Seminole Sunday Sauce — Nov. 26, 2023: FSU Football Rallies Past Florida to Complete Perfect Regular Season
Not a lot came easy for Florida State football during the 2023 regular season, but there was a common theme — victories.
The fifth-ranked Seminoles completed a perfect regular season on Saturday night with a 24-15 win over rival Florida. FSU scored 24 of the final 27 points to overcome an early 12-0 deficit.
On a night where neither team finished with 250 total yards, Trey Benson went for 95 yards on the ground and scored all three FSU touchdowns. That included touchdown runs of 36 yards to give FSU its first lead and 26 yards to put the game away.
The Gators led 15-14 after three quarters before a short Ryan Fitzgerald field goal put the Seminoles ahead for good with less than eight minutes to play. Benson capped the victory with less than three minutes remaining.
Montrell Johnson finished with 107 yards rushing on 18 carries for Florida. Jared Verse finished with 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss for an FSU defense that got to Florida quarterback Max Brown for six sacks,
Now 12-0 for the first time since 2014, FSU likely needs just to beat Louisville in the ACC Championship next week to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Florida will finish 5-7 and with a third straight losing season. The Gators had previously not suffered through losing seasons since the mid-1940s.
FOOTBALL
Record: 12-0 (8-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 5 AP Poll; No. 4 USA Today Coaches Poll; No. 5 College Football Playoff
Past Week: (1-0), beat Florida on Saturday, 24-15
Upcoming: vs. Louisville (ACC Championship, Saturday)
Recognitions: Jordan Travis, QB (Walter Camp Award semifinalist); Adam Fuller, DC (Frank Broyles Award); Keon Coleman (Biletnikoff Award semifinalist)
Commitments: None
Decommitments: CJ Heard, 3-star S* (No. 536 overall*)
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 3 nationally, first in ACC (22 total commitments)
Wrap-up: FSU remained undefeated with a hard-fought rivalry win. The Seminoles will face Louisville this week for the ACC Championship and perhaps a spot in the College Football Playoff.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 4-1
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-0), beat UNLV in Sunshine Slam on Monday, 83-75; beat Colorado in Sunshine Slam on Tuesday in overtime, 77-71
Upcoming: vs. Georgia (ACC/SEC Challenge, Wednesday); at North Carolina (Saturday)
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 79 nationally, 15th in ACC (1 total commitment)
Wrap-up: After winning the Sunshine Slam, FSU made a lot of new believers this week in Daytona Beach.
SOCCER
Record: 20-0-1
Ranking: No. 1 United Soccer Coaches; No. 1 overall seed NCAA Tournament
Past Week: (2-0), beat Texas in Sweet 16 on Sunday, 5-0; beat Pittsburgh on Friday in Elite Eight, 3-0
Upcoming: vs. Clemson (College Cup, Friday)
Recognitions: Lauren Flynn, D (CSC Academic All-District); Heather Gilchrist, D (CSC Academic All-District); Leilanni Nesbeth, F/M (CSC Academic All-District); Sophia Nguyen, M (CSC Academic All-District); Beata Olsson, F (CSC Academic All-District); Cristina Roque, GK (CSC Academic All-District); Kaitlyn Zipay, M/F (CSC Academic All-District)
Wrap-up: With two dominating wins, FSU has clinched a fourth straight trip to the College Cup.
VOLLEYBALL
Record: 23-8 (16-2 ACC)
Ranking: No. 23 AVCA Coaches Poll
Past Week: (2-0), beat North Carolina on Sunday, 3-2; beat Notre Dame on Saturday, 3-0
Upcoming: vs. TBA (NCAA Tournament)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: A terrific regular season for FSU culminated in an ACC co-championship.
CROSS COUNTRY
Ranking: No. 29 USTFCCCA, No. 2 South Region; women USTFCCCA No. 8 South Region
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: Another cross country season has come to an end. Track and field’s indoor season is just around the corner.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 17 CSCAA
Past Week: Finished Georgia Invitational
Upcoming: CSCAA Open Water Championships (Dec. 17)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU had a strong showing as a team in Athens this past week. One more event remains in this calendar year.
Women’s Basketball
Record: 5-1
Ranking: No. 13 AP; No. 13 USA TODAY Coaches Poll
Past Week: (2-1), beat South Alabama on Sunday, 80-45; defeated Northwestern in Ball Dawgs Classic on Wednesday, 90-52; lost to Stanford in Ball Dawgs Classic on Friday, 100-88
Upcoming: vs. Arkansas (ACC/SEC Challenge, Thursday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: Although FSU suffered its first loss of the season, the Seminoles are off to a fine start.
*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.
