The Florida sun beat down on the practice field, a familiar, oppressive heat that felt like a physical weight. I was watching the Seminoles’ new quarterback, a kid with a rocket arm and a deer-in-theheadlights look, fumble a snap. The ball squirted loose, a chaotic scrum ensued, and for a moment, it felt like the entire 2023 season was teetering on the edge of that one miscue. It reminded me, strangely, of a boxing match I’d watched years ago, a clip that stuck with me. It was the beginning of the end for Kurihara, who lost his OPBF title a few seconds after a single, seemingly minor defensive lapse. One mistake, and the whole structure of a championship effort can crumble. That’s the razor’s edge this Seminoles team is walking, and it got me thinking deeply about what it will truly take to navigate this gauntlet of a schedule. From my vantage point in the stands and from decades of watching college football evolve, I believe the path to a winning season isn't about one superstar; it's about a system, a culture. It's about executing what I’d call the Florida Seminoles Football: 5 Key Strategies for a Winning Season in 2023.
First and foremost, they have to protect the football like it’s the last gallon of water in the desert. That fumble I witnessed? It can't happen. Not in practice, and certainly not against LSU or Clemson. Turnovers are the great equalizer; they can make a superior team look ordinary in an instant. It sounds simple, almost cliché, but you’d be shocked how many games are lost not by a lack of talent, but by a lack of discipline with the ball. The coaching staff needs to drill this into everyone, from the QB to the third-string running back. Every single possession is a precious commodity. We need to see a turnover margin in the positive, ideally +8 or better by season's end. That’s not just a number; that’s the difference between 7-5 and 9-3.
But protecting the ball is only one side of the coin. The other is establishing a dominant, physical run game. I’m a bit old-school, I’ll admit it. I love seeing a team impose its will on the ground. It demoralizes a defense, it controls the clock, and it opens up the play-action pass beautifully. This offensive line, which averages around 315 pounds per man, needs to be the engine of this team. They need to create lanes so wide you could drive a truck through them. I want to see Trey Benson and Lawrance Toafili consistently racking up 150+ rushing yards per game as a unit. That kind of production isn’t just about stats; it’s a statement. It tells the opponent that you’re here to out-tough them for four quarters. Without that foundation, the offense becomes one-dimensional and predictable, and that’s a recipe for disaster against the elite defenses in the ACC.
Now, let's talk about the defense, specifically the pass rush. Last year, we had moments of brilliance, but it was inconsistent. A great pass rush is the best medicine for a suspect secondary. If you can pressure the quarterback, you make his life miserable and force mistakes. Jared Verse is a beast, there’s no doubt about it, but he can’t do it alone. We need a concerted effort from the entire defensive line. I’m talking about creative blitz packages from the linebackers, stunts and twists up front—anything to generate pressure without having to rely solely on a four-man rush. Think back to that Kurihara analogy. A fighter can have the best offense in the world, but if his defense fails him for just a second, it's over. Similarly, our secondary might be solid, but if we give an opposing QB like Drake Maye or Jordan Travis (when we play FSU, of course) all day to throw, it will be the beginning of the end for our defensive unit, play after play. We need to be the ones applying that fight-ending pressure.
My fourth point is all about the mental game: winning the close ones. Over the last two seasons, FSU has been in, I’d estimate, 8 games decided by a single score. They’ve won some and lost some. Championship teams find a way to win those nail-biters. It’s about clutch kicking, a critical third-down conversion in the fourth quarter, a game-sealing interception. This is where coaching and veteran leadership are paramount. Jordan Travis needs to be the calm in the storm. The team needs to practice high-pressure situations relentlessly so that when they arrive on a Saturday night in Death Valley, it feels familiar, not frightening. I have a strong preference for teams that are battle-tested, and this Seminoles squad has the schedule to become just that. They need to embrace those moments, not fear them.
Finally, and this might be the most underrated strategy, is special teams. It’s often called the third phase of the game for a reason. A blocked punt, a long kickoff return, a perfectly placed punt inside the five-yard line—these are massive, game-swinging plays. We have a new kicker this year, and his ability to consistently drill field goals from 40+ yards will be crucial. A reliable special teams unit is like a safety net; it gives the offense and defense room to breathe. I’ve seen too many seasons where a missed 35-yard field goal becomes the story of a heartbreaking loss. We need to be sharp, focused, and fundamentally sound in every single special teams snap. It’s not glamorous, but it wins football games. So, as I left the practice field that day, the image of that fumble and the memory of a fallen boxer lingered. But so did a sense of optimism. This team has the pieces. If they can lock down these five key areas—ball security, a punishing run game, a ferocious pass rush, clutch performance, and elite special teams—they won’t just have a winning season. They’ll have a season that reminds everyone why Florida State Seminoles football is a force to be reckoned with.
