Football

David Hale of ESPN argues that Florida State’s neutral-site showdown with Ole Miss is the ACC’s biggest game of the opening weekend of the 2016 season. Although there are a number of substantial games with an ACC team involved, the Labor Day game in Orlando is the only one which matches up two teams which made New Years Six bowls in 2015.

But if you’re looking for some old-fashioned ACC-SEC bragging rights, this is the one to watch. UGA-UNC looks like it’ll be fun, but the Tar Heels aren’t exactly carrying the ACC flag as the league’s dominant force. Clemson is a legitimate national title contender, but they’re going to be expected to topple Auburn. FSU-Ole Miss, though? That’s much closer to a toss-up, and a Seminoles win over one of the SEC West’s top programs would put the ACC in excellent position to do some crowing the rest of the year.

In examining who the leaders of each top-25 team are, ESPN suggests that DeMarcus Walker is the Seminole who motivates the team at halftime with a speech.

4. Florida State Seminoles

DeMarcus Walker

There is a bit of a leadership vacuum on defense with Jalen Ramsey's departure, but Walker's decision to return for his senior season puts him squarely at the center of the Florida State locker room. He has always been a vocal player, but after a stellar 2015, he has earned the respect of everyone on the Seminoles' roster. -- Hale

Sports Illustrated college football writers Colin Becht and Chris Johnson took to a video format to debate whether Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey or FSU’s Dalvin Cook will have a more productive 2016 season.

One of Florida State’s in-state rivals could be heading into next season with a returning defender or two gone as the Canes have indefinitely suspended junior linebacker Juwon Young and are investigating defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad for a violation of team rules.

Recruiting

The FSU Compliance twitter account clarified a bit of what is and is not allowed during the dead period which begins today.

NFL

On Saturday, a trio of former Seminoles made a return trip to FSU with their new team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, for the Tallahassee Takeover. At the event, Telvin Smith, Rashad Greene, and Jalen Ramsey each took time to talk to the media about how it felt to be back at Florida State.

Other Sports

One of Florida State’s own, Katrina Young, qualified for the Rio Olympics in the 10m springboard over the weekend.

After FSU ended a four-year cold spell of NBA draft prowess last week with Malik Beasley’s first-round selection, Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation has two ‘Noles projected to be first-round picks in the 2017 edition of the draft with incoming freshman Jonathan Isaac going 10th overall and sophomore Dwayne Bacon projected as the 26th overall selection.