NFL
By: Brock Vierra
The Florida State football team was taught a tough lesson in 2023 when they were excluded from the College Football Playoff despite holding a 12-0 record. The committee made two points very clear. They do not respect the ACC and they do not respect Mike Norvell. If Florida State’s head coach was still Bobby Bowden, Florida State would be the three seed.
Now as Florida State looks to exit the ACC, they have three things going for them. They have an excellent head coach and recruiter in Mike Norvell, they remain one of the most popular teams in the nation and they’re in a recruiting hotbed. The SEC and Big 10 look unlikely due to their recent expansions and the Big 12 is no different than the ACC. Texas only got in due to their brand and their win in Tuscaloosa. With that being said, Florida State football should explore independence.
Why should Florida State football seek independence
Now I used the word football because the rest of the sports shouldn’t have to uproot their schedules and homes for the idiocy of a committee in one sport. Florida State football carries a proud tradition and traditions are marketable. The only difference between Notre Dame and Florida State football in terms of popularity is marketing.
The older crowd still has an affinity for FSU through Bobby, the younger crowd remembers Jameis and Jimbo and the kids have seen Jordan Travis and the Seminole high-flying offense. The current NBC contract with Notre Dame pays the Fighting Irish about 22 million for football and hockey. The ACC pays out 36.1 million for all of FSU’s sports which includes massive revenue sports like basketball and baseball.
Now contracts are on the rise and networks are trying to acquire talent. FSU could make a decent amount of money while controlling and scheduling a good enough schedule to make the playoff. Plus more home games equals more revenue.
Scheduling is easy
I have witnessed Notre Dame compete for a national title on several occasions after playing 2-3 somewhat difficult opponents and smashing the rest. With an expanded playoff, independence would essentially ensure a playoff spot for FSU every year. Notre Dame and Florida State already have a longstanding rivalry that they seem to renew every few years. Not only would it be a primetime matchup every year, it is one of the impressive wins FSU would need to make the playoff.
Now Notre Dame would probably be in favor of an agreement anyway but with their rivalry with USC up in the air due to the Trojans move to the Big 10, some stability would be welcomed by the Fighting Irish.
FSU would keep their rivalry with Florida and most likely would keep their rivalry with Miami. FSU would schedule another tough game like they did with LSU and then play 8 easy games. There are a lot of smaller programs near Tallahassee and Florida State football would make bank on home revenue from expanding their home schedule.
The ACC is getting worse
If anything was proven from this season, it is that the quality of competition in the ACC is in the toilet. SMU might be the second-best team in the conference and the acquisitions of Cal and Stanford, two teams that post consecutive losing seasons don’t exactly push the needle. Louisville who had a new coach, new quarterback, and new staff was the second-best ACC team this year.
The conference is not good, especially when no one cared that Florida State beat Clemson in Death Valley. Florida State football needs a solution and they need one now. Perhaps independence is the way.
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