NoleGameday Staff Season Predictions: How Far Can Florida State Climb In 2023?

Our staff provides their predictions and analysis with the season just one week away.

Following an offseason filled with hype and growing expectations, it's finally game week for the No. 8 Florida State Seminoles. Exactly one week from today, the Seminoles will kick off their 2023 campaign in a rematch against No. 5 LSU in Orlando. Florida State is looking to start their season on a high note while the Tigers will be trying to avenge a gut-wrenching 24-23 defeat in New Orleans.

READ MORE: Jordan Travis Rewards Entire FSU Football Team With Beats By Dre Headphones

The Seminoles are returning a ton of experience on both sides of the ball, including star quarterback Jordan Travis, breakout defensive end Jared Verse, and a wide variety of playmakers. After ten wins and a Cheez-It Bowl victory last season, head coach Mike Norvell is trying to drive his team to new heights.

The schedule is pretty favorable for Florida State following a tough September where the team begins the month with LSU and ends it with a road trip to Clemson. If the Seminoles want to win the ACC for the first time since 2014, they'll probably have to defeat the Tigers twice. Clemson has won seven of the last eight conference championships and has taken down FSU seven straight times.

Our staff provides their analysis and predictions as the Seminoles undergo final preparations for the 2023 season.

Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)

I do my best not to get caught up in the hype but there's no doubt that this is the most talented and experienced team that Florida State has fielded in a long time. The Seminoles are deep on both sides of the ball with a small concern at safety due to the inexperience behind Akeem Dent, Shyheim Brown, and Kevin Knowles. With that being said, the young guys looked pretty adept during the preseason.

FSU averaged 36.1 points and 484.2 yards of total offense per game in 2022. It would be a surprise if the Seminoles don't improve on those numbers this year with quarterback Jordan Travis back alongside a deep core of skill players and an offensive line that has combined for over 200 starts. I'm looking at Keon Coleman and Destyn Hill to make significant impacts alongside Johnny Wilson. Trey Benson, Lawrance Toafili, and Jaheim Bell will be really fun to watch too.

The schedule plays out pretty well for the Seminoles as long as the team stays relatively healthy throughout the year. Outside of September, the toughest part of the schedule is probably a three-game tilt towards the end of the regular season where Florida State will travel to Wake Forest and Pittsburgh before returning home to face Miami.

Wake Forest and Pittsburgh will be breaking in new starting quarterbacks this year while there aren't a ton of reasons to be excited about Miami. After correctly predicting FSU to go 5-7 in 2021 and selecting a 7-5 record last year, I'm going all in with the Seminoles in 2023.

How many games did Dustin predict correctly in 2022? 11-2 (wrong against LSU and Wake Forest).

2023 Record Prediction: 12-0

Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Travis, Quarterback

Travis is the engine that drives Florida State and it will take another career year from the sixth-year senior to lift the team to where it is trying to go in 2023. As long as he stays healthy, I'd be surprised if he doesn't record 30+ touchdown passes while throwing to Johnny Wilson, Keon Coleman, and the other skill players. His legs will still be an underrated part of his overall game.

Defensive Player of the Year: Kalen DeLoach, Linebacker

The easy pick is Jared Verse, who is obviously going to have a tremendous year for Florida State with his improvements across the board. With that being said, I wanted to go in a slightly different direction with veteran linebacker Kalen DeLoach. He's been here from the beginning of the Norvell Era and has continued to develop year after year. I have been extremely impressed with DeLoach throughout the entire offseason program, especially in the spring and preseason.

Breakout Player of the Year: Shyheim Brown, Safety

Florida State needs someone to step up at safety with Jammie Robinson off to the NFL. That looks to be Shyheim Brown, who has the athleticism and potential to develop into a capable replacement. The aspect that sold me on Brown taking a massive leap this year is how involved he is when he's not on the field. Brown never takes a mental rep off, making it a point to shout instructions to younger defensive backs from the sidelines and providing tips when players come off the field.

Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)

A great amount of pressure is now on Mike Norvell’s football program for the first time of this magnitude with major expectations. Can this team handle them? Have they matured and built enough leaders to hold teammates accountable and push themselves from within? I believe that step has been taken, specifically in the last year. 

There is too much talent coming back with experience inside both systems (offensively/defensively) on both sides of the ball that gives me enough courage to predict this team to make it to the ACC Championship and earn their right to a CFB Playoff run.

How many games did Logan predict correctly in 2022? 12-1 (wrong against Wake Forest).

2023 Record Prediction: 12-0

Offensive Player of the Year: Trey Benson, Running Back

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Verse, Defensive End

Breakout Player of the Year: Caziah Holmes, Running Back

Austin Veazey (@EasyVeazeyNG)

I know what I said on Hear the Spear (fun episode if you haven’t watched/listened yet) with FSU going 12-0, but losing in the ACC Title game, it’s just so hard to realistically predict anyone to go undefeated in the regular season. When you go game by game though, there’s definitely a case. 

LSU has questions in the secondary and star DL Maason Smith was suspended for the opening game. You get Clemson early while the Tigers are trying to break in a new QB and offensive coordinator. Then the rest of the schedule is very manageable, but the games at Wake Forest and Pittsburgh have cause for a raised eyebrow. 

If FSU gets out of September 4-0, they should run the table, but it’s college football and anything can happen. I’m going to revert from the podcast slightly, saying FSU goes 11-1 regular season with some random loss, but doubles down against Clemson in the ACC Championship. 

