What Happened to the 'Noles?

As they continue to slip in the rankings, Florida State has a lot of people wondering what happened. By Ron Schiltz
  

(AP Photo/Phil Sears)

   It seems like just yesterday we were talking about the much anticipated match-up between the then #5 Florida State Seminoles and the formerly #1 Oklahoma Sooners. The game in Tallahassee was one of the most hyped games so far this year. Florida State fans had some hope that finally their team had risen back to the top of the rankings.

   Well, long story short, the Sooners won in a game that seemed closer than the final score suggested. This 23-13 defeat the Seminoles suffered at the hands of Landry Jones and Oklahoma has already doomed the team to drop out of the top ten. Even worse, it could possibly have them on track to fall out of the AP rankings all together.


   The initial drop was six spots down to #11, but the ‘noles weren't done. They faced then #21 ranked Clemson Tigers, an undefeated and underrated team looking to make a statement. This game, contrary to the Oklahoma game, seemed to be a bigger victory for Clemson than the box score showed. The Tigers won by 5 (35-30), and their outstanding true freshman Sammy Watkins gouged Florida State for 140 yards and two touchdowns. While Clemson got their statement win, the Seminoles continued to disappoint in big games.
    This week the now #23 ranked Seminoles face a Wake Forest team with a deceiving 3-1 record. The Demon Deacons are 2-0 in ACC play but have beaten the two worst teams in the ACC Atlantic division: NC State and Boston College. This game should be the one to right the ship for Florida State for the rest of the year. But as we’ve seen in the last two games, the ‘noles aren’t as invincible as we once thought they were. So this game just might be one of intrigue. If State were to drop this game they would drop from the rankings and be left with a 0-2 ACC record. The game at 12:30 on Saturday will define the rest of the season for Jimbo Fisher’s new-look ‘noles.