Every sport seems to have a villain player or team. In baseball, it’s the Yankees. In the NBA, it’s probably still LeBron James, and in the NFL it has to be Richard Sherman and his Seattle Seahawks.

So what about college football?

There’s no question that Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles are the most hated college program in the nation. USC held that distinction during their run in the early 2000’s and of late, Alabama is the new dominant program that people love to see lose. The major difference between FSU and the USC and Alabama programs is that they were hated because of their play on the field for the most part, which isn’t entirely the case with the ‘Noles.

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston has had his fair share of off the field issues. From being accused of rape to stealing crab legs, to yelling out obscenities on campus to a potential autograph scandal, but despite all of that he still finds a way to win every Saturday. This makes his haters sick to their collective stomachs.

Former Heisman winners Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel were polarizing figures in their own right, but not like Winston. College football hasn’t seen this type of villain role since the 90’s, when the Miami Hurricanes were running things. The “U” had the type of swag that rubbed people the wrong way and they also had plenty of off the field issues.

As a result, it feels like everyone outside of Tallahassee is just waiting for Florida State to falter. After another slow start this past Saturday against Miami, Winston led his Noles to yet another dramatic come from behind victory, which pushed his undefeated record to 23-0.

Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher loves the makeup of his team.

“These kids know how to win,” Fisher said. “It’s not what we do, it’s who we are.”

The more Florida State wins, the more hate they will ensure.

Winston has an interesting take on why people hate Florida State.

“People don’t like when you have success,” the 20-year old quarterback said. “They’re not comfortable, and I don’t understand.”

While in the midst of all the hate and off the field distractions, Winston is able to block out all of that and remain poise on game days.

“When you get in between those lines, all the cameras and stuff, all the cameras are on you, and we’re out there playing football, man,” Winston said.

Although there’s a circus wherever Winston goes, could it be that the sophomore is just misunderstood?

“They just want me to be a person I’m not, so they tell themselves something else,” Winston said. “I’m a people person. I like to make someone laugh when they’re having a bad day. I can always put a smile on somebody’s face. I feel like I’m just a good guy. … Sometimes that gets sucked under the radar with all the drama in the media.”

The sad reality is that people will probably never take the time to truly understand Winston as a person and he realizes it comes with the territory.

“I don’t focus on that, knowing somebody will always say something, but I don’t want to live my life in lies, either,” he said. “When someone calls me a bad person, that’s disrespecting my family and the people that raised me. I know my grandma, my mama and my daddy, they raised me well, so yeah, I sometimes feel disrespected.”

Sports are better when there’s a rooting interest by the casual public. TV ratings are better, attendance is better and everything becomes more interesting.

Say what you want about his character, Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles are great for college football.

With two games remaining on their regular season schedule, the Noles are in position to make the College Football Playoff and have a great chance to repeat as National Champions, while having much of the nation cheering against them every time they step on to the field.