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The 2015 USA Today preseason coaches poll comes out later Thursday, so in preparation, Tomahawk Nation took a glance at where FSU has started in the poll since Jimbo Fisher took over as head coach in Tallahassee-- as well as where the 'Noles finished at the end of each season.
Fisher has been at the helm for the Seminoles since 2010, when the garnet and gold began ranked No. 20 and wound up at No. 16 after a 10-4 campaign. In 2011, however, Florida State slid from a preseason No. 5 billing to a final ranking at No. 23 after a disappointing 9-4 season that included FSU's last ACC home loss (to Virginia).
The most accurate preseason position for the 'Noles was in 2012, when they began at No. 7 and wound up at No. 8 after going 12-2. And of course, in the Seminoles' undefeated national championship season of 2013, Florida State climbed to the poll's top spot after beginning the year at No. 12. FSU stayed atop the poll to begin last year and finished in the No. 6 spot after a 13-1 season that saw the 'Noles qualify for the inaugural College Football Playoff.
What can we take away from all of this?
Not much. The Coaches poll has been incredibly accurate overall, nailing Florida State an average of just 1.8 spots off its eventual ranking, thanks to over- and underacheiving relative to the rather meaningless preseason poll averaging out.
But it can be argued that the above math actually shows that the poll has not consistently over- or underrated Florida State. Looking at it another way, USA Today has missed on FSU's final spot by 7.8 each year.
This season, Florida State is expected to win nine or ten regular-season games by the various Las Vegas casinos who have put up odds (with nine being favored over ten). Florida State, which has won the last three ACC titles, is considered heads up with Clemson to win the division, being slightly favored by some casinos and slight underdogs at other venues.