3. Florida State

2016 record: 10-3, 5-3 ACC

Coach: Jimbo Fisher

Sked or alive? After that pesky ’Bama game in Week 1, most of FSU’s toughest games are at home. The closing stretch likely will decide whether the Seminoles are College Football Playoff-bound: at Clemson on Nov. 11 and at Florida on Nov. 25.

Why they’re here: With sophomore QB Deandre Francois poised for a breakout and an absolutely loaded defense, it was tempting to rank the ’Noles No. 1. But Saban is 10-0 in openers at Alabama, so FSU is more likely than not to open in an 0-1 hole. The talent is there to recover and then some.