FSU Football: 3 Quick Takeaways From Latest Rankings

After FSU football moved up in both polls following their win over Miami, here are the three quick takeaways for fans from the latest rankings.

With the simple action of a blocked extra point by FSU football defensive leader DeMarcus Walker, the Seminoles are back in the good graces of college football world – and inside the Top 20 of both polls again this week.

After being ranked outside of the Top 20 for the first time since the 2011 season, the ‘Noles moved up to 14th in the AP poll and 16th in the coaches rankings after their 20-19 victory over the rival Miami Hurricanes.

Now, FSU finds themselves in a spot where anything can happen – with just 10 spots to go up in the polls to be in the playoff conversation with seven weeks left in the regular season.

Here are the three takeaways from the latest rankings released on Monday.

Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the tackle of Florida State Seminoles linebacker Dontavious Jackson (5) during the second quarter at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 – The ‘Noles will need plenty of help if they want to get back in the playoff hunt.

Even with the ‘Noles still mathematically in the race for the ACC title, it looks like they will need help from teams like N.C. State to give both Clemson and Louisville conference losses while the ‘Noles need to win out. That’s just the ACC race – the CFB playoff picture has plenty of additional steps.

Using the AP poll as an example, the ‘Noles need at least 10 or the 13 teams in front of them to fall while hoping no one below them jumps FSU. Of those baker’s dozen number of teams above the ‘Noles, there will be six games among those teams – meaning FSU will need at least four upsets along the way.

Truly a tough task – but not impossible.

Oct 8, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles tight end Mavin Saunders (88) celebrates during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. FSU won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 – Pollesters have begun to reward ranked wins more than ever before – and punish the losses.

When the ‘Noles dropped a two point decision to an unranked UNC team last week, FSU plummeted from 12th to 23rd in the writer’s poll. One week later, a win over No. 10 Miami by a point got FSU football all the way back up to 14th.

It’s not just the ‘Noles who saw a drastic jump off one win. Virginia Tech shot up eight spots with their blowout of North Carolina while Navy joined the party with their upset win over Houston.

With games left against two teams ranked right now (Clemson and Florida) with a couple more possible, the Seminoles will have plenty of chances to get another of the famous “quality wins” you hear about so much.

Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end DeMarcus Walker (44) sacks Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Florida State Seminoles defeated the Mississippi Rebels 45-34. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 – FSU football finds themselves behind an Ole Miss team they beat by double digits to open the season

Do you remember Labor Day night in Orlando? Do you remember those 39 unanswered points that FSU – down 28-6 shortly before the half – put on Ole Miss en route to an 11 point win? You may, but apparently the pollsters don’t.

When the Seminoles are looking up in the rankings this week, they see a Rebels team that they made light work of for the last 31 minutes of football on that night in Orlando. Yet, it’s Ole Miss who is ranked higher – the byproduct of their losses to FSU and Alabama being closer than our defeats to Louisville and North Carolina.

I get the reasons why, but there is something fishy about looking up at a team that FSU football embarrassed for much of the game earlier last month.