Fresh off their first National Championship since 1999, Florida State are early favorites to be crowned winners of the first college football play-off next January.
The 2013 Seminoles had one of the most impressive seasons in recent memory when freshman quarterback Jameis Winston took the nation by storm with a Heisman winning campaign. Early pre-season polls and Vegas odds suggest the ‘Noles will win back-to-back titles, but will it be that straightforward?
In theory, the three-time national champions are rightly placed at the top of the pile with a number of promising players returning to the fold, including Winston who bids to join Archie Manning as the second-ever two-time Heisman Trophy winner.
Furthermore, wide receiver Rashad Greene, who had nine catches for 147 yards in the championship game to go with his 76 receptions and 1,128 yards in the regular season, returns along with potential first-round tight end Nick O’Leary. Throw running back Karlos Williams, who showed huge potential after converting from safety just a year ago, into the fray and you can see why this roster is so revered.
A number of key pieces from defense including defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and linebacker Telvin Smith will all leave holes that must be replaced. But, nevertheless, Terrence Smith returns to linebacker after a 59-tackle season, defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. will be looking to build on his 3.5 sack campaign while defensive backs Nate Andrews and P.J. Williams, who combined for seven interceptions, will man the back end.
Challengers in the form of Oregon and Ohio State will return with a vengeance, bringing with them dual-threat quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Braxton Miller. While powerhouses Alabama are guaranteed to push for a fourth national gong in six years.
History is against the Seminoles as, in the BCS era, only the Crimson Tide have won consecutive titles. However, records are there to be broken and Jimbo Fisher’s men are better placed than anybody in the last decade to taste sweet victory in successive seasons.
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