No. 8 Florida State recorded the best win of Week 1, and possibly of the 2023 season, taking down No. 5 LSU in Orlando by a 45-24 margin and affirming the Seminoles' place in the thick of the College Football Playoff picture.
Quarterback Jordan Travis entered the game with Heisman Trophy buzz and delivered on that hype with a stellar performance, completing 23 of 31 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns while adding 38 yards and a score on the ground. Travis guided the offense to scores on six consecutive drives to help Florida State pull away in the second half and secure one of the most significant wins of the Mike Norvell era.
The game was not as lopsided as the final margin for much of the evening; LSU actually led 17-14 at halftime but failed to get anything going on offense in the second half. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels hit some explosive plays through the passing game, but he found himself under duress from the Seminoles pass rush on key downs when the Tigers were working to claw their way back from a deficit that increased throughout the final 30 minutes.
For Florida State, the game serves as affirmation that the hype from last season's 10-win campaign is worth believing. Norvell led the program to double-digit wins last season for the first time since 2016, but did so while going 0-3 against teams ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game. Those defeats against ranked opponents loomed large in the minds of Florida State skeptics going into the fall, but those concerns have been put to bed with Sunday night's dominant win against the Tigers.
Here are three things to know about the win for FSU, the defeat for LSU and what it means for both teams:
Travis outduels Daniels
Both quarterbacks were considered Heisman Trophy hopefuls coming into the season, and both players still have a chance to make their case for the award thanks to their own talent level and the ceiling for their respective teams. But if voters had to choose an either/or based on this game alone, there would be an overwhelming level of support for Travis, who at one point completed 11 pass attempts in a row as Florida State's offense found its rhythm. The Seminoles more than doubled their offensive output with 31 second-half points to just 14 in the first half, and four of Travis' five total touchdowns came after halftime. This was a sloppy game early that demanded one team tighten up to win. Florida State was that team thanks to Travis' ability to steady the offense while Daniels and LSU were struggling for much of the second half.
Florida State wideouts make history
For the first time since 2018, Florida State's passing attack featured two different players with at least 100 yards receiving thanks to Keon Coleman's 122 yards on nine catches and Johnny Wilson's 104 yards on seven catches. Travis has been able to find success as a playmaker, but he has not had the caliber of options on the perimeter like he does now, with Coleman's post-spring practice addition possibly being among the biggest offseason acquisitions in college football. With no spring and only fall camp to get in sync through organized actives, Coleman has fit right in and delivered three scores in the monumental win.
Now, opposing defenses have to worry not just about Wilson and the matchup issues presented by his size and athleticism, but by Coleman's ability to take a short pass and turn it into a long gain. The former Michigan State wideout had 52 yards after the catch -- a factor that impacts not just how defenses choose to defend Florida State before the snap, but also how they prepare for an offense that looks to exploit open space with its skill position players.
LSU needs better performance on key downs
Ultimately, this LSU team can still accomplish all of its goals if it can beat Alabama, win the SEC West and make it back to the SEC Championship Game. But avoiding a second regular-season loss is going to be difficult if the Tigers fail to succeed in key situations like they did on Sunday night. LSU was 3 for 10 on third down and 0 for 3 on fourth down with two turnovers on down in the red zone and no sustained drives after halftime. Last season, Daniels was the team's leading rusher in part because of an inability to keep a clean pocket. But not even Daniels' mobility could keep plays alive against a Florida State defensive front that recorded four sacks and five tackles for loss.
0 Comments