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Rivals nationwide analyst Greg Smith has ideas on the Florida State–Miami rivalry that takes heart stage this weekend, whether or not Nick Saban is doing his finest teaching job at Alabama this season and KingJoseph Edwards‘ ongoing recruitment.
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1. A rivalry renewed – on and off the sphere.
This historic rivalry recreation is about as shut all-time because it will get. Miami leads the sequence 35-32, however the final two matchups have been gained by Florida State. The stakes are big on this one, with the ‘Noles checking in at No. 4 within the newest Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings.
Because it’s such an enormous recreation, coach Mike Norvell and his workers are going all out with recruiting guests this weekend. Two of the largest flip targets wherever within the nation will probably be on campus as Ohio State huge receiver commit Jeremiah Smith and Texas A&M huge receiver commit Cam Coleman are each slated to be in Tallahassee. They are going to be powerful pulls, however Norvell and firm hold swinging and it doesn’t damage to get them on campus.
Armondo Blount, a latest five-star flip to Florida State, can be scheduled to be again on campus. There may be nonetheless a number of buzz about Miami making an attempt to win again his pledge, so getting him across the workers and recruits is large.
Florida State may even host a bevy of 2025 prospects which are coveted gamers. Defensive ends Zion Grady and Amaree Williams will probably be on the town, as will Alabama huge receiver commit Jaime Ffrench. Numerous these gamers are additionally targets for the rival Hurricanes. It’s a novel scenario that Florida State finds itself in. It may possibly enhance its personal place with a number of key recruits whereas additionally damaging a key rival. That may be achieved with a superb weekend and the third straight win within the sequence.
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2. Are we witnessing Saban’s finest teaching job?
It’s fairly troublesome to parse by way of which 12 months is Nick Saban‘s finest precisely, however this season is within the working. Quarterback Jalen Milroe is turning into a darkish horse Heisman contender, however he’s not on the stage of Tua Tagovailoa or Jalen Hurts simply but. There isn’t a Derrick Henry within the backfield or a DeVonta Smith out huge.
There are nonetheless loads of five- and four-stars strolling round Tuscaloosa, however the Tide don’t have the identical stage of famous person gamers throughout the board they as soon as had. The job Saban has executed with this group from what we noticed early within the season has been exceptional.
It’s now a yearly custom to marvel how lengthy Saban will be capable to hold this up, but when the recruits who had been on campus for the massive win towards LSU are any indication the expertise will hold rolling in. The Tide hosted three-star Missouri defensive position commit Elias Williams for an official go to. But it surely was the underclassmen readily available that stole the present.
CB Na’eem Offord, CB Devin Sanchez, QB George McIntyre, OL Micah Debose and RB Alvin Henderson are only a handful of the blue-chip expertise that was on campus from the 2025 class. Within the 2026 group, five-star DL Jahkeem Stewart and four-star DE Hezekiah Harris had been readily available. At this price, Saban might have 4 extra years left within the tank to see this expertise thrive in Tuscaloosa.
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3. Is the highest uncommitted 2024 participant in Georgia leaning Colorado?
There was no secret that as coach Deion Sanders builds his program in Boulder that extra assist is required within the trenches. Nicely, much more assist. What higher place to show for that assist than the deep South, the place many prime defensive linemen reside?
Final weekend, the Buffs hosted Mill Creek (Ga.) defensive lineman KingJoseph Edwards for an official go to. The go to couldn’t have gone higher, in line with sources, and the four-star defensive finish appears fairly enamored by all the things that Sanders is promoting. There may be ample alternative for early taking part in time and the publicity alternatives will probably be there.
Edwards is one other recruit heading to Tallahassee this weekend, however issues have appeared to chill significantly between the 2. Maybe an enormous go to will sway that, however proper now all indicators level to Colorado being the decide for the proficient defender.
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