College football: 10 teams that could be the next Georgia

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 27: A jubilant University of Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman points to the endzone following the Texas Bowl game between the Texas Longhorns and the Missouri Tigers on December 27, 2017 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 25: Florida State Seminoles running back Cam Akers (3) runs for a touchdown during the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Florida Gators on November 25, 2017 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in Gainesville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Despite the disaster that was the 2017 season at Florida State, this one wouldn’t be much of a leap. After all, heading into last season, the Seminoles were widely considered a College Football Playoff contender, and the squad was ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25.

Florida State has always recruited well. The Seminoles ranked No. 5 on the 247Sports Team Talent Rankings heading into the 2017 season, and Florida State has averaged the No. 5.2 recruiting class in the nation since 2013. However, that talent didn’t translate to wins in 2017.

The season started on a very sour note as starting quarterback Deondre Francois suffered a major knee injury in the Week 1 loss to Alabama that knocked him out for the year. Injuries also struck the offensive line and receiving corps, and the Seminoles dug an even bigger hole after being upset by N.C. State, Miami, Louisville and Boston College before the calendar turned to November.

But, FSU ended the second half of the season on a high note. The Seminoles won five of their last six games with the only loss coming against Clemson in Death Valley. Plus, the 31-14 defeat was closer than it looks on paper. Admittedly, no other team the Noles faced during that final six-game stretch posted a winning record last season, and three were either FCS (Delaware State) or Group of Five (ULM, Southern Miss) opponents.

Though seven players left school early for the NFL Draft, new head coach Willie Taggart inherits a highly talented roster, which is also more experienced than expected given the injury troubles. The quarterback position is set, running back Cam Akers is a Heisman Trophy candidate, the offensive and defensive lines are in good shape, and there’s never a shortage of speed at the skill positions. Plus, Taggart has energized a program that had grown somewhat stale under Jimbo Fisher.

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