College Football Rankings 2017: Projected Top 25 after Week 1

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 02: Bo Scarbrough #9, head coach Nick Saban, and Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate with the Chick-fil-A Kick-Off Game trophy after defeating the Florida State Seminoles 24-7 in their game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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Deondre Francois, QB, Florida State Seminoles

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 02: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles attempts a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during their game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

7. Florida State Seminoles

Ranking coming into Week 1: No. 3

The ‘Noles suffered more than one loss on Saturday night in Atlanta against the best team in America.

After quarterback Deondre Francois was knocked out of the gate in the second half with a lower body injury, it was later announced that Francois injured the patella tendon in his left knee and would be lost for the season with a 4-7 month recovery time ahead of him.

Florida State’s hopes of making the College Football Playoff for the second time weren’t dashed with the loss to Alabama, but after the news about Francois’ knee, that might have been the final nail in the coffin for the ‘Noles.

There’s still hope for FSU. If they run the table with just a lone loss to Alabama, there’s really no way you can keep them out of the playoff.

But, with matchups against Miami, Louisville, at Clemson and at Florida to close out the regular season, it’s just hard to imagine Florida State in the playoff picture at the end of the year with some touch games awaiting them.

It’s college football, so anything can happen, but after losing Derwin James in the second game of the season last year, losing Francois in the season opener this year feels just as back-breaking for the ‘Noles moving forward.

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