Seminole Sunday Sauce — Sept. 10, 2023: FSU Football Rolls to 2-0 Start
Florida State football starting the year 2-0 isn’t a huge shock. The manner in which it has happened, however, has been downright impressive.
On Sunday night in Orlando, the then eighth-ranked Seminoles opened the season with a statement win over No. 5 LSU, 45-24. FSU trailed 17-14 at halftime before erupting for 31 straight points to open the second half.
Quarterback Jordan Travis finished with 380 total yards and five total touchdowns, including three tosses to Keon Coleman. In his FSU debut, Coleman finished with 122 yards receiving on nine catches. Jaheim Bell, a South Carolina transfer, added two touchdowns — one rushing and one receiving.
Following the victory, FSU rose four spots to No. 4 in the AP Poll. In the home opener on Saturday night, things came even easier for FSU with a 66-13 rout of Southern Mississippi. The 66 points was the most for FSU since 2017.
Seven different FSU players scored a touchdown in the victory, including running back Trey Benson, who rushed for three. Jarrian Jones had the first non-offensive touchdown of the year with an interception return for a score. Travis and Tate Rodemaker each passed for two touchdowns in the victory.
After two convincing victories, FSU will open ACC play and play its first true home game when it visits Boston College on Saturday. The Seminoles routed the Eagles last season in Tallahassee, 44-14.
FOOTBALL
Record: 2-0
Ranking: No. 4 AP Poll; No. 5 USA Today Coaches Poll
Past Week: (2-0), beat LSU on Sunday, 45-24; beat Southern Mississippi on Saturday, 66-13
Upcoming: at Boston College (Saturday)
Recognitions: Jordan Travis, QB (ACC Quarterback of the Week); Keon Coleman, WR (ACC Receiver of the Week); Bless Harris, T (ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week)
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 6 nationally, first in ACC (21 total commitments)
Wrap-up: FSU has the look of one of the nation’s top teams through two weeks. The Seminoles will open ACC play next week in Massachusetts.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 41 nationally, 10th in ACC (1 total commitment)
Wrap-up: Don’t look now, but hoops season is less than two months away.
SOCCER
Record: 4-0
Ranking: No. 5 United Soccer Coaches
Past Week: (2-0), beat South Florida on Sunday, 5-1; beat North Florida on Thursday, 4-0
Upcoming: vs. Florida (Sunday); at Clemson (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: Ahead of a week filled with two rivalry matches, FSU has to be feeling good about itself.
VOLLEYBALL
Record: 5-3
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-2), lost to Auburn on Sunday, 3-1; beat Samford on Monday, 3-0; lost at UCF in UCF Invitational on Thursday, 3-0; beat North Texas in UCF Invitational on Friday, 3-0
Upcoming: vs. Florida (Tuesday); at TCU (Friday, Fight at the Fort); vs. Hawaii (Saturday, Fight at the Fort)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: It wasn’t a great week, but FSU head coach Chris Poole became just the eighth coach to reach 900 wins.
CROSS COUNTRY
Ranking: Men No. 29 USTFCCCA, No. 3 South Region; women No. 23 USTFCCCA, No. 3 South Region
Past Week: Men idle; women won TCC Open
Upcoming: Covered Bridge Open (Friday)
Recognitions: Abdirizak Ibrahim (ACC Men’s Performer of the Week); Alyson Churchill (ACC Women’s Performer of the Week)
Wrap-up: While the men were idle, FSU had another dominating performance this week. At the TCC Open, the Seminoles took the top two and five of the top nine spots.
MEN’S GOLF
Ranking: No. 5 Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Poll
Past Week: Finished eighth at Fields of Honor Collegiate
Upcoming: OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Friday-Sept. 17)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU’s season got off to a pedestrian start with an eighth-place finish at the Fields of Honor Collegiate.
WoMEN’S GOLF
Ranking: No. 10 WGCA Coaches Poll
Upcoming: ANNIKA Invitational (Monday-Wednesday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU will open up its fall schedule in Minnesota this week.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
