Historically, Florida State University has enjoyed plentiful success when it comes to its football team. Former Florida State head football coach, Bobby Bowden, helped turn a fledgling football program into a powerhouse by leading the Seminoles over a 34-year span. The Bowden era included two national championships (1993 and 1999) and a 13-year streak from 1987 to 2000 of achieving at least 10 wins and Top 5 AP Poll finishes every season.
Throughout the Bowden Era, Florida State was renown for playing anybody anywhere. Whether it was Nebraska, Notre Dame, Southern California, Michigan, Ohio State, or even hated rivals Florida and Miami, the Seminoles were always ready to face the best of the best.
Fast forward to the Jimbo Fisher era and FSU is continuing this mantra. In 2010 and 2011 FSU's new head coach, Fisher, led his team against the Oklahoma Sooners. The Noles lost both games but by scheduling these contests, this re-established the precedent that FSU never feared taking on the best opponents.
Of course in 2013, FSU achieved college football immortality by winning the BCS National Championship. After suffering from several disappointing seasons during the "Lost Decade," FSU showed that they were back by defeating Auburn in the championship game.
With a title in hand, and four consecutive 10 win seasons, FSU has proven a lot recently. However, FSU athletic director Stan Wilcox has continued to work to help back up FSU's reputation by scheduling even more big time games in the future. Over the next five years, Seminole fans will be able to see their team face elite competition out of conference.
2016:
- FSU vs. Ole Miss (Orlando, FL) (September 5)
- FSU at USF (September 24)
- FSU vs. Florida (November 26)
2017:
- FSU vs. Alabama (Atlanta, GA) (September 2)
- FSU at Florida (November 25)
2018:
- FSU at Notre Dame (November 10)
- FSU vs. Florida (November 24)
2019:
- FSU vs. Boise State (Jacksonville, FL) (Season Opener)
- FSU at Florida (November 30)
2020:
- [POTENTIALLY] FSU vs. West Virginia (Atlanta, GA) (Season Opener)
- (For Now) FSU @ Boise State
- FSU vs. Florida (November 28)
These games will help serve the Seminoles both on and off the field in that they will challenge players to improve in the face of tough competition, garner more exposure to high school recruits across the nation, and it will help give FSU a better image in the eyes of the College Football Playoff Committee.
With schedules like these, no one can deny that at Florida State the Seminoles will play anybody anywhere.
