Our friends at Tomahawk Nation fill us in with what to know about the ‘Noles
Our thanks to Perry Kostidakis at Tomahawk Nation for joining this week’s opponent Q&A! If you want some FSU angled coverage for tomorrow, they’ve got you covered.
Josh: The ‘Noles had an absolutely wild season last year. Despite 13 wins, has the huge bowl loss left a sour taste in your mouth coming into 2024? Or is that water under the bridge at this point for Norvell? I know the team was without their starting QB and were disappointed in being left out of the CFP, but that game got out of hand quickly.
Perry: I do not think the ending to last season affects how any FSU fan or myself feels about the 2023 team. That group brought the Seminoles back to the pinnacle of the sport even without earning a bid to the invitational. If Florida State ever gets over the hump, all fingers will be pointed back to 2023 as the team that re-started it all. The team and the fans re-connected for the first time in years. All those personalities like Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Jordan Travis, and Jarrian Jones (the list goes on forever) were heroes around the community and are excellent people to watch and cover, not just players. On the field, the Seminoles extinguished so many demons last year, such as their ten-game losing streak to Clemson, not letting an inferior Miami or Florida team ruin a season, and convincing fans that Mike Norvell was/is the right man for the job. If you ask most people in Tallahassee, they would say last year’s team went 13-0 with an ACC championship to boot, not a heart-breaking ending that leaves a sour taste as you mentioned.
Josh: So who’s starting at Quarterback on Saturday? How much falloff is expected after the stellar 2023 season that Jordan Travis had?
Perry: DJ Uiagalelei will start Sunday, and while Brock Glenn provided worthy competition in camp, he did not make a push for the #1 spot. Uiagalelei and Travis will be similar quarterbacks in that they received marching orders: do not turn the ball over, use their legs, and try to win the game above the shoulders with checks at the line and veteran experience. But the offense will not be what it was last season, not just because of the QB play. The wide receivers are the weakness of the FSU offense, and the team may sometimes struggle during the season to push the ball down the field through the passing game, even with a strong-armed gun-slinger like Uiagalelei. Besides Malik Benson, the Seminoles are inconsistent and do not possess a clear #2 threat on the outside. Add in the complexity of the Norvell offense, and it can take time, sometimes more than a year, for a unit to gel and get chemistry. At least heading into week one, this group does not have it yet.
Josh: Is Florida State cursed against Ga Tech when they meet during the regular season? Or are ‘08, ‘09, & ‘15 just flukes? I know several FSU alums, and all of them are concerned about this game, but not because they think Tech are world beaters or anything.
Perry: You bring up some painful memories, but if Florida State loses, it will not be because of regular-season ghosts. As written about and seen from 2023, this is a real Georgia Tech team, and with an easier schedule, it could easily win nine games in 2024. Haynes King worries all FSU fans and players due to his duel-threat ability and college experience. A veteran O-Line and running game could match the firepower of the Florida State defensive line. Defensively, a new GT DC and eight transfers do not give the Seminole coaching staff a lot to prepare for the group iteration this season. Throw in a game on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in crappy weather, and yes, I and most fans expect Saturday to be a competitive game, not a blip on the schedule amongst the other Dublin festivities.
Josh: Florida State has always had a strong defense, especially the front seven. What can we expect from that side of the ball on Saturday? Who are the playmakers we should keep an eye out for?
Perry: It may come as a surprise, but a front seven that lost Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and Tatum Bethune may be better than they were last season. A mixture of home-growns and transfer additions insulated the depth and talent along the line of scrimmage and should be a strength of the roster. Patrick Payton, Josh Farmer, and Darrell Jackson Jr. look like monsters in size, speed, and physicality, and they openly talk about their motivation after being left out of the CFP last season. Marvin Jones Jr. comes in from Georgia after a couple of injury-filled seasons, but the former 5-star recruit looks like the next coming of Jermaine Johnson and should be the perfect running mate next to Payton. The LB depth seemed to be a concern at the beginning of the portal, given the losses of all three starters last season. But DJ Lundy flipping back and Cam Riley joining the group in the spring from Auburn allows FSU to go five deep at backer, which two college veterans lead.
The unit will probably be more potent against the pass, given the secondary behind them and the creativity from defensive coordinator Adam Fuller on third down. The run game ebbed and flowed a season ago. While it should be better with more depth at DT and Sione Lolohea coming over from Oregon State at DE, who finished 2nd team All-Pac 12 and specializes in run defense, I would not be shocked if the Yellow Jackets exposed them at times with their sharp, experienced ground attack.
Josh: The ‘Noles had a bit of a tumultuous few years after Bowden retired. Do you feel like Norvell has steadied everything and is the man for the job long term? If the 2024 Noles struggle with a new QB and end up in the 8-4 range this season, is his job on the line?
Perry: If you asked this question a season ago after one ten-win season from Norvell and the 2023 group disappointed, I would say yes, there would still be a group calling for his job. But, after the snub, the losses from both sides of the ball, and the Alabama coaching saga, which resulted in the HC being paid $10 million per season, no one would put Norvell on the hot seat for going 8-4 with losses to Notre Dame, Clemson, Miami, and GT/SMU. Before spring practice began, most FSU fans would consider this season a transition year. With Norvell’s stronger recruiting of late and a home-grown QB under center in 2025, many expected the next campaign in front of a fully renovated stadium to be the next deep run at the CFP. Of course, with more noise and publicity of the 2024 team, many hope and believe FSU can make it back to the ACC championship and earn a bye this time. But, no matter what happens, Norvell will be here for the long haul.
Josh: With College Gameday in town for the game, which would you prefer to never see on TV again if you could choose: Pat McAfee or all political ads?
Perry: That’s a great question. I’ll choose option C and say never watch College Gameday + Paul Finebaum again. It sounds like many Florida State fans are going to CG on Saturday out of enjoyment, not protest. In his press conference this week, Norvell said how excited he is for CG to be in Ireland for their first-ever international telecast and that he has a great relationship with the show. But make no mistake, I will not be there and am encouraging those I know in town not to attend.
Josh: And finally, what’s your prediction for this game? It’s Week 1, and in the era of the transfer portals, teams are a little harder to predict than they would be. The line for the game started at around 2 touchdowns, but has moved down to 10.5. Does FSU cover?
Perry: I also noted the line movement this week, which gave me pause on my prediction. The weather will also be a factor, given the wind/ fall-like temperatures for two teams that practiced in 100-degree weather all summer.
As I said, Georgia Tech is not a scheduled win. Brent Key elevated the program, and they can match up with Florida State in many ways, especially regarding physicality. The game should be close early, with both teams learning each other and the new environment both on and off the field. It will come down to who controls the line of scrimmage and can assert their will.
I think a veteran FSU offensive line that returns multiple all-conference players and a feracious defensive front can get after counterparts over sixty minutes. Whether King can play the game of his life remains to be seen, but it will not be easy to move the ball consistently against the Seminole secondary, which should be more physical than the fleet of foot WR corps they face up against. On the flip side, the GT run defense should be better in 2024; how could it be worse than last year’s unit? But again, Norvell will continue to smash the ball down the pipe until he bursts a leak.
I think FSU pulls away late and wins 31-20. I feel more confident in the under than the spread; in fact, I think 55.5 is a ridiculous line and is my favorite play of the weekend, but by my prediction, the Seminoles cover.