The Southeastern Conference is without a doubt college football’s loudest, proudest and more often than not, best conference. Fans of SEC schools and sometimes media figures who cover a team in the SEC or the conference as a whole tend to slight teams who play outside of the SEC.
Florida State is no exception. Despite being one of college football’s best teams over the last four seasons and winning the 2013 BCS National Championship over SEC champion Auburn, some tend to question how the Seminoles might fare in the nation’s perceived premier conference.
Under head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles have done just fine against the SEC, going 7-1 over six years which includes two victories over SEC East champions and the aforementioned win over Auburn.
“Florida State is a team that I respect greatly,” said Randy Morgan, editor of Fansided’s Ole Miss blog, OleHottyToddy.com. “I used to be one of the ‘SEC over everybody’ kind of people, but FSU and Ohio State changed that narrative greatly. Both teams are similar in my opinion. Florida State is a team that is built like an SEC team (with a) quick, fast defense with an offense that can score on anyone. They have proven that they can play with and defeat an SEC team. Florida State is a team that could easily compete in the SEC. They already play SEC teams every year. Put FSU in the SEC East and they are easily the favorites.”
The Seminoles and Rebels will open the 2016 season against one another in Orlando on Sept. 5. Both schools will begin the year ranked in the top 15 of the Amway Coaches Poll. Ole Miss capped off a 10-3 season in 2015 with a Sugar Bowl thrashing of Oklahoma State. The Rebels were also the only team to defeat eventual national champion Alabama in 2015 and did so in Tuscaloosa.
“This game is amazing for football,” Morgan said of the opener. “This game will tell everyone how good each team is. It is also entertaining. No one wants to watch a team beat up on a FCS opponent. This game gives us all something to look forward to.”
When it comes to attrition, Ole Miss has been hit harder than Florida State. The Seminoles return 17 starters, including all 11 on offense. The Rebels lose 13 total starters, including three who went in the first round of the NFL Draft. At quarterback, Chad Kelly is seen as a Heisman Trophy contender for Ole Miss, but whether or not the Rebels can knock off the fourth-ranked Seminoles remains to be seen.
“The storyline on the Ole Miss side will be who replaces (Laremy) Tunsil, (Robert) Nkemdiche, and (Laquon) Treadwell,” Moragn said. “(Ole Miss has) the guys to replace all of them.”
True freshman Greg Little will likely replace Tunsil at left tackle while Breeland Speaks is expected to start in place of Robert Nkemdiche at defensive end. At wide receiver, Damore’ea Stringfellow is expected to take the place of Treadwell.
Though Ole Miss is losing a lot on both sides of the ball, the Rebels have managed to stockpile quite a bit of talent under head coach Hugh Freeze. Each of Freeze’s last four recruiting classes have ranked in the top 20 nationally with two finishing in the top 10. Ole Miss certainly has the talent to put a scar on Fisher’s 7-1 record against the SEC and 6-0 mark in season-openers.
“This is the biggest game of the season for Ole Miss in my opinion,” Morgan said. “Looking at (their) schedule, (the Rebels) start out with one of the toughest months in recent memory. (They) play FSU, Alabama, and Georgia in September, a murderers row of teams. If (they) can defeat FSU, I think (they) can go 11-1 or 12-0 this year. This game could decide (the) season. The momentum that (Ole Miss) can earn from defeating Florida State would benefit this team full of young guys greatly.”
Ross Obley/FSU athletics
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