Noles: We ought to be champs if only unbeaten left

• David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterDec 28, 2023, 10:21 AM ET

  Close

  • ACC reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the University of Delaware.DANIA BEACH,
  • Fla.– Florida State quarterback Brock Glenn stated

the Seminoles should” definitely”be thought about nationwide champs if they end the season as the only unbeaten Power 5 team in college football.Glenn stated the possibility of raising a banner has been gone over amongst players, and he stated the Seminoles remain concentrated on finishing out an undefeated season in the Capital One Orange Bowl in spite of a playoff snub and a host of bowl game opt-outs.”The Orange Bowl is a remarkable bowl, one of the best in the nation, and we have an excellent opportunity in front of us playing Georgia, “Glenn stated Thursday.”It’s still a big game for us, and we’re taking it major. We’re concentrated on the guys we have here to help us win the game.”Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Glenn was Florida State’s third-string quarterback for much of the season

before being risen into the starting function after an injury to Jordan Travis and the transfer of backup Tate Rodemaker.Florida State is 13-0 however was left out of the College Football Playoff since of Travis’season-ending injury. The Seminoles’ challenger Saturday is two-time protecting champion Georgia, which was knocked out of the playoff with an SEC title game loss to Alabama.Florida State was leapfrogged by 2 one-loss groups in the playoff committee’s last rankings, setting up the possibility that the Seminoles would be the last unbeaten group from a Power 5 league still standing if No. 1 Michigan (13-0)and No. 2 Washington (13-0)both lose in the College Football Playoff.That’s a tantalizing prospect for some Seminoles.” It’s only right,”linebacker Kalen DeLoach stated.”Nothing else needs to be stated if we’re the only unbeaten team.”There’s lots of precedent from the pre-playoff age, when teams split championships, declared

championships or celebrated titles awarded by entities

outside the premier polls.UCF finished the 2017 season with a 13-0 record after a sensational upset of Auburn in the Peach Bowl and subsequently declared a national championship regardless of being neglected of the College Football Playoff, which was won that season by a one-loss Alabama team.On the other hand, some Florida State players were a

bit more scrupulous about the concept of throwing a parade for a championship the rest of the nation isn’t likely to think about official.”That is difficult,”defensive lineman Braden Fiske said.” I don’t know. Would it be bogus? That’s weird. Would it be cool? Sure.

However would it be a bit cooler to really be in [the playoff] and feel that confetti drop?” Florida State athletics director Michael Alford stated there are no plans at this time for any postseason

events, which he’s focused completely on the Orange Bowl.Nearly a month has actually passed because the committee dropped Florida State out of the top 4 in its final rankings after the Seminoles’ 16-6 success over Louisville in the ACC championship game, arguing that the Seminoles

were unsatisfactory to win a championship game without Travis.That decision still stings, DeLoach stated, however it’s also inspiration for Florida State’s game against Georgia.

“I consider it every day,” he said.”These guys put in so much work. I just want the best for us. To head out there for 13 games straight and do what we do– there was absolutely nothing else we might’ve done. So we’re definitely going to benefit from this opportunity to make it one more. “Even a handful of Georgia players, who had their own arguments for an area in the playoff, said they comprehended Florida State’s aggravation.

“You put a lot of tension on to one player when a group is 80 to 130 players,” Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter stated.”The committee made their decision, and they thought it was the very best one. Who am I to say they’re wrong? However it’s tough. “Just how much the frustration played a part on a bunch of

Florida State opt-outs remains a point of dispute, however the bottom line is the Seminoles will be without at least 19 players who had considerable roles

throughout the season, consisting of tailback Trey Benson, wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, tight end Jaheim Bell, edge rush Jared Verse and safety Akeem Dent.Travis and tailback Lawrance Toafili are among essential players who will miss out on the Orange Bowl due to the fact that of injuries.Those who will play in

the game said there were no hard feelings toward anyone who opted out, but DeLoach said skipping this last action towards an unbeaten season was just never ever a consideration for him.”You just get a lot of opportunities to put that uniform on, and I want to make sure I benefit from all my opportunities,”DeLoach stated.”When it’s all said and done, I’m going to actually wish I might put that consistent back on once again, so I want to just head out there with my brothers. We have actually been through a lot, and to head out there for one more game, it’s going to imply the world to me. “