The Florida St. Seminoles' 9-4 showing in the 2011 season impressed enough voters from the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll panel to rank them No. 23 in the final poll. Jimbo Fisher's club recovered from an early three-game losing streak to win seven of its final eight games, including an 18-14 victory against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Champs Sports Bowl. That win boosted them up from No. 25 in the penultimate poll of the season.
To no one's surprise, the voters ranked the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 1 following their dominant performance against the LSU Tigers in the BCS Championship Game; LSU dropped from No. 1 to No. 2. The Oklahoma St. Cowboys, Oregon Ducks, and Arkansas Razorbacks round out the Top 5.
Florida State is among three teams representing the ACC in the final Coaches Poll. The Virginia Tech Hokies finished No. 17, while the Clemson Tigers placed No. 22, just slightly ahead of the Seminoles.
The Seminoles never lost a game by more than 10 points during the 2011 campaign, and three of their four losses were by five points or fewer.
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