What Is 2017 Florida State Seminoles football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 Florida State Seminoles football team finished with a 7-6 record under head coach Jimbo Fisher, who resigned abruptly after the regular season. They played in the Independence Bowl, defeating the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 42-13.

Key Facts

The 2017 Florida State Seminoles finished the season with a 7-6 overall record
Head coach Jimbo Fisher resigned on December 8, 2017, after eight seasons
The team played in the Independence Bowl on December 27, 2017
FSU defeated Southern Miss 42-13 in the Independence Bowl
Quarterback James Blackman started the bowl game after Deondre Francois was injured

Overview

The 2017 season marked a transitional year for the Florida State Seminoles football program, ending with a bowl victory but overshadowed by the sudden departure of head coach Jimbo Fisher. After eight seasons leading the team, Fisher left for Texas A&M, concluding a tenure that included a national championship appearance in 2013.

Under Fisher’s leadership during the regular season, the Seminoles struggled to maintain consistency, finishing 7-5 in the regular season and securing a spot in the Independence Bowl. The team showcased flashes of potential but failed to meet preseason expectations in the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Record: The Seminoles finished the 2017 season with a 7-6 overall record, including a 4-4 mark in ACC play, placing fifth in the conference’s Atlantic Division.
Head coach:Jimbo Fisher coached the team through the regular season but resigned on December 8, 2017, to become the head coach at Texas A&M.
Bowl game: Florida State played in the Independence Bowl on December 27, 2017, defeating the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 42-13 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Quarterback situation: James Blackman, a true freshman, started the bowl game after Deondre Francois missed most of the season due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.
Defensive performance: The defense allowed 29.5 points per game on average, a significant decline from previous seasons under Fisher.

Season Performance

The 2017 campaign was defined by inconsistency, particularly on offense, as injuries and inexperience hampered the Seminoles' ability to compete at a high level week to week. Despite a talented roster, Florida State failed to live up to its preseason ranking and struggled against ranked opponents.

Season opener: Florida State defeated Alabama State 41-14 on September 2, 2017, in their first game of the season, showcasing strong offensive output.
Key loss: A 24-7 defeat to LSU on September 2 in a neutral-site game exposed weaknesses in both the offensive and defensive lines.
ACC performance: The Seminoles went 4-4 in ACC play, with wins over Louisville, Syracuse, and Boston College, but losses to Clemson, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech.
Clemson game: A 38-31 loss to Clemson on November 11 highlighted defensive shortcomings, as the Tigers scored 21 unanswered points in the second half.
Home record: FSU finished 5-2 at Doak Campbell Stadium, with losses to LSU and Notre Dame dampening the home-field advantage.
Final AP ranking: The team did not finish in the final AP Top 25, ending the season unranked after beginning the year ranked in the top 15.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2017 season compared to recent prior years in key statistical and performance categories:

Season	Overall Record	ACC Record	Bowl Game	Final Coach
2015	10-3	5-3	Peach Bowl (L)	Jimbo Fisher
2016	10-3	6-2	Oranges Bowl (W)	Jimbo Fisher
2017	7-6	4-4	Independence Bowl (W)	Odell Haggins (interim)
2018	5-7	3-5	None	Willie Taggart
2019	6-7	4-4	Chick-fil-A Bowl (L)	Willie Taggart

The 2017 season marked a turning point, as it was the first since 2012 that FSU failed to win at least 10 games. The transition in leadership and underperformance on defense signaled the end of an era and the beginning of a rebuilding phase for the program.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season is remembered as a pivotal moment in Florida State football history, marking the end of the Jimbo Fisher era and the start of a prolonged period of instability. The program’s inability to maintain elite status after a national championship appearance in 2013 became increasingly evident.

Coaching change: Jimbo Fisher’s departure ended an eight-season tenure and led to the hiring of Willie Taggart, who lasted only two seasons.
Recruiting impact: The coaching transition disrupted recruiting momentum, contributing to a decline in top-100 signees in subsequent classes.
Program trajectory: The 2017 season signaled a shift from national contender to mid-tier ACC program in the years that followed.
Bowl significance: The Independence Bowl win provided a small positive note, but did not mask the larger organizational issues.
Player development: Injuries to key players like Deondre Francois and Derwin James exposed a lack of depth and hindered long-term growth.
Legacy: The season is viewed as the beginning of a downturn, ending FSU’s streak of four consecutive ACC championships from 2013–2016.

Ultimately, the 2017 Florida State Seminoles season serves as a case study in how coaching stability and player health are critical to sustained success in college football.