Despite being #1 in both human polls, Florida State remained third on Tuesday in the College Football Playoff Rankings thanks to something called “game control”. At 10-0, the Seminoles remain the only undefeated team from a major conference as they get set to take on Boston College in their final ACC game of the regular season on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Florida State managed to stay unbeaten after rallying from 16 points down to beat rival Miami 30-26 this past week. Boston College is coming off of a bye. The Eagles, who come in 6-4 and 3-3 in conference play, fell to Louisville 38-19 at home their last time out.
FSU quarterback Jameis Winston passed for over 300 yards for the fifth time this season in the Seminoles’ comeback win over Miami, but the running game tied a season-high by averaging 6.0 yards-per-carry.
For the second time in three games, freshman Dalvin Cook scored on a long fourth quarter touchdown run to put Florida State ahead for good, but changes along the offensive line deserve much of the credit as well.
True freshman Roderick Johnson made his first career start for the Seminoles, manning the left tackle spot. Cameron Erving, who previously held the position, became the third Seminole to start at center this season pushing freshman Ryan Hoefeld out of the starting lineup.
History could be made this Saturday for Florida State as senior wide receiver Rashad Greene sits just 92 yards shy of Ron Sellers’ FSU career record for receiving yards. Greene joined Sellers last week as the only Seminoles ever to put together consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons as Greene looks to become the first Florida State player ever to lead the team in receiving yards in four consecutive seasons.
The potent Florida State offense that averages better than 37 points-per-game will be facing a Boston College defense that ranks third in the ACC. The Eagles rank second in the conference against the run and much of that is thanks to senior linebacker Josh Keyes, who leads the team in tackles for loss and in sacks. Keyes is joined at linebacker by junior Steven Daniels, the team’s leading tackler.
On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Tyler Murphy has hit the ground running — literally. Murphy got the majority of the starts at Florida last season before transferring to Chestnut Hill, but will be facing the Seminoles for the first time as a starter.
Murphy has thrown just nine touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions this season, but ranks third in the ACC in rushing and has already eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. Freshman running back Jon Hilliman should also receive a lot of carries for a BC offense that went for 200 yards on the ground against the Seminoles last year.
Florida State has been riddled with injury along the front seven this season, but juniors Mario Edwards Jr. and Eddie Goldman are two of the best linemen in the ACC and Goldman has emerged as one of the premier defensive tackles in the entire country.
Behind junior linebackers Terrance Smith and Reggie Northrup will be a secondary led by sophomore safety Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey had four passes defended last week against Miami in addition to a tackle for loss, a blocked extra point and the game-sealing interception.
While Florida State looks to run its winning streak to 27 games, complete a perfect ACC slate and keep its dreams of another national championship alive, Boston College will look to win in Tallahassee for the first time since 2008 and take down the AP’s #1 team for the first time since topping Notre Dame in South Bend in 1993.
Under head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles are a perfect 4-0 against Boston College. Florida State overcame a 17-3 deficit to beat the Eagles 48-34 last season in Chestnut Hill in what was FSU’s closest game of the regular season.
In Boston College’s last trip to Tallahassee, the Seminoles pounded the Eagles 51-7. The last BC victory in the series came at home in 2009 by a 28-21 score thanks to a long fourth quarter touchdown run by Montel Harris.
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for just after 3:30 P.M. eastern time and will air regionally on ABC.
