I think that is the most plausible reason. While it's unfortunate that we have to pander to FSU fans, it's the reality we face.
The bigger issue is that we need to seriously increase the quality of our schedule. Week 1, Tulsa plays OK State, and Temple plays Notre Dame. We need to consistently secure marquee week 1 match ups like that. The Notre Dame opener in 2011 was a fantastic way to start the season.