Some history: Before the Civil War, the juvenile versions of the University of Florida and Florida State were twins, the seminary east of the Sewanee and the seminary west of it. In 1905, the Florida Legislature decided that the college in Gainesville would be for white boys only, the college in Tallahassee for white girls only, and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for black students. That changed in 1947—for the white people anyway. Both UF and FSU went co-ed. Men invaded the campus of the old Florida State College for Women, and within about five minutes put together a football team, named “The Seminoles” by a campus plebiscite (“Tarpons” and “Crackers” were other mascot possibilities), and demanded to play the Gators. UF, longtime members of the mighty Southeastern Conference, reacted as if a back hills sharecropper had applied to join the country club. It took three years of negotiations, the threat of legislation and the intervention of Gov. LeRoy Collins to finally force UF to play FSU in 1958. The Gators won almost all the games in the first ten years. “Never, FSU, never!” they’d say.
They shouted “Never, FSU, never!” that afternoon in 1967 as we sat huddled with the other Seminoles at Florida Field. Then, they stopped.
FSU won 21–16, the first time a Seminole team had beaten the mighty Gators in their own house. The adults jumped up and down like puppies. My godfather said he hated that my father wasn’t there to see it. But for me, joy was, as Mark Twain says, unconfined. I got my first taste of the pure, identity-fired rapture that comes from your tribe, who are virtuous, noble and fearless, vanquishing the tribe from down the road—who had behaved like complete and utter jackasses. After that, I was hooked on the blood rush and the tackle lust of the game—even if I was only in the fourth grade.
People like me say they bleed garnet and gold, or crimson and white or orange and blue or orange and green—physiologically unlikely, but then we don’t say we are “fans” of the Bulldogs or the Longhorns or the Wolverines or, God help us, the Horned Frogs; we talk as though we actually belong to those species, as in: “My daddy is a Bulldog, and I’m a Bulldog, but my sister went to school in Oregon and now she’s a Duck.” We are who we are because we aren’t those jerks over there in Knoxville or Ann Arbor or Starkeville or College Station or Tempe.
College football divides the universe into Us versus Them, validating Us and dissing Them. That’s the whole point. Those of us who love the game are citizens of a psychic fiefdom, a country with invisible borders. You might belong to the Auburn Family or the Wolfpack. I live in the Seminole Nation—which is ridiculous, because there’s a real Seminole Nation, populated by real Native Americans. I’m appallingly white; they’re descendants of people who refused to surrender to the genocidal Andrew Jackson, who tried to run them out of Florida.
It should be clear by now that the love of college football is a form of madness, a mental disorder that often takes hold in childhood. There’s no rational reason FSU and UF should despise each other so extravagantly. FSU and UF have a great deal in common: both red brick Gothic conglomerations set amidst the oaks of North Florida, both big state universities in smallish towns. Seen from space, Tallahassee and Gainesville look a lot alike. Yet Seminoles will tell you that there’s something fundamentally wrong, wrong at the cellular level, with Gators. Gators will tell you there’s something fundamentally wrong, wrong in the DNA, with Seminoles. Everybody’s correct. But as we limp through this unedifying election season, it might be worth clinging to the evident truth that politics is temporary—presidents come and presidents go—but college football is forever.
Keber and Brayer’s stories aren’t outliers. Florida’s two premier state universities—UF and Florida State University (FSU)—have never been more popular or harder to get into. Meanwhile, the ripple effect of well-qualified students getting denied at these schools has enhanced the applicant pools at other state schools like USF and the University of Central Florida (UCF)—once considered commuter schools and “safety schools” for Florida’s top students.
FSU received more than 85,900 applications this year, an 8% increase over last year and a 182% increase compared to a decade ago.
This year, FSU admitted 38% of in-state students and 19% of out-of-state applicants to the Class of 2029. The average SAT for this year’s freshman class at UF is 1432. The middle 50% of students admitted to FSU’s Class of 2029 had an average SAT score of 1395. At UCF, the state’s largest university by enrollment, the middle 50% had an average SAT score of 1360.
