Following the Seminoles’ contentious exclusion from the College Football Playoff, their aspirations for a strong start to the new year were dashed by an unexpected defeat against Georgia Tech in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic held in Ireland on Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets, who were significant underdogs entering the season opener, secured a surprising 24-21 victory over No. 10 Florida State, propelled by a powerful running game and a last-second field goal. This win marked Georgia Tech as one of only five unranked teams to triumph over an AP Top 10 conference opponent in their opening game over the past four decades.
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit was among the first to weigh in on the game’s outcome, offering some words of solace to FSU fans after the loss.
“Man, tough loss for the Noles over in Ireland to a good GT team,” Herbstreit commented on X (formerly Twitter). “The great news is with the new 12-team playoff, there’s still plenty of opportunities to climb back into the bracket. Regroup and keep battlin.
Herbstreit became a contentious figure among FSU fans after he voiced his support for the CFP committee’s choice to leave the Noles, who finished last season with an undefeated 13-0 record, out of the postseason bracket. Instead, the committee awarded playoff spots to SEC champion Alabama and one-loss Texas, alongside Michigan and Washington.
Despite the controversy, the Noles are still a favored contender to win the ACC and secure a playoff spot in the new 12-team CFP format. However, much of their success this season will depend on the growth of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.
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