It’s never too early to think about the 2021 college football season.
And that excitement is starting to build at Florida State, which opens at home with a prime-time showdown against Notre Dame on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
The Seminoles’ season-ticket renewal rate is trending favorably at 83% in the main seating bowl, according to FSU.
Here are the current numbers:
Renewed Season Tickets in the Main Seating Bowl: 20,661
New Season Tickets Sold in the Main Seating Bowl: 2,143
Total Sold in the Main Seating Bowl: 22.804
Renewal Percentage in the Main Seating Bowl: 83%
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Second-year coach Mike Norvell has worked tirelessly to flip the team’s roster after three consecutive losing seasons.
The Seminoles’ 2022 recruiting class is currently ranked 12th nationally by Rivals.com and 13th by 247Sports.com.
He held free youth camps across Florida last month, his recent Mega Camp attracted around 3,000 players and he welcomed the return of in-person recruiting on June 1 near the midnight hour.
PRODUCT ON FIELD SELLS TICKETS
Of course, it’s the product on the field that sells and generates excitement.
The Seminole Nation is hopeful for a substantial improvement over last year’s 3–6 pandemic-ravaged season.
FSU featured the nation’s youngest roster and Norvell started four different quarterbacks in nine games.
Due to COVID-19, FSU limited Doak Campbell Stadium’s normal capacity of 79,560 people to 20-25%. The Seminoles went a month between games at one point due to the pandemic and their home game against Clemson was canceled only hours prior to kickoff.
College football fans are longing for a return to normalcy and the good old days this season.
Projections for FSU in 2021 point to improvement, in baby steps. Three different head coaches in four years has been a high hurdle to clear. Norvell and staff have rolled up their sleeves to rebuild the program’s winning culture.
According to Athlon Sports:
“The offense should be solid in 2021, but likely not spectacular. The defense will need to make major improvements to approach respectability. A win-loss record of somewhere around .500 wouldn’t satisfy FSU fans in most years, but it would be a clear step in the right direction. And the Noles haven’t made many of those of late.”
The first official day of preseason practice is Aug. 10. FSU is also planning for full capacity in Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Seminoles’ schedule certainly appears manageable with seven home games and five road games, including the annual rivalry matchup with Florida after it was canceled last season due to the pandemic.
It will be important for FSU to get off to a good start. The Seminoles open with four home games in the first five weeks.
FSU 2021 schedule
Sept. 5: vs. Notre Dame
Sept. 11: vs. Jacksonville State
Sept. 18: at Wake Forest
Sept. 25: Louisville
Oct. 2S: Syracuse (Family Weekend)
Oct. 9: at North Carolina
Oct. 23: vs. UMass (Homecoming)
Oct. 30: at Clemson
Nov. 6: vs. North Carolina State
Nov. 13: vs. Miami
Nov. 20: at Boston College
Nov. 27at Florida
Reach Jim Henry at [email protected].
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