Beth Partington is an independent college consultant in Pensacola and the owner of Next Level College Consulting. Having started advising students in 2015, Partington says she’s witnessed dramatic changes in admissions standards at Florida’s state schools. “It’s night and day compared to ten years ago,” she says. “When a student wants to get into UF and FSU, I’m more stressed because I know with (those schools), you have to meet the numbers. High performing students used to consider those schools safety schools, but they aren’t anymore.”
Ten years ago, UF had an acceptance rate of 48% while FSU accepted 56%. Twenty-five years ago, the acceptance rate at UF was 63% and 54% at FSU. The share of out-of-state students at both universities has also risen in the last decade, from 8% to 15% at UF and 11% to 20% at FSU (these figures do not include international students). State law mandates that systemwide enrollment cannot exceed 10% for out-of-state students across Florida’s twelve state schools. But the less selective schools in the state have shares well below 10%, so UF and FSU can exceed that figure without violating state law. Why are so many top students in the state being shut out of Florida’s top state schools and what are parents doing to help their kids to get into the state’s two premier public universities?
In its 2025 Best College rankings, Niche rated UF the 33rd best college in the country and FSU was No. 51 on their list.
Members of Generation Z appear to appreciate the value of quality state schools and are apparently into balmy weather and the football school culture that thrives in the South.
“It’s become one of those big fun Southern football schools that everyone wants to go to.” Indeed, it is—Niche also rates FSU the No. 2 party school in the nation. With both FSU and UF boasting first-year retention rates above 95%, it seems that most UF and FSU students are happy and are spreading the word about the good vibes on campus.
Without accounting for room and board, out-of-state tuition for the 2025-26 academic year costs $29,000 at UF and just under $19,000 at FSU. Compare those prices to the roughly $60,000 out-of-state tuition at the University of Virginia, $45,000 at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, $43,000 at the University of Texas–Austin, $61,000 at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, and $53,000 at the University of California-Berkeley.
For example, FSU may offer a student admission to its main Tallahassee campus through its Seminole Pathways Program. Students accepted to the program are asked to complete their first fall semester of classes at nearby Tallahassee State College, FSU Panama City, or by studying abroad at one of the university’s international campuses. The students can then return to study at the main campus in the spring or for their sophomore year.
At FSU, the demographic makeup of the 2027 and 2028 classes were almost identical before and after the Supreme Court ruling: the percentage of Black students slightly increased from 6.0% to 6.4% while Asian students stayed consistent (4.6% to 4.7%). The Hispanic student enrollment rate just ticked up from 23.0% to 24.1%. UF hasn’t published demographic data on the Class of 2028 yet, but their 2027 class demographics were similar to FSU for Black and Hispanic students. However, the share of Asian students in the freshman class was considerably higher at 14.8%. (According to census data, 3.2% of Floridians identify as solely Asian, 16.9% identify as solely Black and 27.4% as solely Hispanic).
this is how much the landscape of college football/sports has changed, back in 1993 there was talk of programs actually leaving the SEC... (This was from an ESPN graphic during the Miami-Memphis game. First time I ever saw Isaac Bruce) pic.twitter.com/QquOa8kl8g
— Steve Kim - the Thomas Sowell of Boxing (@SteveKim323) July 6, 2025
Their football program rakes in an average yearly revenue of $86.1 million. Florida State is aided by the conference’s new uneven television distribution model, which pays schools out by television ratings.
The Seminoles also recently settled a lawsuit with the ACC, alongside Clemson, that helps paint a clearer picture for a potential exit from the conference down the line. The Athletic expects Florida State’s revenue to jump by eight figures in the fallout.
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 07: Dabo Swinney head coach of Clemson during the ACC football championship game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Clemson Tigers on December 7, 2019, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Just like Florida State, Clemson will greatly benefit from the new distribution rules in the ACC. Given they’re the only ACC program to have won a national title in the last decade, which they did twice, the Tigers will always be in the mix in any list regarding the conference.
