(Photo: Icon Sportswire)
Picked as a preseason top 10 team by many after winning the ACC and going 13-1 a year ago, it has been a dreadful season in Tallahassee. Mike Norvell’s Seminoles are on a five game losing streak and stand at 1-8 after losing at home last week to North Carolina, 36-14. Their only win of the season was back in week four at Cal, 14-9. FSU has played three ranked teams, SMU, Clemson and Miami and lost by a combined score of 107-43.
FSU started the season with old ND nemesis DJ Uiangaleli at QB, but that did not work well and he is injured. Back up freshman quarterback Brock Glenn has struggled after getting a few starts as has freshman Luke Kromenhoek, who started two weeks ago. Last week Glenn was back in the starter roe but he and Kromenhoek shared snaps and combined for 8-18 passing, 159 yards 1 TD and 2 interceptions.
Out of 133 FBS programs, FSU ranks 132nd in rushing, 131st in passing efficiency, 132nd on third down, 130th in turnovers, 132nd in scoring, and 129th at giving up sacks. Averaging just 14.4 points per game, the Seminoles have scored more than two touchdowns just once. That was in the season opener back on August 24th, a game they lost to Georgia Tech 24-21. Their offensive line has been in flux all year and has given up 30 sacks, There are plenty more numbers like these to describe how bad their offense has been, but you get the picture.
Lawrence Toeafili is their top rusher, he averages 3.9 yards per carry good for 303 yards and 2 TDs. He also is a receiving threat with 19 catches for 156 yards. 5-9 senior Ja’khi Douglas is a solid receiver and leads the team with 25 catches for 404 yards and 3 TDs.
The best that can be said about Florida State’s offense is that statistically, they have one of the top punters in the nation. He should be good, he’s had a lot of practice.
Defensively the Seminoles have rated only a little better than their offense. They rank 96th in total defense, 114th in rushing defense, and 92nd in passing defense. They give up 27.3 points per game, 86th nationally. The Seminoles have shown the ability to rush the passer. On the season the have notched 22 sacks, the 33rd best mark in the country. Those sacks have been spread out to quite a few players. The leader on the team is 6-6, 330 lb. junior defensive tackle, Darrell Jackson, Jr. with 3.5.
Marcus Freeman weighed in at his weekly press conference and stated the following, “it’s a very talented football team….the record doesn’t reflect their talent.” That is a fair statement, this team is loaded with talent. But ever since they were snubbed by the CFP last season and denied a berth in the final four, despite having a 13-0 record, the program has been in a rapid spiral down. It started with a 63-3 embarrassment loss to Georgia in last year’s Orange Bowl and has not gotten any better since. Mike Norvell lost a lot off of that team, but he seemingly reloaded with 17 transfers in a class rated as the 7th best in the nation. But lack of chemistry and injuries have plagued the Seminoles, and things have never stabilized.
Freeman finished up his perhaps overly kind assessment of FSU by saying, “They’ve had to deal with some injuries, especially at QB, that has affected the outcome of their games.” Undoubtedly that instability at the quarterback position has hurt Florida State. FSU has some weapons at wide receiver, but none of the three QBs who have played have had much success. In fact they have been pretty bad. The defense has been serviceable, but the offense has put them in bad positions all season long.
Considering the level of talent that does populate their roster, there is always the risk that for a game the Seminoles might rally and play a strong game. But, probably not on the road, not at night and not at Notre Dame. the Irish are a team that is coming off a bye and has improved as the season has progressed. Notre Dame has too many weapons on offense and too much defense to falter in the is one.
Notre Dame is a 26 point favorite and the over/under is 42.5
The Fighting Irish Preview pick: Notre Dame 35 Florida State 10