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College Football Rankings 2018: Alabama, Clemson top way-too-early Top 25

By Nicholas Ian Allen

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Damien Harris (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Damien Harris (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – DECEMBER 02: Florida State Seminoles running back Cam Akers (3) runs the ball during the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on December 02, 2017 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Logan Stanford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – DECEMBER 02: Florida State Seminoles running back Cam Akers (3) runs the ball during the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on December 02, 2017 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Logan Stanford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Speaking of things being better than they might seem, Florida State actually finished the 2017 season with the momentum of a four-game winning streak and five wins in its last six games with the only blemish a 31-14 loss at Clemson that was closer than the final score would indicate. Frankly, during the final half of the season, the Seminoles were pretty close to the team we expected them to be.

The problem, of course, was the disastrous 2-5 start that torpedoed the Seminoles’ national title hopes and nearly ended the longest bowl streak in college football history. But, with Willie Taggart tapped to replace Jimbo Fisher, there is a renewed optimism in Tallahassee. The Seminoles should be back in the thick of an ACC title race in 2018.

Strengths:

Simply put, Florida State is one of the most talented teams in America. Prior to the 2017 season, the Seminoles ranked No. 5 on the 247Sports College Football Team Talent Composite, which takes into account the recruiting rankings from major services and applies it to every team’s full roster. Only Alabama, Ohio State, USC and Georgia ranked higher.

One of 10 five-star players on the Florida State roster, Cam Akers, made an immediate impact as a true freshman last season. While splitting carries with junior Jacques Patrick (who left school for the NFL Draft), Akers ran for 1,025 yards and seven touchdowns. Expect the 5-foot-11, 213-pound tailback to see a heavier workload in 2018 as the featured ball carrier.

Weaknesses:

Taggart and his new coaching staff must replace seven players who opted for the NFL Draft, including leading tackler Derwin James and top pass rusher Josh Sweat. In all, the Seminoles must replace 10 of the top 16 tacklers from last year’s defense.

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