However, they could be looking to get out of the ACC just the same as Florida State. Clemson’s average football revenue sits at $78.2 million — which is less than what their exit fee from the conference will be by 2030.
Miami’s future in the ACC has also been thrown into question alongside Clemson and Florida State. The Hurricanes are a nationally-recognized program with a rich history. However, they haven’t made a College Football Playoff or finished as a top 10 team in over two decades.
For this, Baker sees Miami on par with SEC programs like Ole Miss and Arkansas. Those programs ranked 23th and 25th on the list.
North Carolina football garnered a lot of attention this offseason when it hired Bill Belichick as its next head coach. The six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach will bring more than a few eyes (in turn, TV dollars) to the Tar Heels program by his presence alone.
The state has the third-highest rising population rate aside from Texas and Florida. As the fanbase grows, so will the Tar Heels’ football program.
Virginia Tech was the first team in the third tier of this list. Their valuation sits slightly higher than the WNBA’s New York Liberty at $450 million.
While they have a passionate fanbase and strong history in the conference, recent success hasn’t been there. Their last 10-win season came in 2016 and have failed to reach the mark since.
Location and demographics were the driving force behind putting the Wolfpack in this spot. NC State has a massive, as well as passionate fanbase.
Like the Tar Heels, they benefit from the state’s population growth as well as being located in the second largest city in North Carolina. Still, the Wolfpack haven’t had a 10-win season since 2002.
Louisville appears to be the next big thing in the ACC under third-year head coach Jeff Brohm. For now, they’re in the middle of the pack revenue-wise.
Brohm has won at least nine games during each of the last two seasons, including 10 wins in 2023. More of the same is expected to continue this fall, and there’s a good chance they’ll be ranked higher on this list next season.
Georgia Tech has finished 7-6 overall in the each of the last two seasons under head coach Brent Key. This is an improvement from the previous staff that was leading the charge. However, the Yellow Jackets were ranked as high as No. 23 in the AP Poll last season.
This could be a sign of good things to come for Georgia Tech. They’re also aided by their location — Atlanta.
Syracuse finished with its second 10-win season since 2001 under first-year head coach Fran Brown in 2024. They’ll look to replicate immediate success the Orange enjoyed under his leadership last fall.
However, Syracuse has seven winning seasons this century. They’ve have two winning seasons in the last three years, though, which could be a sign that Syracuse is here to stay.
Duke isn’t known for what it’s accomplished on the football field. Given they have one top 25 finish in the last six decades, the Blue Devils have to earn their seat at the table.
Despite this, their spot in the ACC allows them to be a top 50 most valuable programs in the country. It was compared ot the 2019 expansion fee for Charlotte FC to join the MLS ($325 million).
11. Pittsburgh: $303 million (51 overall) 12. Virginia: $257 million (56 overall) 13. Stanford: $202 million (60 overall) 14. SMU: $178 million (63 overall) 15. Boston College: $172 million (64 overall) 16. California: $158 million (65 overall) 17. Wake Forest: $124 million (66 overall)
Every 247Sports (not Composite) 5 FSU Commit since Rankings began in 2010
2023
WR Hykeem Williams
2020
CB Demorie Tate
2017
RB Cam Akers
WDE Joshua Kaindoh
DT Marvin Wilson
2016
CB Levonta Taylor
OT Landon Dickerson
WDE Brian Burns
2015
S Derwin James
WDE Josh Sweat
CB Tarvarus McFadden
2014
RB Dalvin Cook
WR Travis Rudolph
2013
OLB Matthew Thomas
2012
SDE Mario Edwards
DT Eddie Goldman
CB Ronald Darby
2011
DT Timmy Jernigan
S Karlos Williams
TE Nick O’Leary
2010
ATH Lamarcus Joyner
Every 247Sports (not Composite) 5⭐️ FSU Commit since Rankings began in 2010
2023 WR Hykeem Williams
2020 CB Demorie Tate
2017 RB Cam Akers WDE Joshua Kaindoh DT Marvin Wilson
2016 CB Levonta Taylor OT Landon Dickerson WDE Brian Burns
"This was taken during the Willie years, and 5 stars didn’t even exist during the dynasty. FSU was THE top recruiting program for close to two decades before Urban Meyer and Nick Saban came around. I have also followed FSU recruiting since the 80’s. "
"Composite rankings below from Bobby’s last year to Willie. Granted it’s not quite dynasty level recruiting, but it met a standard that we had achieved for the majority of 25 years prior. Norvell until this cycle has not been recruiting to that standard, and even now it still not quite there.
