The spotlight will be on Florida State Football at the Home of ACC football.
The annual media day, which begins at noon on Monday, July 22, and ends on Thursday, July 25, is held at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The four-day event features interviews with all 17 participating coaches and players.
FSU, Georgia Tech and SMU are the featured schools on Monday. FSU coach Mike Norvell will be joined by forward Darius Washington and forwards Patrick Payton and Joshua Farmer.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips is scheduled to speak to the media at 1 p.m. Monday.
The ACC Network will provide live coverage all four days. FSU alumna Taylor Tannebaum has been named the new host of the ACC Huddle.
The Seminoles are coming off a 13-1 season. After missing the College Football Playoff despite a perfect regular season record and ACC ChampionshipFSU suffered its only loss against Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium.
FSU will open the season in Week 0 against Georgia Tech during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, August 24.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon on ESPN.
Here are four questions about FSU’s entry into the meetings.
Will FSU make the 12-team playoffs after being snubbed last year?
Norvell and the returning players say they no longer missed the college football playoffs last year.
Now, it’s a new season with a clean record.
The College Football Playoff system has been expanded to 12 teams. This should give FSU a better chance of reaching the 2024 National Championship if it has similar success last season.
With the Seminoles returning key starters on defense like Payton, Farmer and defensive back Shyheim Brown, as well as adding talented recruits in both the high school recruiting and transfer portal, we expect another strong season on that side of the football.
The biggest questions concern the attack.
The loss of star players like quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, receivers Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman and tight end Jaheim Bell forced the Seminoles into the transfer portal.
However, Norvell successfully navigated the portal again, signing veteran quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, receiver Malik Bensonrunning backs Roydell Williams and Jaylin Lucas, among other high school and portal recruits.
Winning the ACC this season would guarantee the Seminoles a playoff spot under the new system, a big difference from last season’s four-team playoffs.
With the talent on the roster, there is reasonable belief that FSU could be part of the inaugural 12-team playoff.
According to BETMGM FSU’s odds of winning the national title are +2500.
Could this be the last time we see FSU, Clemson in the ACC?
As current litigation between school and conference, likely leading to FSU leaving the ACC at some point, fans are wondering if this could be the Seminoles’ final season in the conference.
The program has until Aug. 15 to announce its intention to leave the league after the 2024-25 season.
However, months of litigation suggest there is really no end in sight for FSU at this point. The Seminoles, of course, also need a landing spot.
The SEC and the Big 10 continue to suggest they are not interested in further expansion. However, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said he plans to keep his options open amid any possible future realignment of college football.
FSU is currently in litigation with the ACC in Leon County and North Carolina. As these cases work their way through the legal system — and it could still take years — the answer to the future of school conferencing will become clearer.
What should we expect from FSU QB DJ Uiagalelei
Uiagalelei is no Jordan Travis, but the transfer quarterback has a skill set that could fit into Norvell’s offense.
FSU’s season could depend on the Oregon State transfer’s production. The Seminoles hope to see Uiagalelei show a level of play similar to what he had with the Beavers last season, when he threw for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Uiagalelei opted to step away from the ACC Kickoff, leaving Norvell and the returning players to speak on his behalf about their expectations.
Uiagalelei didn’t have a strong performance during the Spring Showcase in April after completing 12 of 26 passes and no touchdowns. However, he had a strong performance in training, often dictating the attack and creating plays to move the ball around the field.
The fifth-year senior has the edge with his veteran leadership and knowledge of the ACC.
Uiagalelei played three seasons at Clemson, totaling 5,701 passing yards and 17 touchdowns with the Tigers in a system that never seemed to suit his skill set.
The Seminoles will face Uiagalelei’s former team in Week 5, welcoming the Tigers Doak Campbell Stadium on October 5th.
Uiagalelei has the talent and tools to take his career to the next level, however, he must identify his new weapons in the wide receiver corp.
Benson, a transfer from Alabama, is expected to be the Seminoles’ target.
WR2 is still up for grabs.
Peter Holland’s Projected ACC Final Standings
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Florida State 11-1 (8-0)
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Clemson 10-2 (7-1)
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Miami 9-3 (6-2)
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North Carolina 8-4 (5-3)
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Georgia Tech 7-5 (5-3)
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SMU 8-4 (4-4)
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Duke 7-5 (4-4)
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Virginia Tech 6-6 (4-4)
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Syracuse 6-6 (4-4)
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Boston College 6-6 (3-5)
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North Carolina State 6-6 (3-5)
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Virginia 5-7 (3-5)
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Cal 5-7 (3-5)
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Louisville 5-7 (2-6)
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Pittsburgh 4-8 (2-6)
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Awakened Forest 4-8 (2-6)
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Stanford 2-10 (1-7)
Liam Rooney’s projected ACC final standings
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Florida State 11-1 (8-0)
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Clemson 10-2 (7-1)
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Miami 10-2 (7-1)
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North Carolina State 9-3 (6-2)
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North Carolina 9-3 (5-3)
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Virginia Tech 8-4 (5-3)
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Louisville 7-5 (5-3)
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Georgia Tech 7-5 (4-4)
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SMU 8-4 (4-4)
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Syracuse 6-6 (4-4)
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California 6-6 (3-5)
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Virginia 5-7 (3-5)
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Duke 5-7 (2-6)
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Pittsburgh 4-8 (2-6)
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Awakened Forest 4-8 (2-6)
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Boston College 3-9 (3-5)
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Stanford 2-10 (1-7)
2024 Florida State Seminoles Football Schedule
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August 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
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September 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
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September 14 vs. Memphis
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September 21 vs. California
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September 28th at SMU
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Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
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October 18th at Duke
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October 26th at (U) Miami
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November 2 vs. North Carolina
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November 9th at Notre Dame
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November 23 vs. Charleston Southern
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November 30: Florida
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December 7: ACC Championship
AUDACIOUS = ACC
* = Neutral Location
Liam Rooney covers prep sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him by email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooneYes
covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him by email at PHolland@Gannett.com or at X @_Da_pistol.
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This article originally appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat: Questions before ACC start for Florida State football
