Florida State Seminoles are on upset alert by…the Samford Bulldogs?

Things are not looking great for the Florida State Seminoles. They are on upset alert in Week 2 by none other than the Samford Bulldogs, trailing 16-14.

When Jimbo Fisher left the program for the Texas A&M Aggies, many thought that prying Willie Taggart as his replacement out of the University of Oregon was an excellent hire. Though they might be right eventually, no, things are not looking very promising for the Florida State Seminoles.

After managing just three points in their Week 1 home loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies, Florida State finds itself trailing in consecutive weeks, this time to the Samford Bulldogs. The Samford Bulldogs? Yes, the Samford Bulldogs.

Samford competes at the FCS level and is getting paid to play Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. Yet, Florida State was trailing its FCS opponent 16-7 through the first quarter. Though Florida State would get an early touchdown in the second quarter, the Seminoles are still trailing Samford 16-14 in this ball game.

Yes, it is still early, but one would think that a blue-blood like Florida State would be able to handle an FCS team easily at home. Then again, nothing seems to be easy for Taggart so far this season. If the Seminoles looked that bad against the Hokies and this lackluster against Samford, how do you think things will go when they play division rivals Clemson and Louisville? Probably not very well.

Fisher might have left the program in a bit of disarray upon his departure for College Station. However, didn’t we all expect that Taggart would be able to at least make Florida State a seven or eight-win team in year one with all that talent the Seminoles have at their disposal?

It is still early enough in the season, but it does seem that Florida State is a long way away from being a great team like it had been under Fisher and Bobby Bowden before him. What could be more troubling for the Seminoles is if their two big Power 5 rivals in-state start to really get cooking.

Mark Richt’s Miami Hurricanes might have looked rough in Week 1 versus LSU at a neutral site, but that program looks better than it has been in a decade. Dan Mullen won a ton of games at Mississippi State and looks to do the same with the Florida Gators now that he’s the main man in charge in Gainesville.

Florida State should be able to beat Samford. Then again, we do have to say that the Seminoles have put themselves on upset alert here in Week 2. Keep an eye on this game and the ensuing aftermath should Florida State not be able to get it done versus Samford at home.