It’s pretty clear having a top 10 class is an FSU standard. Heck really top 5. Until Willie took us off the rails, Covid, Norvell, snub etc have clearly changed that. mid 80’s to 2018 (well over 3 decades) is more than enough time to determine what a “standard” is. Jeff’s standard for FSU is way more in line with history."
Since 2002 The ACC has never had 3 teams in the Top 10 of the Rivals Team Rankings. Would be great to see it happen in 2018 w/ Miami, Clemson and FSU. Clemson has a numbers limitation so that might hold them back but I like seeing the ACC making moves..
Who’s been the top recruiting team of the entire internet rankings era? The answer will probably surprise you.
The list of current FBS teams, going back to 2002, or the oldest year before the recorded rankings start getting pretty weird (recruiting ratings have been around forever, but only became a casually accessible thing around the turn of the millennium):
Interesting data. Bobby had even better classes in the 90s, but I didn't have star rankings from then, so I just started from 2000 (first few years star data is incomplete I believe).
Beginning on Friday, we will unveil the five best recruiting class in Florida State history. But in the meantime, here's a brief look at some other all-time classes who just missed the cut.
2012: This one will always be a special class in Florida State history -- primarily because it's the class that featured a certain two-sport star from Hueytown, Ala. By himself, Jameis Winston (assuming he'll have his jersey retired) accounted for 31 points. The class finished with 88 combined. Just on the outside of the Top 5.
And while Winston is obviously the headliner of this group, there were several other big-time players on the list: Menelik Watson, Ronald Darby, Eddie Goldman, P.J. Williams and Mario Edwards, for instance. It also happened to feature arguably the best kicker in college football history in Roberto Aguayo. So even though it didn't quite make the Top 5, it had plenty of star power and a number of contributors on the 2013 national championship team.
1977: Looking back some 42 years later, it's impossible to overstate how important this recruiting class was to the history of Florida State Football. It was Bobby Bowden's first full haul as the FSU head coach, and boy did he make it count. He signed seven players who would go on to be elected to the Florida State Hall of Fame -- Monk Bonasorte, Bobby Butler, Bill Capece, Reggie Herring, Ken Lanier, Paul Piurowski and Ron Simmons.
Butler was Bowden's first first-round pick, and Simmons was his first superstar. The signing of Simmons, who was one of the top high school players in the country out of Warner Robins, Ga., was a sign that Bowden might do some pretty special things in Tallahassee.
That class, which scored an impressive 85 points in our scoring system, helped lead the Seminoles to an 11-0 regular season in 1979 and a 10-1 mark the following year. Both of those campaigns also ended with games against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, helping make Florida State a national brand under Bowden and setting the foundation for the dynasty run that was to follow.
1995: Like the '85 class, this group finished with exactly 85 points. It had a number of enormous names, most notably Peter Warrick and NFL Hall-of-Famer Walter Jones. Corey Simon was in that class, as was Ron Dugans, Jerry Johnson and a Super Bowl MVP in Dexter Jackson.
