Florida State football roundtable: Predicting the Seminoles' 2023 season game-by-game
Florida State football knows what its schedule looks like for the 2023 season.
The Seminoles, coming off a 10-win season for the first time since 2016, have aspirations to contend for the College Football Playoffs this coming season.
FSU concluded its season with a Cheez-It Bowl victory over Oklahoma, ending the season ranked No. 10 in the final AP Poll and ranked No. 4 in ESPN's "way too early preseason" rankings.
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Entering year four under head coach Mike Norvell, FSU is well-positioned to make a strong run with quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Johnny Wilson, defensive end Jared Verse and defensive tackle Fabien Lovett, as well as the additions of All-ACC cornerback Fentrell Cypress (Virginia), tight end Jaheim Bell (South Carolina) and defensive lineman Braden Fiske (Western Michigan) via the transfer portal.
Democrat writers Ehsan Kassim and Jack Williams made their way-too-early predictions on how the 2023 season will play out, now with a full schedule known.
Sept. 3 vs. LSU (Camping World Stadium, Orlando)
Kassim: FSU 34, LSU 31
The Seminoles are going to play in front of a sold-out game with a ton of support shown from the fans in garnet and gold. Just like last year, this game will come down to the final possession.
Williams: FSU 31, LSU 28
These are two programs that are moving at a similar pace. It was a competitive matchup last season, and debatably one of the best games in all of college football last season. As we saw in the Cheez-It Bowl, Orlando is essentially Doak South, acting as a home away from home for the Seminoles. I think they inch this one out on a field goal.
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Sept. 9 vs. Southern Mississippi
Kassim: FSU 42, Southern Miss 14
Don't overlook the Golden Eagles, especially with the Seminoles coming off a short week with a Sunday game the prior week. I expect FSU to come out on a high following the win over the Tigers and with their only home matchup of the month.
Williams: FSU 34, Southern Miss 10
Southern Miss is always a constant force in C-USA and they aren’t going to be a slouch when it comes to this P5 vs. G5 matchup. However, I think this will be a game where we really get a look at how good FSU is and allow them to exercise their roster.
Sept. 16 at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Kassim: FSU 38, Boston College 17
The Seminoles' last trip to Boston came in 2021, a three-point victory over the Eagles. Coming off a three-win season in 2022, FSU should be a heavy road favorite over BC.
Williams: FSU 45, Boston College 21
Since this is a lengthy trip for the Seminoles, I’m not going to say it’s going to be as much of a romp as it was last season, giving three touchdowns to BC. However, Florida State should be able to run away with this one once again.
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Sept. 23 at Clemson, Clemson, S.C.
Kassim: Clemson 35, FSU 31
On paper, this looks like a favorable matchup for the Seminoles. It'll be the first test of the season for the Tigers and QB Cade Klubnik will be working his way into the starting role. FSU's last win at Clemson came in 2013, so until it wins this game, it's hard to pick them. The Seminoles will have another chance against the Tigers if they win out and reach the ACC Championship game.
Williams: Clemson 35, FSU 31
This will be THE road test for Florida State. You could argue LSU will be a game where we figure out where the Seminoles fall when it comes to rankings and playoff possibilities, but this is going to be the game. While Clemson is down from years past, I think the mix of home-field advantage and a strong rushing game, gives them just enough to squeak out a win here.
Oct. 7 vs Virginia Tech
Kassim: FSU 45, Virginia Tech 10
Coming off their first loss of the season and first home game in a month, the Seminoles take out their anger on the Hokies when the team's matchup for the first time since 2018.
Williams: FSU 42, Virginia Tech 20
This will be therapy for the Seminoles. After a narrow loss to Clemson on the road, Florida State comes back home with a wide win over Virginia Tech, building up towards a critical mid-point stretch of the season.
Oct. 14 vs. Syracuse
Kassim: FSU 42, Syracuse 10
This game will look similar to the one the Seminoles beat the Orange on the road last season. FSU's offense will get whatever it wants, while Syracuse will struggle to move the ball against a stingy defense.
