Column: 2023 FSU Football Season Begins with Old-Time Feel

With the start of Florida State football’s 2023 season a little more than two weeks away, big things are expected of the Seminoles. The year will begin a feeling similar to FSU’s glory days of the late 1980s and 1990s with the legendary head coach Bobby Bowden at the helm.

As was the case with the AFCA Coaches Poll, Florida State will begin the year ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll. It’s the highest preseason ranking for the Seminoles since 2017.

FSU closed the 2022 season strong with six straight wins to finish 10-3 and No. 11 in the final AP Poll. FSU brings back its leading passer (Jordan Travis), rusher (Trey Benson), receiver (Johnny Wilson), sack man (Jared Verse) and interceptor (Greedy Vance).

The Seminoles also loaded up on talented newcomers via the transfer portal such as wide receiver Keon Coleman, tight end Jaheim Bell, tackle Jeremiah Byers, defensive tackle Braden Fiske, cornerback Fentrell Cypress and more. Released earlier this week, FSU was tied for the most players in ESPN’s top 100 entering the 2023 season with six.

For those who have followed the FSU program for any length of time, a top-10 preseason ranking was once a given for the Seminoles. As most who follow the garnet and gold are aware, the team finished in the AP top 5 for 14 straight seasons from 1987 to 2000 with nine straight ACC titles and two national championships mixed in.

That tradition of lofty preseason expectations continued for most of Jimbo Fisher’s tenure as head coach. After four straight losing seasons from 2018 to 2021 under Willie Taggart and Mike Norvell, there is reason to believe that good times are once again upon us as Norvell enters his fourth year.

In addition to the preseason hype, FSU finally seems to be recruiting at the elite level of yesteryear. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, FSU currently holds the No. 5 overall class and the top class in the ACC for 2024. Since July 13, the Seminoles had added eight commitments, including 5-star prospects KJ Bolden and Charles Lester III. Fifteen of their 21 current pledges are blue-chip prospects, per the Composite.

To keep the momentum going, FSU will need to have another stellar year on the field. The Seminoles will be tested right away with September contests against No. 5 LSU and No. 9 Clemson — both away from Tallahassee. Clemson has won seven straight over FSU and has claimed the ACC title in seven of the last eight years.

While there have been more than enough instances over the last 2-plus decades where the Seminoles failed to live up to the preseason hype, optimism is high as it’s been for some time in Florida’s capital city. Time will tell how the 2023 season and subsequent years turn out, but for now, things are starting to seem as they should be.

- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.