Florida State may have fell from its top spot in the polls over the weekend, but the second-ranked Seminoles get set to host #5 Notre Dame while riding the nation’s longest winning streak at 22 games. Florida State easily defeated Syracuse last weekend, 38-20, while the Fighting Irish were forced to overcome an early fourth quarter deficit to defeat North Carolina 50-43.
The guys likely to be under center in Saturday’s contest of 6-0 teams at Doak Campbell Stadium have combined for more national championship appearances than losses.
Florida State’s Jameis Winston is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner with a career record as a starter of 19-0. Winston is coming off his best performance of the season last week as the FSU sophomore went 30-for-36 passing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.
Notre Dame’s Everett Golson may not have played last season due to academic issues, but in two seasons as the starting quarterback in South Bend, Golson has yet to lose a regular season start. With the loss of wide receiver DeVaris Daniels to a suspension prior to the year, Golson has had to do more this season, but has excelled with 20 total touchdowns and just four interceptions.
Sophomore William Fuller has emerged as the top target for the Fighting Irish, leading the team with 504 yards receiving and seven touchdowns this season. Fuller will be facing a Florida State secondary that seems to be coming into its own.
After leading the nation in interceptions a season ago, Florida State went three straight games without a pick following the season-opener against Oklahoma State. In the last two weeks however, the secondary has begun to live up to the billing.
Preseason All-Americans Jalen Ramsey and P.J. Williams have each come down with interceptions over the last two weeks while sophomore safety Nate Andrews is on pace to lead the team in that category again this season.
The Seminoles have struggled to stay healthy along the defensive line and at linebacker this season, but redshirt freshman linebacker Matthew Thomas is expected to make his season debut on Saturday after fighting an injury and a suspension. Juniors Terrance Smith and Reggie Northrup have been the most two consistent Seminoles this season at that position.
The FSU defensive line is headlined by junior defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. and junior defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. Florida State however, has struggled to generate a pass rush at times this season. Expect to see a lot of freshman Lorenzo Featherston in obvious passing downs.
For the Notre Dame defense, linebackers Jaylon Smith and Joe Schmidt have been ball-hawks, combining for nearly 100 stops at the midway point in the season. In the secondary, Cole Luke leads Notre Dame with three interceptions.
Luke and the Fighting Irish secondary will look to slow down a Florida State receiving corps that is finally beginning to look like a finished product. Leading receiver Rashad Greene became Florida State’s all-time leader in receptions last week. Greene scored the game-winning touchdown as a freshman in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl — the last meeting between the schools.
In recent weeks, sophomore Jesus Wilson and freshman Travis Rudolph have emerged as dependable targets behind Greene. Senior tight end Nick O’Leary is coming off of his best game of the year, finishing with eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown against Syracuse.
With senior running back Karlos Williams out last week, the Seminoles rushed for 165 yards thanks to a career-day from freshman Dalvin Cook. Center Ryan Hofeld, the lone non-senior, on the offensive line played well in his first career start against the Orange. Guard Tre’ Jackson was honored for the second time this season as the ACC’s top offensive lineman, for his performance in the Carrier Dome.
If the talent on offense and defense for the Seminoles was not enough, reigning Lou Groza Award winning kicker, Roberto Aguayo, is a perfect 13-for-13 on field goals this season.
Saturday’s top 5 showdown in Tallahassee will not only be the first meeting between the schools since the Seminoles rallied for an 18-14 victory in the Champs Sports Bowl three years ago, but just the second ever in Tallahassee. Notre Dame won the first meeting at Doak Campbell Stadium in 2002, 34-24. FSU holds a 5-2 edge in the series all-time.
While there will be no shortage of talent on the field Saturday, both teams will have great coaches roaming the sidelines. FSU’s Jimbo Fisher is 51-10 all-time as a head coach while Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly has led the Fighting Irish to victories in 27 of their last 31 games.
Florida State will look to begin 7-0 for a second straight year on Saturday. FSU has not started 7-0 in consecutive seasons since 1996 and 1997. The contest between Notre Dame and Florida State will begin just after 8:00 P.M. eastern time and will be shown nationally on ABC.