2023 Record Prediction: 11-1

Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Travis, Quarterback

If Florida State reaches a high level of success, it’s because Travis continues his ascension.

Defensive Player of the Year: Kalen DeLoach, Linebacker

A toss-up between him and Jared Verse, but I think DeLoach is primed to take a huge step this season.

Breakout Player of the Year: Bless Harris, Offensive Tackle

Have to show the offensive line some love, and I think the average fans have forgotten about Harris, who was hurt early last year and has seemingly come back strong this year. Really looking forward to watching him play.

Dillon Riera (@13d_riera)

The Florida State Seminoles football program enters the 2023 season with its highest expectations in nearly a decade. After a surprising 10-win 2022 campaign, Mike Norvell's squad looks to take the next step on the road to success, and for many, that road leads to the College Football Playoff. The hype surrounding the Seminoles arises from the amalgamation of a few different factors: the return of 87% of their 2022 production, the addition of key transfer portal prospects, a Heisman hopeful at quarterback, a menagerie of NFL prospects on the offense and defense, and the list goes on. While some believe the hype for the 'Noles is unwarranted, the numbers never lie. Florida State, on paper, boasts one of the most talented rosters in the nation.

This being a season prediction of sorts, I expect to see FSU's potential realized on the field. Mike Norvell and company will quickly learn what they're made of with matchups against LSU and Clemson within the first four weeks. While every ounce of my being wants to believe the Seminoles survive the first four weeks unscathed, I do think they'll drop one game to either one of the Tiger squads. Given the level of talent on the roster and the level of execution Florida State has exhibited during the offseason, I believe they'll quickly bounce back and handle their business throughout the remainder of the schedule. Despite dropping one game early on, the 'Noles will run the table and find themselves in a rematch with Clemson for the ACC conference championship.

By season's end, a 12-1 Florida State team will sit atop the ACC as champions of the conference once again. As a one-loss conference champion, the Seminoles will be on the precipice of their first College Football Playoff appearance since 2014.

How many games did Dillon predict correctly in 2022? 10-1 (wrong against Wake Forest - joined after the season began).

2023 Record Prediction: 11-1

Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Travis, Quarterback

Now in his fourth year under Mike Norvell's system, Jordan Travis is the de facto leader of the offense. His knowledge of the system, his nearly six years of experience at the collegiate level, and his progression over the course of the offseason will all combine to produce one of the nation's most prolific offensive weapons. Not to mention, he has no shortage of running backs and wide receivers at his disposal. The Seminoles will have to feed on the versatility of Travis' game if they wish to succeed this season, and that reliance on the veteran quarterback is why he is primed to take home the offensive player of the year. 

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Verse, Defensive End

Duh.

Breakout Player of the Year: Deuce Spann, Wide Receiver

I'm not sure you can classify him as a breakout player (because he's been a talented receiver prior), but I believe we'll see a lot more of Deuce Spann this year. Even though the wide receiver room is a deep one, I think we'll see Spann pop up in a variety of roles for the Seminole offense and shine in ways that will surprise many. Breakout or not, keep an eye out for just how OC Alex Atkins' offense will utilize the skillset of one Deuce Spann.

Tommy Mire (@TommyM3III)

I guess it is that time again. If Florida State hits the 12-0 mark again this will be the year it happens. They have all the pieces to have an incredible season, but many things have to fall into place for that to happen and sometimes the uncontrollable make or break teams fighting for a spot in college football history. 

Anything less than another 10-win season would be disappointing but I think that FSU could potentially drop one against LSU or Clemson. There is a big question mark on who is backing up quarterback Jordan Travis and an injury under center could derail any plans for a championship. 

2023 Record Prediction: 11-1

Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Travis, Quarterback

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Verse, Defensive End

Breakout Player of the Year: Rodney Hill, Running Back

Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)

FSU is supposed to put together an elite season, and that’s where the expectations across national media stand. With two preseason top-10 matchups, I expect the Seminoles to finish 11-1 with a case to make the College Football Playoffs. The team is littered with experience and NFL talent alike, thus making competing at a high level easier after their 10-3 breakout last season.

2023 Record Prediction: 11-1

Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Travis, Quarterback

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Verse, Defensive End

Breakout Player of the Year: Patrick Payton, Defensive End

Robert Malcom (@kwrobertm)

I think the Seminoles will go 11-1 this season, dropping LSU or Clemson. The reason is that neither game is at home, and while the Noles beat LSU last season, both teams have drastically improved. As for Clemson, they hold a seven-game win streak against FSU, and have home-field advantage. This game will be a mental battle for FSU as the talent is there, they just need to have the right mindset during the game.

2023 Record Prediction: 11-1

Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Travis, Quarterback

After leading the team to their first winning season since 2017, and a bowl win, Travis continues to improve and is one of the top players in all of college football.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Verse, Defensive End

After deciding to stay for one more season rather than declaring for a draft, where he was expected to be selected in the first round, Verse has been putting in the work over the offseason, getting his team ready to fight for a chance at a fourth national championship.

Breakout Player: Joshua Farmer, Defensive Tackle

While Farmer played in all games last season, he was lower on the depth chart. Based off his progression in practice and sheer size I think Farmer could be a real threat on the field.

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READ MORE: Florida State Beginning To Shift Focus to Season-Opener Against LSU

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