Florida State's top-ranked 2016 class is poised to step up

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The number of teams to beat Alabama in the recruiting rankings since 2012: one.

That would be Florida State, and the No. 1 class it signed in 2016 has the Seminoles positioned for a potential playoff run. A championship in 2017 hinges on how the 2016 class adjusts into bigger roles. The Seminoles’ core is made up from the 2015 class, but they need that 2016 class, with its 16 ESPN 300 signees, to live up to its billing a season after mostly playing a complementary role.

“The big thing is buying in to the culture, how we do things, how we practice, and the learning curve,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Not just being able to do it once, you got to be able to do it every time…