ACC Football: 5 most important non-conference games in 2017

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Apr 8, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Derwin James (3) during the Spring Game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Alabama vs. Florida State, Sept. 2

The Florida State Seminoles opened the 2016 season against the Ole Miss Rebels. In quarterback Deondre Francois’ first start, the Seminoles won 45-34. Francois threw for 419 passing and two touchdowns in the game.

In 2017, their meeting with the Alabama Crimson Tide in Atlanta raises the bar a lot higher. There are a lot of storylines within this game for the Seminoles too.

The return of Derwin James from his left knee injury. The debut of linebacker Adonis Thomas, a former player at Alabama. How will true freshman Cam Akers replace Dalvin Cook?

Go figure the pressure is once again on Florida State to compete against top-notch SEC competition. Their season opener serves as a measuring stick as the Seminoles look to take back over the reigns in the ACC Atlantic Division.

The Seminoles defense will have a huge anchor in the middle after locking up top recruit defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, a five-star defensive tackle out of Texas.

They also boast an early enrollee who could breakout in 2017 in defensive end Joshua Kaindoh. Kaindoh is a 6-foot-6 and 250-pound prospect who made waves at the widely popular IMG Academy in his senior season.

With so much talent on the field on defense, the Seminoles could be in the College Football Playoff by season’s end. They just need to get through Alabama first.

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