James Franklin not alone in struggles vs. Top 10 opponents
By Chris Snyder
Jimbo Fisher – Florida State/Texas A&M
2010
0-1 L @ Oklahoma (10) 47-17
2011
0-2 L Oklahoma (1) 23-13
2012
1-2 W Clemson (10) 49-37
1-3 L Florida (6) 37-26
2013
2-3 W @ Clemson (3) 51-14
3-3 W Miami (7) 41-14
4-3 W Auburn (2) (BCS Championship)
2014
5-3 W Notre Dame (5) 31-27
5-4 L Oregon (3) 59-20 (CFP)
2015
5-5 L Clemson (3) 23-13
6-5 W @ Florida (10) 27-2
2016
6-6 L @ Louisville (10) 63-20
7-6 W @ Miami (10) 20-19
7-7 L Clemson (3) 37-34
8-7 W Michigan (6) 33-32
2017
8-8 L Alabama (1) 24-7
8-9 L @ Clemson (4) 31-14
2018
8-10 L Clemson (2) 28-26
8-11 L @ Alabama (1) 45-23
9-11 W LSU (8) 74-72
2019
9-12 L @ Clemson (1) 24-10
9-13 L Auburn (8) 28-20
9-14 L Alabama (1) 47-28
9-15 L @ Georgia (4) 19-13
9-16 L @ LSU (1) 50-7
2020
9-17 L @ Alabama (2) 52-24
10-17 W Florida (4) 41-38
2021
11-17 W Alabama (1) 41-38
Conclusion
Yes, I am deviating slightly from one of the caveats I mentioned earlier.
I chose to look at Jimbo Fisher’s career at both Florida State and at Texas A&M. The reason is that it gives me a larger sample size to look at and I feel both programs were on about the same level with Jimbo in charge.
As you can see, Fisher enjoyed some early success at Florida State as Clemson wasn’t quite the cream of the crop in the ACC, and Miami, was, well, Miami.
There has been quite a change in tune to Jimbo’s record since he jumped ship for Texas A&M and the SEC. No longer can he beat up on the likes of Boston College, Virginia, Syracuse, and Pitt.
In the five seasons that Fisher has coached at Texas A&M, he has won a grand total of three games against top 10 opponents.