There was another name, too. It will go down as one of the great "what-ifs" in college football history, but Randy Moss was only at Florida State for a redshirt season in 1995 and was dismissed from the team before the '96 season. If Moss had been allowed to stay on Bobby Bowden's squad, that would have given the 1995 class two future NFL Hall-of-Famers and might have made it one of the top two classes in Florida State history.
As it is, it has to settle for being very, very, very good. But just on the outside of the Top 5.
2000: Ironically, the two classes that were the genesis of this idea in the first place didn't make the Top 5 when the points were tallied. But like the 1995 class, the 2000 one had some serious NFL talent as well.
It finished with 72 total points.
Johnson was one of the headliners, along with fellow first-round picks Javon Walker and Alex Barron. Kendyll Pope, Michael Boulware, Greg Jones and Bryant McFadden all had standout careers at Florida State before being drafted as well. The Seminoles also had two quarterbacks in this class -- Chris Rix and Fabian Walker. Rix started for most of his four years but had a checkered career in Tallahassee, and Walker finished his college days winning a national title at Valdosta State. If one of those two had become an All-American or a first-round draft pick or both, then this class might have had a real shot at cracking the Top 5.
1986: This class finished with 65 points, so it wasn't exactly close to being one of the Top 5 in Florida State history. But the names, especially for older fans, will always hold a special place in FSU lore.
The entire Fab Four -- receivers Lawrence Dawsey, Terry Anthony, Ronald Lewis and Bruce LaSane -- came from this class. As did Dexter Carter and LeRoy Butler. This class, like the 1985 one, played an enormous role in starting the dynasty. That shouldn't be overlooked, even if it didn't feature quite the NFL talent that later classes produced.
The concern for Willard and Charlie Ward Sr., during the recruitment of their supremely talented son was whether he would get a legitimate chance to play quarterback in college.
Charlie Jr. was a star QB at Central High School in Thomasville, Ga., and had proven himself to be a terrific passer, but he was so gifted as a runner that the parents were rightly concerned that he would be asked to switch positions once he got to college.
Bobby Bowden promised the Ward family that he was indeed recruiting their son as a quarterback. He also told them he would have no problem with him trying out for the Seminoles' basketball team as well.
And boy did that work out for everyone involved.
A few years later, Ward would lead the basketball team to an Elite 8 run as the starting point guard and then win the school's first Heisman Trophy eight months later.
While he wasn't the only great player in Florida State's 1989 signing class, Ward's decision to trust Bowden is a large reason why that group finished all the way up at No. 5 in our rankings for the greatest classes in Florida State history.
Just to get you caught up: We broke down each class by assigning point values to certain criteria.
A player got two points for being a starter or major contributor, three points for being an NFL draft pick, four points for being on a reputable All-America team, five points for being an NFL first-round draft pick, six points for being a consensus or unanimous All-American, seven points for winning a national award, eight points for winning the Heisman and 10 points for having his jersey retired.
Amazingly, in the case of the 1989 class, Charlie Ward wasn't even the highest scorer.
Because he wasn't drafted in the NFL (that other sport worked out pretty well for him), Ward finished with 26 points on our scale. Cornerback Terrell Buckley finished with 30. Those two combined for 56 of the class' 97 total points. And while it's fair to argue that the 1989 class was top heavy, man, did it have an impressive top.
Buckley and Ward turned out to be two of the best players in college football history.
Buckley came to Florida State from Pascagoula, Miss., and immediately became one of the most electrifying punt returners in the country. But he was also a sensational defensive back, who intercepted 12 passes in 1991 on his way to winning the Jim Thorpe Award.
Buckley then was drafted with the No. 5 pick of the first round by the Green Bay Packers in 1992 and enjoyed a long career in the NFL.
Buckley still holds FSU's records for most interceptions in a season and a career, and he's also the NCAA record holder for most interception return yards in a career. Ward and Buckley alone are enough to make this an all-time class. But there were other big-time players who came in with them and helped turn FSU's football program into a dynasty.
With a roster loaded on upperclassmen heading into a season with a team that would start the season ranked No. 1, FSU only signed 13 players in their 1999 recruiting class.
