Florida State remained second in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings as it returns home Saturday to face the last visiting ACC team to win in Tallahassee — Virginia. At 8-0, Florida State will look to run the nation’s longest winning streak to 25 straight games and could actually clinch a third straight ACC Atlantic division crown with a win and losses by Clemson and Boston College.
Florida State rallied from 21 points down at Louisville its last time out as quarterback Jameis Winston overcame three interceptions to pass for 401 yards and three scores. True freshmen accounted for four of FSU’s five second half touchdowns in the 42-31 win.
Freshman receivers Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane each scored on long touchdown receptions while running back Dalvin Cook finished with 110 yards rushing and a pair of long touchdown rushes. The talented freshman trio have quickly become serviceable compliments to starting seniors in leading rusher Karlos Williams and leading receiver Rashad Greene.
The young skill players for Florida State will be facing another very good defense this week in Virginia.
The Cavaliers are led by safeties Antony Harris and Quin Blanding, who are each among the ACC’s top six leading tacklers. Junior defensive end Eli Harold ranks second in the conference in sacks and leads the ACC in tackles for loss.
At 4-5, Virginia has already doubled its win total from last season, but arrives in Tallahassee losers of three straight and that’s due largely to its offense. Virginia has averaged less than 17 points-per-game during the skid.
Senior running back Kevin Parks has carried the load for the Cavaliers this season. Parks ranks third in the ACC in carries and sixth in rushing yards.
Quarterback has been a sore spot for Virginia as sophomores Greyson Lambert and Matt Johns have split time. Fortunately for Virginia, Florida State has allowed over 300 yards passing in four of its eight games this season including last time out against the Cardinals.
The front seven for Florida State continues to be banged up as linebackers Terrance Smith and Jacob Pugh each sat out last week’s contest against Louisville after big games against Notre Dame. Smith averages over 10 tackles-per-game and leads FSU in forced fumbles while Pugh is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.
Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman continues to be solid for the Florida State defensive front. The junior leads the Seminoles with four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss this season.
The Florida State secondary is very talented, but has struggled this season. Virginia however, does not have a receiver as imposing as Louisville’s DeVante Parker, who finished with over 200 yards receiving on nine catches against FSU last week.
Saturday’s contest in Tallahassee will also feature a very good kicking match-up. Reigning Lou Groza Award winning kicker Roberto Aguayo had his first field goal miss of the season for the Seminoles in Louisville and is 14-for-15 on the year. Virginia junior kicker Ian Frye leads the ACC in field goals made and is 17-for-20 in 2014.
It came down to a missed field goal the last time the schools met as Dustin Hopkins missed as time expired giving the Cavaliers a 14-13 win in Tallahassee in 2011. The Seminoles have not lost an ACC home game since.
While the differential in record may suggest that Florida State should run away with this one, both schools have played a lot of close games this season. Four of Virginia’s five losses have come by one score while three of Florida State’s eight victories have been decided by six points or less.
Saturday’s contest in Tallahassee will air nationally on ESPN and is set to begin just after 6:30 P.M. eastern time.
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