In 2026, Florida State football will play several tough opponents, they have one of the hardest schedules in the ACC and perhaps in the entire nation when you take a first look at it. But on the opposite side of the spectrum, what are their cupcakes?
FSU has hosted many lower-tier opponents in its history, and dominated nearly all of them. We do not speak of the Jacksonville State incident. To date, they are 85-16-2 against FCS opponents and 225-86-2 against the ACC since joining the conference in 1991. They average 31.8 points per game when facing an ACC team, and have a strong record against most of their conference opponents.
Yes, the Seminoles do have an illustrious history, but their recent string of dud seasons has put both Mike Norvell's job and the future of this program in question; is there reason for hope?
At least during these games, there should be.
Here are the five easiest games FSU has on their schedule, so if they win all five of these, and one more somewhere, they're going bowling! (A very low bar, I know.)
No. 5: vs. Florida Gators
Florida has been struggling over the last few years, and FSU is their partners in misery. Last season, FSU finished 5-7, and the Gators finished 4-8. This is going to be the fifth easiest, because it's unlikely that either program will undergo a miraculous one-year turnaround.
No. 4: vs. NC State
There isn't much going in the way of FSU's ACC schedule, but their matchup against NC State is likely the second easiest. The Wolfpack finished 7-5 last season with wins over East Carolina, Virginia, and No. 8 Georgia Tech, just to name a few. They also beat the Seminoles 21-11 at home. The question at hand is whether CJ Bailey can lead this team to the next level. Whether they can get there is debatable.
No. 3: at Boston College
Boston College was not good at all last year. They went 2-10, with wins over their FCS opponent, Fordham, and Syracuse, who was not good either. They haven't had an eight-win season since 2009, and it's unlikely they put up much of a fight against an FSU team looking to get back on track.
No. 2: vs. New Mexico State Aggies
The Aggies are FSU's tune-up game, and given they have had two winning seasons in the last 10 years, the Seminoles should open the season with an easy win.
No. 1: vs. FCS Central Arkansas
It's their FCS opponent; need we say more? The Bears had good success in the 2010s, with five trips to the FCS playoffs, but failed to escape the second round in all five seasons. They have won three national championships, equaling Florida State. In all seriousness, if this is a loss, we'll know the trouble is beginning, and there's nothing that can stop it.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of FSU news, notes, and opinions. Jacob Smith is a contributor for FSU Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can also follow Jacob on X at @jsmith_sports.
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: What are FSU's five easiest games in 2026?