The defeat to Georgia Tech raises serious doubts about Florida State’s chances of winning the national title, suggesting they may not even make it to the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year.

The Yellow Jackets are decent, right? It’s hard to say for certain. With only one game played this season, all we really know is that Georgia Tech managed to outscore the Seminoles by a field goal.

This is a concerning sign: Tech claimed victory against No. 10 Florida State with a last-second 44-yard kick, ending the game 24-21 in Ireland.

Last year, the Seminoles had an undefeated regular season but still fell short of the playoff. Depending on various postseason formats, including regular bowl games and the previous four-team playoff system, Saturday’s outcome would have left Florida State either on the outskirts of the championship discussion or outright eliminated.

The newly introduced 12-team college football playoff format will change the dynamics of the regular season, easing the pressure of November games. This format allows teams like Florida State a wider margin for error, providing room for one or even two losses before they are disqualified from the conference title chase. However, their schedule still includes tough opponents like Clemson, Miami, and Notre Dame, meaning they can’t afford many missteps.

In a landscape where simply winning 10 or more games in a Power Four conference guarantees a playoff spot, or clinching a conference title can offset an imperfect record, losses to teams like Georgia Tech lose some significance.

Senior quarterback DJ Uiagalelei mostly made short passes, successfully completing only two long throws of 20 yards or more, reminiscent of his performance at Clemson. He finished with 19 completions on 27 attempts for 193 yards, showcasing his skills during an 84-yard touchdown drive that included two critical fourth-down conversions, tying the game at 21-21 in the final quarter.

However, the Seminoles’ revamped defense failed to make stops as Georgia Tech ran down the final 6:33 of the clock, setting up Aiden Birr for the winning kick.

The Yellow Jackets amassed 190 rushing yards on 36 attempts, scoring three touchdowns, while Florida State managed only 98 yards on the ground with a total of 291 yards in offense. The defense allowed Georgia Tech to score touchdowns on all three visits to the red zone.

Poor performance from the offensive line, difficulty in stopping the run, and an absence of a downfield passing attack. Considered one of the top teams in the ACC and capable of making a playoff run after narrowly missing out last season, the Seminoles appear to be falling short of expectations. This is troubling for a team facing Memphis, Clemson, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Florida ahead.

These upcoming games present an opportunity for Florida State to improve their ranking in the Top 25. Ultimately, the most critical games will take place in the ACC; winning a Power Four league essentially guarantees a playoff invitation.

Thus, the Seminoles are not entirely out of contention, but their situation is bleak.