Through their first three games of the season, the Florida State football team rolled to three wins, including a season-opening statement win over Alabama at home on August 30. Two wins over lesser competition had the Seminoles ranked eighth going into Friday night’s ACC game with Virginia.
Looking past the Cavaliers to Miami was something Mike Norvell’s team could not afford to do. Virginia entered the game 3-1 with one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Playing a majority of the game chasing the score, Florida State tied the game late in the fourth quarter before falling, 46-38, in double overtime.
The loss in their first ACC game of the season is less than ideal in Week 5, but with the new 12-team College Football Playoff, they are still alive for a bid in early December. After the loss to the Cavaliers, Kirk Herbstreit named them a dangerous one-loss team.
Kirk Herbstreit Names Florida State the Most Dangerous One-Loss Team in the Country
ESPN College GameDay was in State College, Pa., for the Big Ten showdown between Oregon and Penn State. During their Dashboard segment, Herbstreit thinks FSU is still a dangerous one-loss team after their first loss.
“Most dangerous one-loss team? I’m going to say after last night, I think Florida State is the most dangerous one-loss team now,” Herbstreit said.
What makes the Seminoles a dangerous one-loss team is their schedule coming up. They will host second-ranked Miami on October 4 with winnable games against Pittsburgh, Stanford, and Wake Forest following the Hurricanes. Their final three games against Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, and Florida make them a threat for the CFP.
Mike Norvell is Not Happy With the Loss to Virginia
Florida State trailed for most of the game, but responded multiple times in the second half to force overtime. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos was 18-for-32 for 254 yards through the air and a touchdown. He threw two interceptions, including one in the end zone, to end the game in the second overtime.
“I was pleased with the way our guys responded throughout it, to be able to come back, to be able to take a lead, and then, unfortunately, a touchdown right there before half,” Norvell said. “Give credit to back. I mean, ran through a big collision, but obviously areas where we have to be better defensively, we’ve got to continue to take advantage of opportunities to be able to get off the field. Too many (Virginia) drives that were extended throughout. They made one more play than we did.”
Everything was setting up for a big early-season ACC clash between two in-state rivals in Tallahassee next Saturday night. Florida State’s loss takes some juice away from the game. Regardless, the ACC is such a wild card this year, and it would not surprise many as to who the two teams are that are left standing in the Championship Game in early December in Charlotte.
Florida State’s schedule sets up well for both the ACC Championship Game and a College Football Playoff berth. A win over Miami will set them up better for them to reach their goals this year, despite losing to Virginia.
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