How Florida State Became The Laughingstock of College Football

Just 7 years ago Florida State won a national championship and looked as if they would take over college football. The Seminoles had Jameis Winston, a redshirt freshman Heisman winner, as their quarterback, and the potential to be a contender for years to come. That’s what makes makes Florida State’s decline so confusing and shocking. Florida State has always been one of the top teams in college football, dating back to 1987, and now they are an afterthought. With every disappointing season we ask ourselves, how did Florida State become the laughingstock of college football?

2013:

The year is 2013. Florida State goes undefeated in the regular season and finishes as the number one team in the country. Jameis Winston wins the Heisman after throwing for 4,057 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in his first year as the starting quarterback. Florida State won the ACC championship and secures a spot in the National Championship game. Auburn takes care of Missouri in the SEC championship game, but gets into the National Championship only after Michigan State upsets Ohio State to win the Big 10 championship. The Florida State Seminoles enters the National Championship game as the number one team in the country, and slight favorites over the Auburn Tigers. Auburn catches fire in the first half and goes up 21-3 in the first half. Florida State doesn’t go out without a fight and climbs back into the game in the second half. With under a minute left, down 31-27, Jameis Winston completes a short pass on a slant to Kelvin Benjamin to win the National Championship 34-31. The Tigers’ miracle season is over, and the Seminoles are on top of the college football world.

2014:

The 2014 season comes around and something every fan has been begging for comes with it; the College Football Playoff. The four team playoff would now decide who are the National Champions. The Seminoles don’t know it, but they will come to despise the playoff system. Florida State’s success from the 2013 season carries over as they secure the #2 spot in the playoffs after going 13-0 during the season. Here’s the thing; If the playoff is never introduced and the BCS era doesn’t end, then Florida State automatically faces Alabama in the 2014 national championship. Instead, the Seminoles face the #3 Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl in the first college football playoff game ever. Oregon routes Florida State 59-20 as the Seminoles turn the ball over FIVE times, one being a hilarious fumble in which Jameis Winston trips, can’t regain his balance, and loses the ball in the process. What a difficult way for Jameis Winston’s Florida State career to end. Ohio State, the #4 team in the playoff, upsets Alabama and Oregon to win the first college football playoff. Sad times in Tallahassee for fans and the owner of crab legs. After the disappointing loss to Oregon, Jameis Winston declares for the 2015 NFL draft and the post Winston era begins.

2015:

Florida State takes a step back as they go 10-3 and finishes the season with a 38-24 loss to Houston in the Peach Bowl. Everett Golson, a Notre Dame transfer, and Sean Maguire split time at quarterback, both throwing for around 1600 yards and 11 touchdowns. The sole reason for the Seminoles’ success in 2015 is Dalvin Cook. The sophomore running back rushes for 1691 yards and 19 yards as he carried Florida State.

2016:

The following season Florida State finishes with a 10-3 record for the second year in a row. Freshman quarterback Deondre Francois has a solid first year as he throws for 3550 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Dalvin Cook has a fantastic sophomore season himself, rushing for 1765 yards and 19 touchdowns. Even with a way more talented quarterback, Florida State’s record doesn’t improve at all. This is due to the Seminoles getting Lamar Jackson'ed in week three, and getting upset by North Carolina at home. Florida State ends the 2016 season on a high note as they defeat Michigan 33-32 in an absolute thriller in the Orange Bowl.

2017:

Florida State opens up the season against the #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. The #1 vs #3 matchup is all anyone talks about leading up to the season, and the opening week showdown becomes one of the most hyped games in recent memory. The Tide roll past the Seminoles 24-7 to kick off their championship run. This game marks the end of Florida State’s season due to Deondre Francois suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Now the James Blackman era officially begins. The whole team struggles, especially Blackman, for the rest of the season as they finish with a 7-6 record (their worst since 2009). Here is where things really start to go to crap.

2018:

Jimbo Fisher leaves Florida State for Texas A&M, and $75 million, and The Seminoles begin to decline immediately. Florida State hires an unproven Willie Taggart from Oregon because…...I really don’t know why. It’s a weird hire, and one that they will soon regret. Francois returns and throws for 2731 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions (yuck) en route to a disgusting 5-7 record. Florida State misses a bowl game for the first time since 1981 and there are already grumblings from fans about Taggart possibly getting fired.

2019:

Now here we are in 2019. Florida State and Willie Taggart have struggled early on this season, blowing an 18 point lead against Boise State, only beating Louisiana Monroe by one point……..IN OVERTIME, and losing to Virginia tonight. Things have gotten to the point where I legitimately think Willie Taggart should be fired. This Florida State team is way too talented to be performing like they are. Even with Francois gone as a result of a sexual assault allegation, the Seminoles should be able to stay afloat and not sink. It almost feels like, now hold on because I’ve got a hot take coming, Willie Taggart just isn't a good head coach. Rarely during his tenure has Florida State resembled a good football team. They have sucked the last two years and a lot of the blame lies on Taggart’s shoulders.

So here we are, six years after Florida State’s decline began and we may just have an answer for how they became one of the worst teams in the nation. Florida state started to slowly decline once the playoff was introduced, but everything fell apart for the Seminoles once Willie Taggart arrived, and nothing has been the same since. The former Oregon Ducks coach has turned one of the top programs in the country, into an uncompetitive below-average team, and It is truly mind boggling how it all happened so suddenly.

Now that’s how Florida State became the laughing stock of college football.