Noles seeing Orange: FSU and Michigan set to collide
Arguably the two best teams who didn’t make it to the CFP
With the College Football Playoff set, it’s finally the moment of truth for Seminole fans. While the pre-season goal for such a hopeful FSU team may have been to reach the playoff, nothing excites fans more than the reality of facing the fellow collegiate juggernaut, Michigan at the Orange Bowl. Pack your bags, we’re heading down state!
Is there really a bowl game ‘Noles fans would rather be a part of? FSU’s rich history in the Orange Bowl is something any die-hard fan can’t forget. Since 2001, the men of Florida State have competed in the Orange Bowl a whopping five times.
The Seminoles’ last visit to Miami for the Orange Bowl ended with a victory over Northern Illinois. However, this year the task won’t be so simple. Holding the keys to our fate is head coaching extraordinaire Jim Harbaugh in a matchup that will surely challenge Jimbo Fisher’s wits. Jimbo is a legend in Tallahassee for a reason, but let’s not pretend Harbaugh’s robust resume doesn’t speak for itself. A former NFL Quarterback, Harbaugh has also won Coach of the Year at the pro level. On the other hand, Fisher’s resume has something Harbaugh is missing: a National Championship. Analysts will debate back and forth, but only time will tell which giant will reign victorious.
Match-ups like these stand as reminders of what could have been. Michigan was one stop away from the College Football Playoff. Even with Florida State’s early season slump, they were just one score away from beating the Clemson team that earned a playoff spot. On the Garnett side of things, Demarcus Walker was recently named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and the return of Derwin James is sure to return our defense to dominance. Soak it in ‘Noles fans because this will likely be the last time we ever see Dalvin Cook in garnet and gold. His legacy at Florida State is everlasting, so it will be incredible to see him trot for us one last time.
Regardless of the outcome, the excitement surrounding this game is what football is really all about. In years past, collegiate fans have been disappointed to see uneven match-ups in historic bowl games. If there’s one thing you can count on when two legendary coaches collide, it’s that it’ll be a damn good game. The eventual winners will certainly have to earn their victory. Being our last game until next year’s showdown with Alabama, defeating a titan like Jim Harbaugh might just be the perfect way to prepare ourselves.