FSU Football: Notable Active Streaks Heading into 2016

Big things are expected of head coach Jimbo Fisher and Florida State in 2016. After winning the national championship in 2013 and reaching the College Football Playoff in 2014, the Seminoles took an expected step back last season, finishing 10-3.

While streaks of consecutive top-10 finishes and ACC championships came to an end, the Seminoles preserved some other important streaks. As the start of the 2016 campaign nears, here’s some active streaks FSU will hope to extend this upcoming season:

3 Straight Wins Over Florida
When Jimbo Fisher became head coach at Florida State, the Seminoles had lost six straight to rival Florida. Since he’s taken over however, FSU is 5-1 and winners of three straight. During Florida State’s winning streak against the Gators, the Seminoles are outscoring their rivals by an average of 20 points per game. Florida State would tie its best mark for consecutive victories over Florida at four with a victory this season. The teams meet on Nov. 26.

4 Straight 10-Win Seasons
Florida State was seven years removed from a 10-win campaign when Jimbo Fisher took over in 2010. In the six years he’s been the head man in Tallahassee, FSU has reached double-digit wins five times, including in each of the last four seasons. The last time the Seminoles failed to reach 10 wins was 2011 when they finished 9-4.

4 Straight Major Bowls
From 2006-11, Florida State failed to play in a single major bowl games, largely due to its inability to win the ACC. Since 2012 however, the Seminoles have played in a BCS or New Year’s Six bowl every year. After winning the ACC in three straight seasons from 2012-14, FSU failed to get the automatic berth last season, but was still granted an at-large Peach Bowl berth where it fell to Houston, 38-24.

6 Straight Wins Over Miami
As is the case with Florida, Florida State will have the chance to tie its longest ever winning streak over Miami this season. Under Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles are a perfect 6-0 against the rival Hurricanes. Three of the six meetings however, have been decided by five points or less, including the last two in which the Seminoles rallied for victory on long Dalvin Cook touchdown runs. On Oct. 8, former FSU offensive coordinator Mark Richt will make his return to the rivalry as Miami’s head coach. Florida State won seven straight against its rivals from 1963-72.

15 Straight Regular Season Wins on a Neutral Field
We’ll know whether Florida State can extend this streak to 16 early on as the Seminoles open the season in Orlando on Labor Day against Ole Miss. FSU has won 15 straight regular season games on a neutral field with the most recent being a 37-31 victory over Oklahoma State in Dallas to open 2014. The last loss for Florida State on a neutral field in the regular season came to Brett Favre and Southern Mississippi in Jacksonville to open the 1989 campaign.

21 Straight Home Wins
Florida State enters the 2016 season with the nation’s longest active home winning streak at 21 games. The Seminoles haven’t been defeated at Doak Campbell Stadium since the 2012 regular season finale when they fell to Florida, 37-26. FSU will play six home games this season, beginning with Charleston Southern on Sept. 10.

34 Straight Bowl Appearances
Because of the 2006 Emerald Bowl victory over UCLA later being vacated, some will dispute the fact that Florida State has the nation’s longest active bowl streak. The Seminoles have played in a bowl in every year since 1982 and with only six wins needed to become bowl-eligible, most expect this streak to live on.

39 Straight Winning Seasons
There have been some close calls along the way like 1981, 2006, 2007 and 2009, but since finishing 5-6 in 1976 — Bobby Bowden’s first season as head coach — the Seminoles have won more games than they’ve lost in every season. Again, this fact is disputed because of vacated wins.