Florida State had a lot of hype and a few questions coming into their opening match up with LSU. However, after dominating the second half and beating LSU 45-24, those questions have been answered and the hype is real. It has been brought up before that FSU’s easy schedule could get them to the college football playoff, but could ultimately be to their detriment. However, the Noles just proved that they are a top team in the nation by dismantling another top team in the nation.

So, does FSU have a clear path to an undefeated season and the CFB playoffs? The only team on their schedule that truly stood in the Seminoles way was Clemson and, if you paid attention to week one, Clemson is not what we thought they were. Clemson got blown out by Duke and now has dropped 16 spots on the AP top 25. They now sit at number 25. Dabo Swinney called it “the strangest game I’ve ever been a part of.” Swinney may have said that they will bounce back, but the Clemson Tigers are not the same team they used to be. They’ve lost three of their last four contests and just got humiliated by a basketball school.

Week one effectively removed Florida State’s main competition for the playoffs. LSU will have to do some major damage control and likely win out to make it and Clemson will have to battle back through the rankings against a schedule that now looks intimidating.}

The only other threat on Florida State’s schedule was Florida, who got stomped by a Utah team that is arguably not as good as Florida State. After FSU’s performance against a talented SEC program, the Seminoles have a clear path to the playoffs. They will likely cruise through conference play as their ACC opponents pose no real threat. Florida State’s biggest test of the season will be in the first round of the playoffs and, despite most putting them at the four spot, it is entirely possible that they will slot in at number two or three.