Menu
The 2022 FSU Football schedule is out, and we are here to break down what lies ahead for the Seminoles this upcoming season. From a trip to the big easy to a pair of Friday night games, this season will have plenty to be excited about for FSU fans.
The schedule sets up pretty well for FSU in my opinion. It has a fair number of challenges, but it is not necessarily murderers’ row either.
How many wins FSU will end up with this season remains to be seen. For now, let’s take a week-by-week look at what FSU will be facing as they aim to have a turnaround season in 2022.
The Noles kick off year 3 under HC Mike Norvell in Doak Campbell Stadium with what “should be” a tune-up game against Duquesne on August 27th. (insert painful JSU flashback here)
All jokes aside, JSU is miles better than Duquesne, and this one should be a blowout. It is not the most exciting opener, but should give FSU a chance to get all the kinks worked out in a game scenario.
Taking care of business in week one would give FSU a much-needed season opening win for the first time in five seasons and provide momentum heading into a big match up in week two.
That big matchup comes against the Bayou Bengals of LSU and new HC Brian Kelly. The highly anticipated contest takes place in primetime on Sunday night in the Superdome. This game is part of a series of blockbuster matchups to open the 2022 college football season.
This one should be a fun outing by all who make it to the big easy. I’m sure there will be a heavy dose of the Warchant happening on Bourbon Street all weekend long.
FSU wastes no time in facing its first big test of the season. However, the Tigers are breaking in an unfamiliar staff and trying to fill some key departures including at the quarterback position. FSU will have a good a chance as any to walk out of New Orleans with a statement win early in the season.
Coming off the LSU game, FSU has a week off before traveling to Louisville to take on the Cardinals in a Friday night game that kicks off ACC play.
Louisville has beaten FSU in the past two meetings, and I expect this to be a coin toss game that could go either way.
FSU certainly has enough talent to get a win here. But the Noles will need to bring their A game into a hostile environment against a Cardinals team that returns a veteran quarterback.
The Noles then bring it home in back-to-back weeks leading off with Boston College. FSU won a close one over the Eagles last year on the road despite having to overcome some terrible officiating.
BC is always a physical team that plays tough. However, being at home in the Florida heat may give FSU the edge it needs to make it two straight in the series.
In the fifth game of the season FSU welcomes Wake Forest to Tallahassee. The Demon Deacons, with the help of nine super seniors and the emergence of quarterback Sam Hartman and wide receiver A.T Perry, had a breakout year racking up eleven wins last season. Unfortunately, that included a painful thumping of FSU.
To the dismay of FSU fans, both of those players are back again this year. At least the game is at home this time around, but it won’t be an easy one against a very well coached squad.
This is another game in which FSU has the talent to win especially at home. It is a strange place to be worried about Wake Forest as an FSU fan, but that is the reality of current times. These are the games FSU must start winning in order to climb back to the top of the conference where they sat for so long.
In game six FSU travels to the unfriendly confines of Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina where a contest against the N.C. State Wolfpack awaits them.
As most fans know, Raleigh has long been a snake pit for FSU. The Wolfpack had a solid season last year led by quarterback Devin Leary who will face FSU again this year.
FSU held its own last year, and NC State will be coming off a road game vs Clemson. The Noles could sneak out of there with a victory, but it is going to be a tall task.
This will be a good test for FSU to see where they stand with one of the better teams in the Atlantic division.
Game seven will bring the Clemson Tigers into Doak Campbell Stadium. Despite a slew of lop-sided games recently, FSU looked like they belonged on the same field in last year’s matchup. Albeit it was against a struggling, but still good Clemson squad. The Noles at least managed to give everyone in orange quite a scare last year.
Clemson did finish strong last season, and has a decided talent edge over FSU. But there are plenty of question marks waiting to be answered about this 2022 Tiger team. How will the defense perform after the departure of long-time defensive coordinator Brent Venables? Will their offense, which struggled mightily last year, be able to find their way?
This game may be a long shot for FSU on paper, but games aren’t played on paper. This would be a massive shift in the conference if FSU can pull off a win.
Florida State gets a second bye week before they play Georgia Tech at home in game number eight.
Let’s be honest, FSU “should” win this one. They are at home with an extra week to prepare for a Yellow Jackets team that is still rebuilding as they find their way away from the triple option. They also just lost one of their best offensive weapons to the transfer portal in running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
However, we can’t forget it was the Jackets who spoiled Mike Norvell’s coming out party two years ago in a rather embarrassing loss for FSU.
I do like the Noles to get some revenge on a struggling Georgia Tech team this time around, but no wins are guaranteed as most FSU fan are painfully aware of.
As one of the most intense and storied rivalries in all of college football, Florida State vs Miami needs no introduction or explanation of why it is a huge game for both programs. If last year’s intense thriller is any indication of what is in store for us this year, we are in for another good one!
Everyone in garnet and gold remembers the famous fourth and fourteen play that eventually led to the staple win of Mike Norvell’s career so far at FSU. However, the hurricanes will be under the command of new HC Mario Cristobal (formerly of Oregon) but the jury remains out as to how Miami will look under the new staff.
The canes do have some talented players, and FSU does have to travel to Hard Rock Stadium (aka Doak South) for the one game Miami fans actually show up to.
We’ll have to wait and see how both squads look early on before we can make any judgements about this one, but it is definitely a game you won’t want to miss.
In the last road contest of the year, the Seminoles head north to face the Syracuse Orange in the newly named JMA wireless dome. Traveling all the way to New York and playing a sleepy game against Syracuse right after Miami has trap game written all over it.
Last year’s 33-30 win at home snapped a four-game losing streak for FSU. We also started to see improved play going forward, including a win against the Sam Howell led North Carolina Tarheels the following week.
Despite a few big time wins under HC Dino Babers during his tenure there, Syracuse has been struggling and this should be an opportunity for FSU to get a conference road win.
Game eleven is the first of back-to-back homes games to close out the regular season for FSU. The Louisiana Rajin’ Cajuns had a great season last year under now Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier.
However, they have a new staff and lost a lot of their top players from last year. FSU hasn’t earned the right to overlook any games, but this one should be a win.
Speaking of new Florida head coach Billy Napier, FSU will welcome him to the rivalry in a Friday night prime time game on November 25th as the Gators travel to Doak in the final game of the regular season.
Yes, you read that right, another Friday night game in the mix. While a little out of the ordinary, it should provide a raucous atmosphere in Tallahassee as it guarantees a prime-time slot.
Last year’s game had bowl aspirations on the line for both teams. Unfortunately, FSU took a disappointing loss in the swamp versus an interim head coach which ended their season.
It remains to be seen if Florida HC Billy Napier will be able to carry over his success to the power 5 level. But I have a feeling FSU will have revenge on the mind as they get the Gators at home in this chapter of the historic rivalry. A win here would certainly bode well for FSU on the recruiting trail as well.
That concludes the 2022 Florida State football regular season schedule. With a home slate that includes Clemson and Florida and a trip to New Orleans, there are plenty of big games for FSU fans to enjoy.
Unfortunately, while I can’t say that I expect them to hit the 10-win mark this season, I do expect to see some progress in year three under Norvell and company. Last year was their first (somewhat) normal offseason post covid and we did see some noted areas of improvement.
Will it carry over to this season? Who will step up with the loss of standout defensive end Jermain Johnson?
All these questions remain to be answered but one thing is for sure, it’s a new season and a new opportunity for FSU to get things turned around and begin the climb back the program we all want it to be.
Thank you for reading and Go Noles!
Enjoy this article? Share it on social media so others can too! We thank you for your support.