2023 FSU football schedule officially released

Jan 31, 2023 - 12:43 AM

In its third year under head coach Mike Norvell, Florida State football put together its best season since 2016, finishing No. 11 in the country after a 10-win season and state title, with a bowl victory over the Oklahoma Sooners serving as a cherry on top.

That success, combined with the return of major names like quarterback Jordan Travis (who already is receiving Heisman hype for next season), running back Trey Benson, defensive end Jared Verse and defensive tackle Fabien Lovett has expectations high for 2023.

“There is a tremendous amount of excitement internally and externally for this season,” head coach Mike Norvell said. “The ACC’s new scheduling model and elimination of divisions creates exciting matchups and brings new teams on our schedule, which is great for our student-athletes and fans to experience.”

As a reminder — the ACC has eliminated divisions and instead has switched to a 3-5-5 format, where teams will have three set opponents annually and face each of the other 10 schools twice during a four-year cycle. As part of the new arrangement, Florida State will be facing off against the Clemson Tigers, Miami (FL) Hurricanes, and Syracuse Orange yearly.

The Seminoles will once again start the year off against LSU, this time in Orlando, with major home games in the form of matchups vs. Virginia Tech and Miami. For the first time since 2014, FSU will play Clemson in September while status quo remains in the Sunshine Showdown vs. Florida, which will serve as the season-ender.

“Our team had a tremendous week in Orlando for the bowl game, and we are looking forward to returning there for what will probably be the most-anticipated game of Labor Day weekend. Playing eight games in our home state is another great element for our team, and we can’t wait to be back in front of the best fans in the country as we continue on our climb back to the top of college football.”

FSU announced that its spring game will take place on April 15 at 4 p.m. inside Doak Campbell Stadium.

The full schedule and dates are listed below:

2023 Florida State football schedule

Sunday, September 3: LSU Tigers (Orlando)

Saturday, September 9: Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Saturday, September 16: at Boston College Eagles

Saturday, September 23: at Clemson Tigers

Saturday, September 30: BYE

Saturday, October 7: Virginia Tech Hokies

Saturday, October 14: Syracuse Orange

Saturday, October 21: Duke Blue Devils

Saturday, October 28: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Saturday, November 4: at Pittsburgh Panthers

Saturday, November 11: Miami Hurricanes

Saturday, November 18: North Alabama Lions

Saturday, November 25: at Florida Gators

From FSU Sports Info:

TALLAHASSEE – Florida State’s complete 2023 schedule, which features another Labor Day Sunday night opener and eight games inside the state, was released Monday evening live on ACC Network.

“There is a tremendous amount of excitement internally and externally for this season,” head coach Mike Norvell said. “The ACC’s new scheduling model and elimination of divisions creates exciting matchups and brings new teams on our schedule, which is great for our student-athletes and fans to experience. Our team had a tremendous week in Orlando for the bowl game, and we are looking forward to returning there for what will probably be the most-anticipated game of Labor Day weekend. Playing eight games in our home state is another great element for our team, and we can’t wait to be back in front of the best fans in the country as we continue on our climb back to the top of college football.”

Florida State opens September 3 against LSU in a rematch of last year’s Labor Day Sunday primetime game. This year, the venue is Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, for the Camping World Kickoff. FSU defeated the Tigers 24-23 in last year’s Allstate Louisiana Kickoff held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Both teams went on to win 10 games last season, including bowl games at Camping World Stadium. Florida State leads the all-time series with LSU 8-2. FSU is 10-0-2 all-time in Orlando, including 2-0 in season openers.

The Seminoles’ home opener is September 9 against Southern Miss. Florida State leads the all-time series 14-8-1, including a 42-13 win at the 2017 Independence Bowl in the most recent meeting. FSU opens ACC play with back-to-back road games, traveling to Boston College on Sept. 16 and Clemson on Sept. 23. Florida State is 15-5 all-time against Boston College and holds a 20-15 all-time edge against the Tigers.

Following an open date on Sept. 30, the Seminoles have a three-game homestand throughout most of October that is the longest for FSU since opening the 2012 season with four straight home games. Florida State hosts Virginia Tech during Family Weekend on October 7, Syracuse on October 14 and Duke for Homecoming on October 21. The Seminoles and Hokies are meeting for the first time since 2018 and only the fifth time in the regular season since Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004. Florida State defeated Syracuse 38-3 on the road last year, improving to 13-2 all-time against the Orange, and earned a 56-35 win over Duke in Tallahassee in 2020 that moved the Seminoles to 21-0 in the series, the most wins without a loss in any series among current conference opponents.

Florida State travels to Wake Forest for an October 28 matchup and to Pitt on November 4 before returning home for the ACC finale against in-state rival Miami on November 11. Last year, the Seminoles produced the largest road win in series history with a 45-3 victory over the Hurricanes in Hard Rock Stadium. Florida State is playing at Pitt for the first time since the 2013 national championship team opened its season with a 41-13 win on Labor Day night.

The Seminoles complete their home portion of the schedule against North Alabama on November 18 in the first matchup between those two programs before heading to Gainesville for the regular season finale. Florida State defeated Florida 45-38 in Tallahassee last season, marking the first time FSU scored at least 45 points against both Miami and Florida in the same season and clinching Florida State’s 15th state championship.

FSU’s Garnet and Gold Spring Showcase provides a first look at the 2023 team and will be held Saturday, April 15 at 4 p.m. inside Doak Campbell Stadium. More information, including ticket pricing and other events during the Spring Showcase weekend, will be announced soon.

Florida State won its final six games of the 2022 season and enters 2023 with the nation’s fifth-longest active winning streak. FSU was ranked No. 11 in the final AP poll after a 10-3 campaign, its best AP final ranking since 2016 and the 25th 10-win season in program history. The Seminoles return 16 starters from last year’s squad including Heisman Trophy candidate Jordan Travis, who led the ACC in passing efficiency, yards per completion and yards per pass attempt, and was the nation’s highest-graded quarterback by Pro Football Focus. Florida State also returns Trey Benson, the ACC’s yards-per-rush leader, Johnny Wilson, who led the conference in yards per reception, and Jared Verse who had the ACC’s best sacks-per-game average in 2022.

The 2023 season is the first of a new ACC scheduling model that eliminates divisions and matches the two teams with the best conference winning percentage in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 2 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The new 3-5-5 scheduling model includes three primary opponents, which for Florida State are Miami, Clemson and Syracuse, and the opportunity to play the other 10 league opponents home and away during a four-year cycle.