What they lacked in quantity, Bowden and his staff made up for in quality with several stars emerging from the small group.
After winning the prestigious Mr. Football award in Florida as a prep quarterback from Pahokee, Anquan Boldin made the transition into a game-breaking wide receiver during his stay in Tallahassee.
Standout defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was plucked away from Maryland, and found his way into the NFL after starring for the Seminoles.
Nick Maddox was the consensus top running back recruit in the nation, and while he did not live up to his hype, he still managed to have a productive career as a Seminole.
8. 2002
7. 2000
6. 1997
After six years spent playing minor-league baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system, Chris Weinke re-signed with FSU as a 25-year old freshman quarterback.
Kicker Sebastian Janikowski, defensive end Jamal Reynolds and safety Derrick Gibson were all first-round draft choices that emerged from a loaded class on both sides of the ball.
Tailback Travis Minor, who hailed from the same high school (Catholic High in Baton Rouge, La.) as former Seminoles star Warrick Dunn, chose to follow in Dunn’s footsteps after standout prep career that culminated with him being named USA Today’s Offensive Player of the Year.
5. 1995
Led by the consensus top quarterback recruit in the nation, Dan Kendra, FSU’s 1995 recruiting class was heavy on linemen, defensive backs and receivers.
Walter Jones, a left tackle picked up from the JUCO ranks, would go on to leave FSU after just one season and now is considered a first-ballot Hall of Fame candidate.
Of the six wideouts brought in by Bowden, Peter Warrick would go on to become a two-time consensus All-American and the key cog during FSU’s 1999 undefeated national championship team.
4. 1989
This class was led by eventual Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Charlie Ward, who would go on to lead the ‘Noles to the 1993 National Championship.
A trio of wide receivers—Matt Frier, Kevin Knox and Shannon Baker—would go on to help Ward ignite the ‘Noles fast break offensive attack.
A standout class of defensive back class was led by eventual Jim Thorpe Award winner Terrell Buckley, who also doubled as an electric return man.
3. 1990
In what may be the answer to a trivia question, this is the original class that 2000 Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke was a part of.
This class featured a number of standouts and future pros on both sides of the ball, but its headliner was linebacker Marvin Jones, one of the finest defenders in school history.
Fullback William Floyd, running back Sean Jackson and wide receiver Kez McCorvey anchored a class loaded with offensive skill talent.
Meanwhile, a trio of defensive backs—Clifton Abraham, Corey Fuller and Corey Sawyer—continued the tradition set by predecessors Deion Sanders, Terrell Buckley and LeRoy Butler.
2. 1985
The Seminoles brought in a pair of quarterbacks in Chip Ferguson and Peter Tom Willis—who would eventually lead the Seminoles to a 32-4 record from 1987-89—which coincidentally jumpstarted the ‘Noles unprecedented streak of Top 5 finishes.
The offense was also boosted by running back Sammie Smith, who would eventually turn out to be a first round NFL draft choice.
Bobby Bowden brought in linebacker Odell Haggins, who would turn into a standout defensive lineman (he is currently the defensive line coach at FSU).
The headliner of the class turned out to be the greatest athlete to ever wear the garnet and gold—a defensive back by the name of Deion Sanders.
1. 1993
The Seminoles were loaded for a title run as the nation’s preseason No.1 team, but they likely could not have won a championship without some help from the one of the greatest recruiting classes in recent memory.
Bobby Bowden brought in several stars, but it was the less-than-heralded tailback Warrick Dunn who would make the biggest impact as a freshman and go on to become the best running back in school history.
Receivers Andre Cooper and E.G. Green left their marks all over the Seminole record books and converted defensive end Tra Thomas turned into an elite offensive tackle.
On defense, linebacker Sam Cowart and converted defensive ends Peter Boulware and Reinard Wilson were the backbone of the ‘Noles dominant defenses in the mid-90’s.
