WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — If the College Football Playoff began today, the Seminoles would be in it.
Florida State is ranked No. 4 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night.
The Seminoles are behind top-ranked Ohio State, No. 2 Georgia and No. 3 Michigan.
It's the highest College Football Playoff position for Florida State since the Seminoles finished 11th in the final rankings of the 2016 season.
The Seminoles (8-0, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are off to their best start since 2014 when they earned a berth in the inaugural College Football Playoff, losing to Oregon in the semifinal at the Rose Bowl.
Based on the current rankings, Florida State would meet Ohio State in a semifinal game at the Sugar Bowl or Rose Bowl, with the winner advancing to face either Georgia or Michigan for the national championship at NRG Stadium in Houston.
College Football Playoff Rankings (10/31/23)
| Rank | Team | Record |
| No. 1 | Ohio State | 8-0 |
| No. 2 | Georgia | 8-0 |
| No. 3 | Michigan | 8-0 |
| No. 4 | Florida State | 8-0 |
| No. 5 | Washington | 8-0 |
| No. 6 | Oregon | 7-1 |
| No. 7 | Texas | 7-1 |
| No. 8 | Alabama | 7-1 |
| No. 9 | Oklahoma | 7-1 |
| No. 10 | Mississippi | 7-1 |
| No. 11 | Penn State | 7-1 |
| No. 12 | Missouri | 7-1 |
| No. 13 | Louisville | 7-1 |
| No. 14 | LSU | 6-2 |
| No. 15 | Notre Dame | 6-2 |
| No. 16 | Oregon State | 6-2 |
| No. 17 | Tennessee | 6-2 |
| No. 18 | Utah | 6-2 |
| No. 19 | UCLA | 6-2 |
| No. 20 | Southern California | 6-2 |
| No. 21 | Kansas | 6-2 |
| No. 22 | Oklahoma State | 6-2 |
| No. 23 | Kansas State | 6-2 |
| No. 24 | Tulane | 7-1 |
| No. 25 | Air Force | 8-0 |
Undefeated Washington is just behind Florida State at No. 5, followed by Oregon, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi to round out the top 10.
The Seminoles, who are also ranked fourth in The Associated Press and coaches polls, have beaten three teams ranked in the top 25 of the coaches poll at the time of the games – No. 5 LSU, No. 23 Clemson and No. 17 Duke. LSU and Duke were also ranked No. 5 and No. 16 in the AP poll at the time.
But No. 14 LSU is Florida State's only win against a team currently ranked in the College Football Playoff poll.
"Florida State being No. 4, the win over LSU, the win against Duke, kind of a front-loaded schedule, if you will, they've looked really good," College Football Playoff chairman Boo Corrigan told reporters after the rankings were unveiled. "Offensively putting up 41 points a game. Their defense is ranked in the top 20. But again, as we looked at it overall and went through the process, we came out with Ohio State 1, Georgia 2, Michigan 3, Florida State 4."
