FIRST IMPRESSIONS: FSU’S NEW 2020 SCHEDULE IS TOUGH BUT INTRIGUING By PAT BURNHAM, FEATURE FOOTBALL WRITER THEOSCEOLA.COM
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced a revised 11-game schedule featuring 10 conferences games while allowing each school to add one out-of-conference game on the condition it be played in the ACC member’s home state. The schedule will include: Georgia Tech (Sept. 12), Jacksonville State (Oct. 3), at Miami (Sept. 26), at Notre Dame (Oct. 10), at Louisville (Oct. 17), North Carolina (Oct. 24), Pittsburg (Nov. 7), at NC State (Nov. 14), Clemson (Nov. 21), Virginia (Nov. 28) and at Duke (Dec. 5). Good news: Arguably the best home schedule in memory. Bad news: Capacity limited to 25 percent and no FSU-UF game as SEC cancelled all out of conference competition. The revised schedule is more daunting for first-year head coach Mike Norvell but it was going to be a challenge with only three days of spring practice and without the traditional offseason and summer workout program. The challenging schedule will give Norvell and the Seminole fans a good look at exactly how far this program has to go to compete for the ACC title on a regular basis. The schedule and playing in one division (or no divisions) are both interesting.
ACC HOME GAMES CLEMSON The Tigers must be tamed to be knocked off their ACC throne. They were 14-1, 8-0 ACC, and advanced to the National Championship game once again last season where they fell to LSU. Trevor Lawrence returns for his junior season. Lawrence is 25-1 as a starter and had a terrific sophomore season, passing for 3,665 yards and 36 touchdowns. They also return running back Travis Etienne, who rushed for over 1,600 yards, and starting wide receiver Amari Rodgers. However, they must replace seven starters, including four offensive linemen. Defensively, the Tigers return six starters including the entire front four but must replace three starters i the secondary. The front seven is led by defensive tackle Nyles Pickney and middle linebacker James Skalski who were outstanding. They must replace arguably the best defensive player in college football in outside linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who led the team in tackles and sacks. Numbers: Offense 5th total, 4th scoring, 13th rushing and 23rd passing. Defense: 6th total, 3rd scoring, 19th rushing and 4th passing. Dabo Swinney is 130-31 as head coach. Tony
Elliott is back as offensive coordinator and Brent Venables as defensive coordinator. GEORGIA TECH The Yellow Jackets, who are FSU’s closest opponent geographically and should be on the Seminoles’ schedule annually, will finally come to Tallahassee. They went 3-9 last season, 2-6 in ACC play, under first-year head coach Geoff Collins. Georgia Tech has moved away from the wishbone offense run under former head coach Paul Johnson to a modern and balanced spread offense. They return eight on offense, including sophomore quarterback James Graham (1,164 passing yards but completed less than 50 percent of his passes). They return four running backs who combined for over 1,500 yards on the ground. The leader is junior Jordan Mason with 899 yards. They return the left side of their offensive line and center. Defensively, the Yellow Jackets return seven starters from their 4-2-5 scheme, including five defensive backs who were the strength of their defense. Junior cornerback Tre Swilling is the best player on defense. Names and Numbers: Offense 127th total offense, 124th scoring, 72nd rushing and 124th passing. Defense: 89th in total defense, 104th scoring, 117th rushing and 36th passing. NORTH CAROLINA The Tar Heels are on the upswing under head coach and FSU alum Mack Brown who enters his second season in his second stint as the head man at UNC. Last year the Tar Heels went 7-6, 4-4 in ACC play. UNC went 2-10 in 2018 under then head coach Larry Fedora. They gave Clemson its biggest scare of the season with the Tigers barely escaping with a 21-20 victory at North Carolina. They return nine starters on offense, including sophomore quarterback Sam Howell. Howell threw for 3,641 and 36 touchdowns against seven interceptions as a true freshman while completing over 61 percent. They return starting running back Michael Carter, a senior, who rushed for over 1,000 yards. His backup, Javonte Williams, returns with over 900 yards. They return two receivers, senior Dazz Newsome and junior Dyami Brown, who both had over 1,000 yards. They return three starting offensive linemen. Defensively, the Tar Heels return seven starter from s a base 3-3-5 scheme, all three starting linebackers and four backs. They must replace all three starters up front. The leader of the defense is senior middle
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