Florida State Slated To Face Big Ten Team In Rose Bowl In Latest ESPN Bowl Projections

The Seminoles are firmly in the playoffs according to ESPN's latest projections.

Dustin Lewis | Oct 31, 2023

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Florida State Seminoles

The Florida State Seminoles are looking to end a nine-year playoff drought in 2023. Sitting at No. 4 in the country and 8-0 ahead of the final stretch of the regular season, the Seminoles are in a position to do something special if they can continue handling their business week by week.

At this point of the season, bowl projections are flying off the shelves like candy. FSU is among a number of programs to have already secured bowl eligibility. The program is also one victory away from stamping its ticket to the ACC Championship game for the first time since 2014.

On Sunday, ESPN released its updated predictions for the postseason as Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach both took a shot at projecting the field. Florida State was penciled into the Rose Bowl in a playoff game against the Michigan Wolverines by both writers. The semifinal is scheduled for 5 p.m. on New Year's Day.

With that being said, Bonagura and Schlabach each have the Wolverines advancing to the National Championship game in Houston to face off with Georgia on January 8. Florida State, Michigan, Georgia, and Ohio State are all expected to be in the top 4 when the College Football Playoff Rankings debut on Tuesday night.

The Wolverines are 8-0 and haven't allowed more than ten points in a game all year. Michigan hasn't been tested during a weak slate through the first two-thirds of the season. That will change swiftly with games on the road against Penn State and at home against Ohio State sandwiched between a contest with Maryland.

Florida State hasn't matched up with Michigan since the Orange Bowl in 2016. It ended up being a classic as the Seminoles pulled out a 33-32 victory following a touchdown pass from Deondre Francois to Nyqwan Murray with 36 seconds left in the game. Running back Dalvin Cook rushed 20 times for 145 yards and a score in his final appearance in garnet and gold before declaring for the NFL Draft.

The Seminoles came up short in the inaugural College Football Playoff in a loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl in 2014. A year earlier, Florida State won the final BCS National Championship in the same stadium. It would be fitting for the program to return for revenge a decade later.

The College Football Playoff Rankings will be unveiled at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Florida State returns to action on Saturday afternoon in its final conference road game of the season against Pittsburgh.

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season.

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Published Oct 31, 2023

DUSTIN LEWIS

Lewis joined NoleGameday in 2016 and is currently in the role of Editor-In-Chief. A graduate of Florida State, Lewis contributes to football, recruiting, and basketball coverage. Connect with Dustin on Twitter at @DustinLewisNG.