SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Sept. 5, Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m., ABC The buzz: This is only the third time these two programs have met at Doak Campbell Stadium and the first time since 2014. Florida State won six of the first eight meetings in this series, but Notre Dame has taken the last two meetings, including last season’s 42-26 affair in South Bend.
Sept. 11, Jacksonville State, 8 p.m., ACCN The buzz: FSU trailed 21-7 with 4:30 left in the first half during last season’s meeting before outscoring the Gamecocks 34-3 the rest of the way to come away with a 41-24 win. The Seminoles haven’t lost to a team from the Football Championship Subdivision since 1962 (Tampa).
Sept. 18 at Wake Forest, 3:30 p.m., ABC or ESPN
The buzz: FSU has dominated this series, winning 30 of the 37 meetings, including 14 straight between 19922005. But three of the last four losses have taken place on the road, including a 22-20 loss in 2019.
Sept. 25, Louisville, TBD, TBD The buzz:
After winning 10 straight games to open the series, FSU has split the past eight games with Louisville, including losing three of the last five meetings. The Seminoles fell behind 21-7 after the first quarter last season on their way to a 48-16 loss to the Cardinals.
Oct. 2, Syracuse, TBD, TBD
The buzz: FSU has won 11 of the last 12 meetings in this short series, including a 35-17 win at home in 2019. This series hasn’t been close in terms of the score, with the Seminoles winning by an average of 25 points per game since Syracuse joined the ACC in 2013.
Oct. 9, at North Carolina, TBD, TBD The buzz: Florida State played the role of spoiler last season, handing then-No. 5 North Carolina a 31-28 loss at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Seminoles jumped out to a 31-7 halftime lead as quarterback Jordan Travis combined for three touchdowns in the stunning win.
Oct. 23, UMass, TBD, TBD The buzz:
Former FSU offensive coordinator Walt Bell returns to Tallahassee, this time as the head coach at UMass. In two seasons, the Minutemen have accumulated a 1-15 record, with the sole win coming against Akron in 2019.
Oct. 30, at Clemson, TBD, ESPN Network The buzz: This rivalry took an interesting turn last season after a Clemson player tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling to Tallahassee. The game didn’t happen after the team’s medical staffs couldn’t agree on how to move forward, much to the chagrin of Tigers coach Dabo Swinney.
Nov. 6, NC State, TBD, TBD
The buzz: FSU has lost three of the past four meetings in this series, including last season’s 38-22 road loss in Raleigh. Freshman quarterback Chubba Purdy earned his first career start, passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns, but the Seminoles had no answer for Wolfpack QB Bailey Hockman.
Nov. 13, Miami, TBD, TBD
The buzz: Miami handed Florida State one of its worst defeats in this long-standing rivalry, a 52-10 road loss. The 52 points were the most allowed in the series, and to make matters worse, first-year coach Mike Norvell had to watch from home after testing positive for COVID-19.
Nov. 20, at Boston College, TBD, TBD The buzz: FSU has won nine of its last 10 meetings, with the lone loss coming on the road at Boston College in 2017. The Seminoles have played the Eagles each season since 2005 except for 2020 when the schedule shifted because of COVID-19.
Nov. 27, at Florida, TBD, TBD
The buzz: After a one-year interruption due to COVID, FSU travels to Florida in search of snapping a two-game losing streak to the Gators. The Seminoles have won four of the past five games in Gainesville but dropped a disappointing 40-17 affair in 2019.