Williams: FSU 28, Syracuse 17
Florida State ROCKED Syracuse last season off a 35-point win. I don’t think that’s going to be the case this season. The Orange were a young team that found a lot of success early but didn’t know how to hold onto it. Returning a lot of players from last season, similar to how Florida State is, this should be a lot more competitive. However, Florida State gets the edge.
Oct. 21 vs. Duke (Homecoming)
Kassim: FSU 35, Duke 21
This will be the first competitive game for FSU since the Clemson game, but the Seminoles pull away with the victory in the fourth quarter. The Seminoles have won 19 straight in the series between 1992-2020.
Williams: FSU 35, Duke 17
The ACC is a little more contested in years past, and Duke is one of those teams in the mix. They had a slow start last season but picked up momentum to finish out the year with a bowl game win. The Blue Devils are returning a lot on offense, but taking a hit defensively. This could be a big opportunity for Jordan Travis and the offense to shine against a decent opponent.
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Oct. 28 at Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Kassim: FSU 38, Wake Forest 20
Florida State continues its roll with a dominant victory over the Demon Deacons. The last Seminoles' victory over Wake Forest came in 2018 and the last one on the road came in 2017.
Williams: FSU 45, Wake Forest 35
This is going the be an extremely entertaining game and in the end, it’s going to be who’s going to be able to answer the bell on defense. The Deacons put forward a very unique offense while Florida State has shown it can counter wherever it's needed. I’m predicting a high score, but I think the Seminoles won’t fall for the Wakes’ bag of tricks again.
Nov. 4 at Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Kassim: FSU 34, Pittsburgh 27
The Panthers are going to give the Seminoles all they can handle in the first game in Pittsburgh for FSU since 2013, which was a 41-13 win for Florida State. This one comes down to the final possession, with Travis throwing the game-winning TD.
Williams: FSU 28, Pittsburgh 14
The Panthers are going through a GAUNTLET in this stretch, like a fresh T-Bone thrown to the wolves. They have Wake Forest (Oct. 21), Notre Dame (Oct. 27), and then Florida State Nov. 4. The Seminoles face a battle-tested squad, but I think the Seminoles are gonna be a healthier and strong squad. Should be another good game, but Florida State wins by two touchdowns.
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Nov. 11 vs. Miami
Kassim: FSU 38, Miami 17
The Hurricanes have seemed to win the offseason, but until they prove it on the field, I am not a believer in the team in Coral Gables until they show improvement. FSU gets a major win against their rival for the third straight season.
Williams: FSU 31, Miami 13
Florida State is starting to gain the edge in this rivalry as of late, following last season's 42-point win at Hard Rock. While I think Miami is going to pack a little more of a punch coming up to Tallahassee this fall, Florida State will still ride high in this one.
Nov. 18 vs. North Alabama
Kassim: FSU 45, North Alabama 7
The Seminoles are able to blowout the Lions in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. FSU is able to rest its players in the second half, garnering the younger guys some reps and setting up for a fun rivalry game against the Gators the following week.
Williams: FSU 62, North Alabama 7
We haven't seen a 60+ Florida State game in a hot second, and I think North Alabama is going to be the one to break that streak. It'll be a break from the ACC slate before heading to The Swamp, allowing us to get a good look at the Seminoles' depth as a lot of guys should get playing time.
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Nov. 25 at Florida
Kassim: FSU 35, Florida 31
This one will be an exciting game in Gainesville, as the Seminoles pull off another late victory over their rival and finish off their second straight state title, setting up a major date with Clemson in the ACC Championship game.
Williams: FSU 42, Florida 38
This will be another instant classic between these two. It'll be a back-and-forth battle in the fourth quarter, with the Seminoles countering a Gators field goal with the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute. It's just what Florida State needs heading into postseason play.
Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Predicting the FSU Seminoles' football 2023 season game-by-game
