Reality or Fiction: Florida State’s loss will affect its recruiting ceiling
Rivals nationwide recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. is joined by nationwide recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman, Marcus Benjamin of CanesCounty.com and Jason Higdon of 1stAndTenFlorida.com to sort out three subjects and decide whether or not they consider every assertion is FACT or FICTION.
1. Florida State’s loss to Georgia Tech will affect its recruiting ceiling for the 2025 class.
Spiegelman: FICTION. Yearly we see a top-25 staff fall within the opener, solely to right the course in a while in the course of the season. That’s definitely the case this yr with Mike Norvell and the Seminoles, who’ve a ton of items with which to work. The workers already has a stellar class available and we all know that recruits don’t make selections primarily based off one recreation – regardless of how a lot anticipation and pleasure there was main into it. If the opening week is an indicator for the remainder of the yr, then my stance could change. Proper now I nonetheless assume Norvell and Florida State are in line to maintain recruiting on the excessive clip we’re used to.
Garcia: FACT. Notion has been one among Florida State’s finest weapons on the recruiting path, particularly relative to in-state rivals Florida and Miami. On the sector, no less than, the Seminoles have been a notch or two above the others inside state traces coming off of a banner 2023 season. Now this Georgia Tech loss pairs with the bowl embarrassment to construct into the material of that key work – notion – that carries on the recruiting path.
The way in which through which the Seminoles fell may develop into its personal concern. They scored seven factors within the second half, blew a lead and trotted out an offense that might not muster 300 yards in opposition to what most would contemplate an inferior opponent from a expertise perspective.
With eyeballs all around the type between rivals because the season will get going, it could shock if it did not play an element in how seniors view Florida State’s product.
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2. The Miami-Florida recreation is extra necessary for the Hurricanes than the Gators.
Benjamin: FACT. Any season opener is important for any staff. Beginning the season off on the correct foot can decide the result for a complete season, and no recreation maybe looms bigger as Miami vs. Florida to open the 2024 season. The groups desperately want a win, as each ended the season with thuds: Miami misplaced to Rutgers within the Pinstripe Bowl, and Florida misplaced to its rival, Florida State.
For Florida, the sport is large as a result of a loss would finish a 33-0 home-opener win streak and set Billy Napier‘s scorching seat ablaze. Nevertheless, the unranked Gators are anticipated to make little noise in a crowded SEC. However for Miami, it means a bit extra. The hype practice for Miami is as massive as two locomotives, and in keeping with most sportsbooks, the expectation is that the Hurricanes will win 9 video games. We have seen this program wither after a giant loss, and lots of followers would possibly even name the season a failure if the Canes win eight video games, making this primary recreation vital to this system’s trajectory.
Miami has the expertise to win each recreation on its schedule, but when it loses recreation one to the rival Gators, many will really feel like Miami is identical because the Hurricanes of latest years, and is much from again.
Garcia: FACT. I might level to Florida’s tilt with UCF, a number of weeks down the highway, as extra of a must-win recreation for Billy Napier and firm than the opener in opposition to a Miami staff that abruptly seems poised to make a run within the ACC.
For The U, the notion is that there was expertise however not essentially your entire image, so the chance to go on the highway within the SEC in opposition to a rival presents as a notion changer multi functional shot. In fact there will likely be scores of high recruits in attendance and with the way in which fellow in-state rivals Florida State opened the season, the door for claiming the highest spot throughout the Sunshine State has been kicked broad open.
This recreation seems like will probably be the table-setter for all issues Miami this fall, the place a win units this system towards its finest look below Mario Cristobal and a loss makes many surprise if elite recruiting would not matter if the on-field outcomes keep the identical.
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3. The Miami-Florida recreation is extra vital for the Gators than the Hurricanes.
Higdon: FICTION. For those who ask both the fan base, workers or gamers, everyone knows the reply to this query. Either side will let you know the sport is extra vital for his or her staff. Miami is on the highway and a 2.5- to 3-point favourite, relying on the place you look. The projected over/below win whole for the Hurricanes is 9.5 video games.
Florida is at dwelling enjoying within the Swamp and a 2.5- to 3-point underdog, relying on the place you look. The Gators’ projected over/below win whole is from 4.5 to five.5 video games.
The specialists consider Miami is a fairly good soccer staff, however wants extra religion within the Gators in 2024. The Hurricanes are anticipated to win by Las Vegas. Miami can be pre-season No. 19, whereas the Gators are outdoors the highest 25 heading into the weekend.
If one staff is anticipated to win, the sport is extra vital for that facet, so I’m going with fiction. Relying in your facet, this recreation means extra; there isn’t any denying that easy fact.
Garcia: FICTION. I assume we form of gave it away earlier, however Florida has some flexibility within the win-loss column so far as the Napier scorching seat goes. That schedule is arguably the hardest within the nation, so an early journey will not sound the alarms in Gainesville, although a stumble in opposition to UCF a number of weeks later completely will. Florida goes to depend on younger expertise and stands out as the inferior staff on paper, too, which once more would create some empathy relative to program notion or mentioned scorching seat. It may additionally permit for extra threat to be taken by Napier and firm in play-calling, scheming and extra. Both approach, the affect of this recreation will likely be felt all through the Sunshine State and past.
