Florida State makes case for inclusion in first CFP top four with dominant Week 9 win
Florida State should be ranked in the top four of the first College Football Playoff rankings this Tuesday. These Seminoles are as good as any team in the country.
In Week 9, they beat Wake Forest (4-4, 1-4 in ACC) 41-16 as quarterback Jordan Travis reminded everyone why he's on the short-list of Heisman contenders.
Travis accounted for 388 total yards and four touchdowns against the Demon Deacons. He first scored on a 13-yard run on Florida State's opening drive.
It certainly helps Travis that he has a receiver as talented as Keon Coleman. The transfer from Michigan State shined with teammate Johnny Wilson sidelined. He scored two touchdowns against Wake, including a one-handed grab in the end zone late in the second quarter to give Florida State a 31-7 lead.
The defense held Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis to 85 yards, and the Seminoles outgained the Deacs 508-210.
Florida State (8-0 6-0 in ACC) began the season with an impressive 45-24 neutral site win against LSU (6-2, 4-1 in SEC). The Tigers defense has been one of the most disappointing units in football, but the Seminoles' ability to hold LSU's offense to 24 points remains one of the most impressive feats by any team this season. Close calls in consecutive weeks in road games against Boston College and Clemson - plus LSU's loss to Ole Miss - caused Florida State's stock to dip, but the team is back to its dominant ways.
The Seminoles have won their past four games by a combined score of 159-56, rounding into form at the right time. They've done enough to be ranked in the top four on Tuesday but will have plenty of time to state their case the rest of the season if they find themselves at No. 5 or 6.
Florida State has the easiest remaining schedule of the CFP contenders, with its toughest remaining game being the season finale at Florida. The ACC is the weakest of the Power Five conferences. While the others have undefeated first-place teams, too, Florida State has arguably the best chance of finishing the regular season without a loss.
But the Seminoles shouldn't have to play their way into the top four later this season. When the first rankings are announced on Tuesday, they should already be there.
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