Seminole Sunday Sauce — Dec. 3, 2023: FSU Football Tops Louisville to Claim ACC Crown
For the first time in nine years, Florida State football is the champion of the ACC. It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but the Seminoles got the job done on Saturday night with a 16-6 victory over No. 14 Louisville in the ACC Championship in Charlotte.
Running back Lawrance Toafili powered the offense with 118 yards rushing and the game’s only touchdown on 10 carries. The score came one play after Toafili broke off a 73-yard run.
Louisville’s best opportunity of the night came in the fourth quarter after tackling FSU punter Alex Mastromanno in the red zone. Three plays later, quarterback Jack Plummer was intercepted by FSU linebacker Tatum Bethune in the end zone.
FSU put the game away with a pair of Ryan Fitzgerald field goals in the final period. The FSU defense held the Cardinals to just 188 yards of offense. Braden Fiske and Jared Verse combined for five sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss.
With the win, FSU improved to 13-0 on the year. The Seminoles hope for a berth in the College Football Playoff. They’ll find out their bowl fate on Sunday.
FOOTBALL
Record: 13-0 (8-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 4 AP Poll; No. 4 USA Today Coaches Poll; No. 4 College Football Playoff
Past Week: (1-0), beat Louisville in ACC Championship on Saturday, 16-6
Upcoming: TBA
Recognitions: Jordan Travis, QB (All-ACC first team, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year); Keon Coleman, WR/PR (All-ACC first team); Darius Washington, OL (All-ACC first team); D’Mitri Emmanuel, G (All-ACC first team); Jared Verse, DE (ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, All-ACC first team); Kalen DeLoach, LB (All-ACC first team); Trey Benson, RB (ACC Running Back of the Week, All-ACC second team); Jaheim Bell, TE (All-ACC second team); Braden Fiske, DT (All-ACC second team); Joshua Farmer, DT (All-ACC second team); Renardo Green, CB (All-ACC second team); Alex Mastromanno, P (Ray Guy Award finalist, All-ACC second team); Johnny Wilson, WR (All-ACC third team); Shyheim Brown, S (All-ACC third team); Ryan Fitzgerald, K (All-ACC third team); Casey Roddick, G (All-ACC honorable mention); Maurice Smith, C (All-ACC honorable mention); Patrick Payton, DE (All-ACC honorable mention); DJ Lundy, LB (All-ACC honorable mention); Jarrian Jones, CB (All-ACC honorable mention); Fentrell Cypress, CB (All-ACC honorable mention); Akeem Dent, S (All-ACC honorable mention); Mike Norvell, HC (ACC Coach of the Year)
Commitments: Cai Bates, 4-star ATH* (No. 94 overall*)
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 3 nationally, first in ACC (23 total commitments)
Wrap-up: For the first time in nine years, FSU is the ACC champion. The Seminoles will learn their College Football Playoff fate on Sunday.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 4-3 (0-1 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-2), lost to Georgia in ACC/SEC Challenge on Wednesday, 68-66; lost at North Carolina on Saturday, 78-70
Upcoming: vs. South Florida (Saturday, Orange Bowl Classic)
Recognitions: Jamir Watkins, F (ACC Co-Player of the Week, Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week)
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 79 nationally, 15th in ACC (1 total commitment)
Wrap-up: After a great week, FSU followed it up with a dismal one. The Seminoles let big second-half leads slip away in both of their losses this week.
SOCCER
Record: 21-0-1
Ranking: No. 1 United Soccer Coaches; No. 1 overall seed NCAA Tournament
Past Week: (1-0), beat Clemson in College Cup on Friday, 2-0
Upcoming: vs. Stanford (National championship, Monday)
Recognitions: Cristina Roque, GK (All-Atlantic Region, United Soccer Coaches All-America third team); Onyi Echegini, M (All-Atlantic Region, MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, United Soccer Coaches All-America first team); Jody Brown, F (All-Atlantic Region, United Soccer Coaches All-American second team); Taylor Huff, M (All-Atlantic Region, United Soccer Coaches All-American second team); Jordynn Dudley, F (All-Atlantic Region, MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, United Soccer Coaches All-American first team)
Wrap-up: One win separates FSU from a fourth national title and third in six years.
VOLLEYBALL
Record: 23-9
Ranking: No. 22 AVCA Coaches Poll
Past Week: (0-1), lost to TCU in NCAA Tournament on Friday, 3-1
Recognitions: Audrey Koenig, OH (ACC Player of the Year, All-ACC first team); Khori Louis, MB (All-ACC first team); Kiari Robery, MB (All-ACC second team); Kyleene Filimaua, OH (ACC All-Freshman); Kenna Phelan, S (ACC All-Freshman); Chris Poole, HC (ACC Coach of the Year)
Wrap-up: A splendid season for FSU ended with a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 17 CSCAA
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: CSCAA Open Water Championships (Dec. 17)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: One more event remains in this calendar year for FSU.
Women’s Basketball
Record: 5-2
Ranking: No. 15 AP; No. 15 USA TODAY Coaches Poll
Past Week: (0-1), lost to Arkansas in ACC/SEC Challenge on Thursday, 71-58
Upcoming: vs. Kent State (Sunday); vs. Jacksonville (Thursday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: After five straight wins to start the year, the Seminoles have limped a bit with consecutive losses.
*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.
