FSU Football: Notable Active Streaks Entering 2016

The start of the 2016 season is just more than four months away as Florida State opens the season against Ole Miss at the Citrus Bowl on Labor Day.

FSU will look to win a seventh straight season-opener. Here’s a look at what else is on the line for the Seminoles this coming season:

Three Straight Wins over Florida
Florida State will look for a fourth straight win over Florida and sixth in seven tries when the teams meet in Tallahassee on Nov. 26. The Seminoles defeated the Gators 27-2 last season in Gainesville in Florida’s first season under head coach Jim McElwain. Last season, Florida made significant strides under McElwain, but the state has still been controlled by FSU.

Four Straight Major Bowl Appearances
Not since 2011 have the Seminoles failed to make one of college football’s six major bowl games. Though the last two have ended in defeat for Florida State, FSU has still made its presence known on the national stage over the last four seasons. The Seminoles earned an automatic major bowl berth by winning the ACC from 2012-14 before snatching an at-large bid a season ago.

Four Straight 10-win Seasons
In the six years prior to Jimbo Fisher taking over as head coach, Florida State never won more than nine games in any season. In five of the six years under Fisher, FSU has won at least 10, including in each of the last four. The Seminoles finished 10-3 a season ago after going a combined 27-1 over the previous two seasons. On paper, the schedule is a tough one for Florida State in 2016, but the Seminoles certainly have the talent to beat any opponent they line up against.

Six Straight Wins Over Miami
Since taking over as head coach in 2010, FSU’s Jimbo Fisher is 11-1 against Florida State’s two biggest rivals, including a perfect 6-0 against Miami. The Seminoles have had to sweat it out the last two years against the Hurricanes, but have managed to rally in the fourth quarter thanks to long touchdown runs by running back and South Florida native Dalvin Cook. There is a renewed sense of optimism this year in Coral Gables as former Georgia coach Mark Richt has been tabbed to lead the program. Richt won two SEC titles and a pair of Sugar Bowls in 15 years at Georgia. Prior to that, Richt was FSU’s offensive coordinator. He’s also a former Miami quarterback. The teams play in South Florida on Oct. 8.

Six Straight Ranked Finishes
In each year under Fisher, the Seminoles have finished in the top 25, which includes a top 15 finish in each of the last four seasons. The worst finish under Fisher was 23rd during a 9-4 campaign in 2011. The best was 2013 when FSU won the national championship.

12 Straight Regular Season Non-Conference Wins
Florida State hasn’t lost a non-conference game in the regular season since falling to Florida by a 37-26 score in the 2012 regular season finale. That streak could be tested in 2016 as the Seminoles face Ole Miss, South Florida and Florida. Ole Miss is coming off a 48-20 Sugar Bowl victory over Oklahoma State while Florida won the SEC East a season ago. South Florida finished 8-5 in 2015, but will get the Seminoles at home. FSU will face Ole Miss in Orlando and host Florida. The other non-conference game this season for FSU will come in Week 2 against Charleston Southern.

21 Straight Home Wins
Florida State’s 37-26 loss to Florida in 2012 was not only the last time that FSU lost a non-conference game, but it’s also the last time it lost at home. The Seminoles have won 21 straight home games, including four over ranked opponents. Florida State will be tested this year with home contests against North Carolina, Clemson and Florida. FSU will only play six home games this year as opposed to the seven it played in each of the first six seasons under Fisher.

34 Straight Bowl Appearances
Not since Ronald Reagan’s first term in office have the Seminoles failed to make a bowl game. The last time Florida State missed out on a bowl was 1981 when it finished 6-5. The Seminoles did vacate an Emerald Bowl appearance in 2006, but unlike other entities, we’re not going to pretend like it didn’t happen.

39 Straight Winning Seasons
Not since Bobby Bowden’s first season on the job in 1976 has Florida State finished .500 or worse when it went 5-6. There were some close calls as the Seminoles went 6-5 in 1981 and 7-6 in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Of course, there were wins vacated in 2007, but again, the contests still took place. Most anticipate that FSU will win more games than these lose this year, which would mark a 40th straight year that happened.