Florida State took a long trip to Ireland only to lose to Georgia Tech on a last-minute field goal. The Seminoles could have had that experience much closer to home! The journey back to Tallahassee is going to be a tough one.

The real downside of these early-season games in far-off places is that, at the end of all the fun, there’s a football match to play, which the Seminoles seemed to overlook entirely. After nearly eight months of preparation for the 2024 season, FSU looked ill-equipped to face an opponent projected to place ninth in the preseason ACC rankings.

After scoring a touchdown and making a two-point conversion to jump ahead 8-0 within the first five minutes, the Seminoles struggled offensively, failing to maintain a running game or effectively throw the ball deep. When offensive difficulties surface this early in the season, they often linger until November.

The issues for the Seminoles start with a debate regarding new quarterback DJ Uiagalelei: Is FSU’s inability to stretch the field due to the inexperience of the receiver group, which struggled to create separation, or is it about Uiagalelei’s discomfort in throwing beyond a short pass? Defensively, the Seminoles also faltered against Georgia Tech’s experienced offensive line, giving up nearly 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

There’s a silver lining with the introduction of a 12-team College Football Playoff format, which allows potential contenders a bit more breathing room compared to past postseason systems. For instance, FSU could still make the playoff as an at-large team, even if they suffer another loss, depending on how the ACC season unfolds.

However, a team that struggled against Georgia Tech isn’t likely to progress far. Upcoming challenges include Memphis, Clemson, Miami, North Carolina, and Notre Dame. After narrowly missing out on a top-four finish last season, have the Seminoles’ playoff chances for 2024 already been dashed?

Florida State and Georgia Tech are at the forefront of the winners and losers from Week 0:

Winners

Georgia Tech

Although Tech was projected to finish ninth in the preseason conference standings, they received a first-place vote, indicating someone saw Saturday’s win coming. Since last season, the Yellow Jackets have scored multiple rushing touchdowns in eight of their last nine games; a strong front line eases the pressure on quarterback Haynes King and has become a defining feature of the program under coach Brent Key. This victory not only boosts Georgia Tech’s position in the rankings but also significantly increases their fan support.

Brent Key

After being promoted from Geoff Collins’ staff in the middle of the 2022 season, Key has achieved considerable success. Following a 4-4 interim season and a 7-6 record last year, the former offensive lineman has firmly established a program identity and transformed the Jackets into a serious ACC contender. A notable improvement has been seen in the offensive line, which dominated against the Seminoles’ revamped defense and is expected to be a strength throughout the conference season. With this win against FSU, Tech enhances its status within the conference.

SMU

By narrowly avoiding what would have been a devastating loss to Nevada as new ACC members, SMU emerged as a significant winner of the evening, finishing 29-24. Trailing 24-13 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Mustangs rallied with a 16-0 run, thanks in part to junior tight end RJ Maryland, who scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:18 left and recorded 162 yards on nine catches. Despite Nevada being predicted to finish last in the Mountain West, SMU is determined to prove that prediction wrong.

Losers

Florida State

This type of performance and defeat harkens back to the early days of the Mike Norvell era. Despite significant player changes causing uncertainty in the Power Four, FSU appeared poised as a top contender for the national title and a main player in the ACC. However, following the loss in Dublin, the excitement around FSU has been tempered, setting expectations closer to eight wins instead of ten or more.

DJ Uiagalelei

While Uiagalelei can deliver reliable, cautious quarterback play, expecting more than that might lead to disappointment. The key question for Norvell is whether the Seminoles require more firepower to secure another ACC title — and after this first game, the answer seems to be a clear yes. There are options to enhance Uiagalelei’s performance, similar to what was done at Oregon State by former coach Jonathan Smith. His ability to safeguard the football remains an asset, and while his running ability is another strong point, it was underutilized in the opener. After three years at Clemson and one game at FSU, it may be that Uiagalelei isn’t quite suited for the ACC style.

Nevada

New coach Jeff Choate and Nevada are showing signs of improvement, even after struggling with a record of 4-20 over the past two seasons. Putting up a fight against SMU, even if the Mustangs aren’t the strongest in the Power Four, is indicative of progress. The question remains: can this strategy be successfully replicated moving forward?

In the Mountain West, the Wolf Pack had a chance to make a statement, but it feels like there was a lost opportunity. If Nevada steps up its game following Saturday’s match, the difference between five victories and a chance for a bowl game could hinge on that upset.

New Mexico

As nearly two-touchdown underdogs against the strong Montana State from the Championship Subdivision, New Mexico seemed set for a victory in coach Bronco Mendenhall’s first game. Unfortunately, they faltered in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 35-31 loss. The Lobos had taken the lead thanks to two defensive touchdowns, the second bringing the score to 31-14 just two minutes into the second half. However, the Bobcats orchestrated impressive fourth-quarter drives, scoring touchdowns from 80, 93, and 89 yards, culminating in a short touchdown run with only 10 seconds remaining to snatch the win. Under Mendenhall, a successful coach with experience from Brigham Young and Virginia, UNM is expected to find its footing eventually.