Can Florida State football finish season bowl eligible? Yes, and here's how it can happen
Is it possible? Can a 1-5 Florida State football team turn its season around and finish with a winning record? The odds are not in its favor, and realistically, FSU could likely not win at all.
But let's be optimistic for a bit.
The season is not completely over. The Seminoles are well-rested and are coming off a bye week following a loss to the Clemson Tigers.
While the offense is still putrid and the defense has gone the opposite direction, there were some sparks from the young talent FSU played, including their quarterback Brock Glenn, who threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns against the Tigers.
As we enter the second half of the season, what will it take for FSU to win five of the next six games somehow and finish the year at 6-6?
The last time an FSB team finished with a winning record after a 1-5 start was Indiana in 2015. The Hoosiers started 1-5, finished the regular season 6-6, and played in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Based on the remaining schedule, it's a long shot, especially since the Seminoles are ranked at the bottom of the nation in many offensive category.
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FSU must go on a streak this month
The next three games for FSU will be Duke on Friday, No. 6 Miami and North Carolina. Duke and Miami are on the road, and neither team is a walk in the park, especially the Hurricanes.
A win over Duke this Friday can set the tone. Duke may not be as good as its records show after falling to Georgia Tech two weeks ago. However, like FSU, the Blue Devils are coming off a bye week.
Having FSU win at least two of the next three games heading into the Notre Dame game could reach some momentum in the back end of the season when facing the Fighting Irish, Charleston Southern, and the Florida Gators.
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FSU must pull an upset against one of the remaining Top 25 teams
FSU has enough talented to take down either No. 6 Miami or No. 11 Notre Dame.
The FSU-Miami rivalry is typically competitive, and some wouldn't expect anything less this year despite FSU's poor record. FSU has won the last three meetings, including the 45-3 blowout in 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium.
In recent weeks, the undefeated Hurricanes have been cutting it close against Virginia Tech and Cal. Both games were coming down to the wire.
Notre Dame will be another hostile environment in a primetime game at South Bend. The Fighting Irish have been impressive since their upset loss at home to Northern Illinois.
It does show that anything is possible. If a MAC team like NIU can pull it off, why can't the Seminoles?
Let the Florida State-Florida game be the deciding factor
If the Seminoles managed to be at least one game back from .500, it could intrigue the FSU-Florida game during rivalry week.
It is uncertain what direction the 3-3 Gators are heading with Billy Napier as the head coach.
But, like the Miami game, the win-loss column will be out the window, and bragging rights will come into play no matter the result from either side.
FSU has won the last two meetings against the Gators, and two of the last three were decided by one possession.
Florida has one of the toughest schedules in the country. It might be similar to the Seminoles, where the Gators might want to finish the season with a winning record and earn a bowl bid.
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How to watch FSU vs. Duke game
Date: Friday, Oct. 18
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium/ Durham, North Carolina
TV: ESPN2
FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times
Saturday, Aug. 24: vs. Georgia Tech* (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) Lost 24-21
Monday, Sept. 2: vs. Boston College* | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo) Lost 28-13
Saturday, Sept. 7: Bye
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Memphis | Noon | ESPN (Fubo) Lost 20-12
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Cal* | 7 p.m.| ESPN2 (Fubo) Won 14-9
Saturday, Sept. 28: at No. 23 SMU* | 8 p.m. EST | ACC Network Lost 42-16
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. No. 9 Clemson* | 7 p.m.| ESPN (Fubo) 29-13
Saturday, Oct. 12: Bye
Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 6 Miami*
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. North Carolina*
Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 11 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC (Fubo, Peacock)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Charleston Southern
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Florida
Saturday, Dec. 6: ACC championship game (Charlotte, N.C)
All times Eastern
* = ACC
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How FSU football can turn season around, actually become bowl eligible
