowl following the 2007 season. Although running that number to seven in 2014 would certainly be impressive, it wouldn’t come close to being a school-record. The Seminoles won bowl games in 11 consecutive seasons from 1985-1995.
Consecutive ACC Titles
After winning the ACC for the first time in seven years in 2012, Florida State duplicated the feat in 2013 with a 45-7 win over Duke in Charlotte. As the odds on favorite, the Seminoles will look to win three straight ACC championships for the first time since 1998-2000. Florida State would play for the national championship in each of those three seasons.
Four Straight Seasons in the Top 25
Though the Seminoles finished ranked #1 for the first time in 14 years last season, Florida State has found its name in the final poll in each of the last four seasons. Under Jimbo Fisher, FSU has finished 16th, 23rd, 8th and 1st in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Consecutive Top 10 Finishes
Upon winning the ACC in each of the past two years, Florida State has also managed to finish ranked in the top 10 nationally in both major polls. Prior to 2012, that had not been done at Florida State since 2000. FSU will look to make it three straight top 10 finishes for the first time since 1998, 1999 and 2000.
A National Championship
Although Florida State finished ranked in the top 5 in every year from 1987-2000, the Seminoles managed to win just two national championships. Florida State will now look to win back-to-back national championships — something that no school from Florida or the ACC has ever accomplished on the gridiron. Since 1980, only Nebraska, USC and Alabama have managed to repeat as national champions.
A Heisman Trophy
After a season in which he threw for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston became just the third Seminole and second freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. As one of the front-runners entering the season, Winston will look to join former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin as the only two-time winner in NCAA history.
