Column: FSU football should consider next season ACC champions-or-bust

The preseason hype for the 2023-24 Florida State team has officially begun. The team finished No. 11 in the AP Poll and is expected to be in College Football Playoff for first time since its inception. They brought back several key players and signed a transfer class. Next season, the ACC will scrap the two-division format and introduce a new 3-5- 5 scheduling model.

FSU had an elite offense this past season. The Seminoles lost some key players on offense. They added Jaheim Bell and Kyle Morlock to the transfer portal. They also signed a second-year transfer Winston Wright Jr. from the University of West Virginia. He's expected to be a significant contributor after missing all of last season with an injury. Jeremiah Byers is the No. 4 offensive lineman in the portal and projects to start at offensive guard. Casey Roddick could be the other starting guard at Colorado. It's the most important season for the Seminole offense since 1995.

Florida State's defense is expected to be good enough to win games. The team has a lot of returning players, including first-team All-ACC defensive end Jared Verse. They also have a few promising young players. FSU also signed Braden Fiske, Darrell Jackson Jr. and Gilber Edmond. Fentrell Cypress II from Virginia is the team's most promising transfer. Jammie Robinson has declared for the NFL Draft. Two of the top three safeties are back from last season. At linebacker, the Seminoles have Tatum Bethune, Kalen DeLoach and DJ Lundy.

Winston Wright Jr. and Tyler Keltner could help the Seminoles' special teams improve. Last season, FSU ranked No. 13 in yards per kick return (23.4). Wright was one of the better kickers in the country. Kelter earned first-team All-SoCon honors last season.