Non-conference scheduling became significantly tougher as the SEC and ACC made the decision to shift to nine-game league schedules. Most ACC schools will play nine league games, with FSU playing eight this fall before adding a ninth game in 2027.
But this is where things get complicated as FSU scheduled matchups with SEC schools like LSU, Alabama and Georgia were discussed and contracts signed years in advance. FSU-Alabama matchups were announced in Oct. 2019, well ahead of matchups in 2025 and this fall. And the FSU-Georgia games that were originally slated for 2027-28, but now will be one neutral site game, were announced in April 2019. The FSU-LSU neutral-site games were announced in February 2020 and played in 2022-23.
FSU’s matchups with the SEC schools have been unquestionably good, on the field and off. The Seminoles swept the LSU games and dominated Alabama in the 2025 opener that also was the debut of a transformed Doak. FSU will play at Alabama on Sept. 19 in the return game.
With nine-game league schedules now the norm in 2026 in the ACC, SEC, Big Ten and Big 12, FSU administrators and those at other schools have been shifting plans for the years ahead. Athletics director Michael Alford and others at FSU also intend to follow the recent precedent of seven home games annually, too.
“Our commitment to Tallahassee has not changed. We have consistently prioritized seven home football games whenever possible because we know what those weekends mean to our fans, our student-athletes, our local businesses and the entire community,” Alford told the Osceola. “We are actively working to position ourselves to continue delivering seven home games on an annual basis whenever possible, and our expectation remains that Doak Campbell Stadium will continue to be one of the premier home venues in college football.
“We’re committed to doing everything we can to bring the best possible schedule to Tallahassee and to protect the home-game experience that is so important.”
FSU-Georgia neutral-site game
News of an FSU-Georgia series being adjusted to a single, neutral-site game was first reported in December 2025 by the Athens Banner-Herald. Alford and Georgia athletics director Josh Brooks have discussed a number of sites, with neither having a desire to play a game in the other school’s home state. An official announcement is expected soon as the FSU-Georgia game will take place in Nashville in 2028 at the Tennessee Titans’ new $2.2 billion stadium, which will seat 60,000 and feature a translucent roof.
With every report and update on the FSU-Georgia game, there’s been a level of frustration among Tallahassee businesses about the lost economic impact as well as alumni from both schools who prefer the games to be played in Tallahassee and Athens, Ga. The Osceola has researched FSU football’s history dating back to 2000 in an effort to bring some clarity to what’s happening now.
Beyond the nine-game league schedules, FSU is intent to keep its long-term agreement with Florida and Georgia wants the same with Georgia Tech. Both are played on the final weekend of the regular season, which also features ACC-SEC matchups like Clemson-South Carolina and Louisville-Kentucky.
FSU has historically played seven home games in the last 15 years and Alford has a desire to continue that trend. Since 2010, FSU has played seven home games with three exceptions — a 2016 matchup with Ole Miss in Orlando meant six home games, while a 2023 game against LSU in Orlando also left FSU with six home games that year. Hurricanes in Sept. 2017 forced schedule changes, and FSU played host to ULM on Dec. 2 to wrap up a six-game home slate.
While FSU hosted Alabama in 2025, it was something of a unicorn. Aside from Florida, the Seminoles hadn’t hosted an SEC school since South Carolina in 1991 (the Gamecocks’ first year in that league). FSU was able to schedule a home and home with Oklahoma, hosting the Sooners in 2011. There have been a few Notre Dame games in Tallahassee, Boise State visited in 2019 (a hurricane forced the game to move from Jacksonville to Tallahassee) and BYU visited in 2010.
But beyond that, scheduling home-and-home matchups has been very difficult. And looking forward, it's tougher to line up a Power 4 opponent if all of the schools in the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 are playing nine-league games.
ACC schedules coming up
After playing host to SMU, Clemson and Florida as part of a seven-game home schedule in 2026, FSU administrators will begin working on schedules that include nine ACC games.
In 2027, FSU will host Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami and Pittsburgh while traveling to Cal, Clemson, North Carolina and Syracuse. FSU will also play host to East Tennessee State. A ninth ACC game (the opponent is not yet known) will be added to FSU’s home schedule.
In the 2028 season, FSU will host Florida and play Boston College, Cal, Clemson and North Carolina at Doak. There will also be ACC road games against Miami, SMU, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. FSU will also play a ninth ACC game in 2028.
The next FSU-Notre Dame game is slated for Nov. 10, 2029 in Tallahassee. FSU will play at South Bend in 2030.
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