The 2024 FSU football team entered the season with big expectations after finishing 13-1 and winning its first ACC title in a decade last season. The Noles were in the top 10 preseason nationally, returning experience in nearly every position. Most projections had FSU finished 10-2, or no worse than 9-3. However, FSU lost its first three games and was a betting favorite in those, including double-digit betting favorites in the first two.
FSU ranked No. 19 overall, with the No. 29 offense and the No. 13 defense according to FEI advanced metric projections.
FSU hasn’t performed anywhere close to expectation, especially on offense. Here’s where the Noles rank nationally after the first six games in 2024:
FSU ranks No. 63 overall, with the No. 91 offense and the No. 50 defense. However, they have the No. 1 special teams unit nationally. FSU did face the toughest schedule through its first five games:
games:
I don’t think the defense is quite as bad as this ranking. They’ve faced some of the better offenses nationally, and the FSU offense only averaging 14 points per game doesn’t help their cause. There’s a psychological effect of knowing your team can’t score and deciding to continue to play hard or not on defense.
Frankly, I’ve been surprised they continue to get the level of effort they’ve gotten from the defense halfway into the season at 1-5. They likely won’t make a bowl game, and every team goal isn’t realistic anymore. It would be a prime spot for players to start playing selfishly, but that hasn’t happened in a large scale, if at all.
I’m curious to see where these rankings will be after the next six games with Brock Glenn at QB. Will he give this team the spark and leadership it needs? We’ll find out soon enough.
