ESPN’s first bowl projections for the 2026 season are out, and for Florida State fans, this is the news we’ve been desperate to hear. After two straight agonizing years watching from the sidelines, missing the postseason entirely, the Seminoles are finally projected to get back in the game and return to a bowl. It’s been a tough stretch, so seeing FSU in the mix again feels like a breath of fresh air for everyone who bleeds garnet and gold.
The Analysts Agree: FSU vs. USF is On
Two big names from ESPN, Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach, both dropped their preseason College Football Playoff and bowl projections, and they both see Florida State making a bowl game. Get this: they even agree on the opponent. Both analysts have our Noles squaring off against in-state rival South Florida, the USF Bulls. Now, while they agree on who FSU will play, they can’t quite nail down where the game goes down. Schlabach projects the Seminoles will meet USF in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, set for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on December 18 at 2:30 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN. Bonagura, on the other hand, thinks the matchup heads north to the Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, on December 28 at 2 p.m. ET, also on ESPN. Both bowls pull teams from the ACC and American Conference, so an FSU-USF game is definitely on the table for either one.
From Struggle to Six Wins: The Comeback Story
Let’s be real, the last couple of years have been brutal. Missing the postseason for two consecutive seasons under Mike Norvell has been tough to swallow. We went a dismal 2-10 back in 2024, and while we showed some improvement last year, finishing 5-7 just wasn’t enough to get us into a bowl game. That’s why simply appearing in either the Gasparilla or Military Bowl would be massive. It represents a real return to bowl eligibility, a major step forward after those difficult seasons. The most important takeaway from these projections? Both Bonagura and Schlabach expect FSU to clear that critical six-win threshold in 2026. Hitting that mark means everything for this program right now.
Renewing an In-State Rumble
Beyond just getting to a bowl, a potential meeting with South Florida would be pretty epic. This in-state series has been dormant for a full decade, can you believe that? The last time FSU and USF duked it out was way back in 2016. That game was also at Raymond James Stadium, and a stacked No. 13 Florida State team rolled over the Bulls 55-35. That was the day Dalvin Cook went absolutely wild, putting up an insane 267 rushing yards. Imagine renewing that rivalry on a national stage for a bowl game. It would be an awesome cap to a comeback season. For now, the focus is clear: get those six wins and get back to the postseason. Let’s go, Noles!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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