Through Three Games, ESPN Projects Florida State As A College Football Playoff Team

Massive expectations are building for the Seminoles in Tallahassee and around the country.

Florida State is off to a 3-0 start after taking down LSU, Southern Miss, and Boston College. The Seminoles are sitting as the No. 4 team in the country after a close call against the Eagles but have an opportunity to keep climbing on the road in Death Valley.

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It's been ten years since FSU took down Clemson on the road. Almost fittingly, the victory came in 2013, the same year the program won its last national championship. If the Seminoles are able to conquer the Tigers on Saturday, the rest of the schedule lines up extremely favorably if they don't overlook any opponents. Hopefully, that's behind them after what could wind up being a much-needed wake-up call.

Through the first quarter of the regular season, Florida State is projected to be a College Football Playoff Team. According to ESPN's latest bowl projections, Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura each have the Seminoles matching up with the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

It would only be fitting for head coach Mike Norvell and his squad to return to the Big Easy after taking down the LSU Tigers in a neutral site matchup last year. A potential contest against Georgia could be thrilling with the amount of talent on both sides. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back national titles and are carrying a 20-game winning streak entering Week 4.

The Seminoles have won nine straight games dating back to last season and could push that streak into the double digits with a victory against Clemson. FSU hasn't made the playoffs since its inaugural season in 2014. The increased success and quick rise in the polls aren't changing how Norvell and Florida are approaching each opportunity.

"There's no difference in our approach. If somebody says that we're highly rated or not, none of that matters. It's about what we're willing to do when we show up and when we go to work," Norvell said earlier this month. "I believe in this team. I believe in this team for what they've been through and I believe in this team for the guys that have said yes to come be a part of it and the challenges that are presented to them when they were making that choice. We're very transparent. I want guys to know exactly what they're coming into when they come into this family."

Florida State and Clemson are scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 23. The game will be televised on ABC, marking the Seminoles' third appearance on the network this season.

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