2017 College Football Playoff preseason predictions

2-Seed – Florida State Seminoles

Jimbo Fisher is another one of those four championship winning coaches. He led Florida State to an undefeated season and a national title in 2013. Since then the Seminoles have gone a more than respectable 33-7 and have finished ranked inside the top 15 in each of the last three seasons.

Last season it was a narrow loss to eventual national champion Clemson that proved to be the nail in the coffin for the Seminoles’ College Football Playoff hopes. One loss might not have proved fatal had it not been for a forgettable disappearing act against Lamar Jackson and the Louisville Cardinals combined with a head scratching loss against North Carolina earlier in the season.

More: Game by game predictions for Florida State in 2017

Florida State is the most talented team from top to bottom in the ACC. They might have the best overall player in the conference with Derwin James patrolling the defensive backfield. He’ll line up alongside Tarvarus McFadden, forming one half of a much improved Seminole secondary.

On offense Deondre Francois returns with one more year of valuable experience under his belt. Replacing Dalvin Cook won’t be easy, but early reports have given rave reviews about incoming freshman tailback Cam Akers.

Clemson is losing a lot of talent this year. That will play out in the form of a few losses in conference play that will likely keep them out of the College Football Playoff hunt. However, they’re still good enough to beat the Tigers and make things interesting in the ACC. Things are shaming up for it to be a better year for the ‘Noles. Write them into the College Football Playoff in 2017.