No. 2 Florida State came to Louisville to take on the No. 25 Cardinals with a 23 game winning streak, and left with a 42-31 victory to keep the streak alive. Though they were challenged, they revealed what makes them a legitimate title contender, but also some of their warts that could derail them. After a slow start due to penalties and turnovers, the Seminoles showed off their talent and mental fortitude by storming back from 21 down with the help of big plays from their offense. No matter how frustrating of a loss this is for Cards fans, this was not a case of any one Louisville player failing to come through. It was not a matter of a fluke play. This was simply a case where the better football team won despite finding itself down 21-0 on the road and unable to get anything going.
Florida State won this game with attitude. The biggest celebration by a Florida State player was a fist pump from an offensive lineman as he left the field following the Seminoles final touchdown. It was clear that Florida State is a team confident in its process. The Seminoles players always knew they would find a way to win, and that belief put their talented players in position to win the game. After a first half in which Jameis Winston was outplayed by Will Gardner, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner regrouped and never shied away from the moment, even after being picked off on his first pass of the second half. After failing to crack even 25 yards in his previous game, freshman Dalvin Cook left his fingerprints on the game with 110 yards on just nine carries—including two huge touchdown runs.
Louisville needed to play a near perfect game to overcome their new Atlantic Division foe. The Cards don’t have the talent and depth to compensate for lapses in execution. This game was representative of where these programs stand at the moment. Florida State has an identity, a strong coaching staff, and a steady influx of blue chip prospects to replenish the talent base—and it won the game. Louisville is still trying to find itself after a coaching change and an abrupt change in playing styles on both sides of the ball. The Cards have the coaching staff and scheme, but not the right players for that scheme; it’s still trying to establish its recruiting base.
But once it does, this game has a chance to be a de facto play-in for an ACC Championship Game berth. Louisville picked up four new recruits for its 2015 recruiting class the day after losing to Florida State. Louisville is proving itself to be a legitimate football program. Once the Cards make good on the faith of their commits and compete perennially for ACC titles, the prospects will only get better. Louisville is a program on the rise. One day, the Cards will beat the Seminoles, and it won’t be such a surprise. For now, however, the better team will move on towards its goal of a second consecutive National Title. Business as usual for the ACC’s elite.
*Section Photo and Featured Photo (above) credit to Andy Lyons, Getty Images.
