Who: Louisville Cardinals (2-3, 1-1 ACC) at No. 11 Florida State Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 ACC)
When: Saturday, October 17th at 12:00 P.M. eastern time
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida (ESPN)
Florida State will look to avoid its first ACC loss in over three years on Saturday as the Seminoles play host to Louisville. FSU improved to 5-0 last week with a thrilling 29-24 rivalry victory over Miami. After losing its first three games by a combined 14 points, Louisville has won consecutive games.
Freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson has sparked the turnaround for the Cardinals, but is much more dangerous with his legs than his arm. Jackson is completing just 54 percent of his passes, but has 435 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground. Freshmen Jaylen Smith and Micky Crum have been Jackson’s top two targets this season.
Jackson will be facing an FSU defense that is giving up just 14 points-per-game — the 10th fewest in the country. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker has emerged with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles over the last two weeks while cornerback Jalen Ramsey is one of the best in the nation. Linebackers Terrance Smith, Reggie Northrup and Ro’Derrick Hoskins have all been tackling machines this year for the Seminoles. Smith however, sat out FSU’s victory over Miami with an ankle injury.
On the offensive side of the ball, the guy to watch for the Seminoles is sophomore running back Dalvin Cook. Cook leads the ACC with 792 yards rushing, which ranks sixth nationally. Cook’s 9 yards-per-carry average ranks fourth in the country and the FSU star ranks second in the ACC with 8 rushing touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Everett Golson impressed for the Seminoles against Miami on Saturday, passing for 291 yards. Golson is completing 67 percent of his passes this season with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Receivers Jesus Wilson, Travis Rudolph and Kermit Whitfield each have over 200 yards receiving for FSU this season.
After struggling defensively early on this season, Louisville has given up an average of just 12 points-per-game over its last three contests. Defensive end Sheldon Rankins leads the team with four sacks on the young season while the back seven has been very good for the Cardinals.
Linebackers Keith Kelsey and James Burgess are each among the ACC’s leading tacklers as is 6’5″ safety and Georgia transfer Josh Harvey-Clemons. Fellow safety Chucky Williams and cornerback Trumaine Washington each have a pair of interceptions this year for the Cardinals.
On special teams, Louisville’s Traveon Samuel leads the ACC, averaging 33 yards-per-return on kickoffs with a touchdown. Florida State junior Roberto Aguayo is one of the best kickers in the country.
Saturday’s contest in Tallahassee will be the 14th all-time meeting between the Seminoles and Cardinals. Louisville raced to a 21-0 lead on a Thursday night last year at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium before FSU stormed back for a 42-31 victory with a long Cook touchdown run putting the Seminoles ahead for good.
The Seminoles are 13-2 all-time against Louisville with the two Cardinal victories coming in 1952 and 2002. Saturday’s meeting will be the first in Tallahassee since FSU defeated Louisville 31-0 in September of 2000. Florida State would likely cement a trip to a bowl game for the 34th straight season with a victory.
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