Column: Neutral-Site Contests Between FSU-LSU Yet to Disappoint

The day is quickly approaching and the anticipation is undeniable. In what may be the most consequential matchup of Week 1, Florida State and LSU will meet in Orlando in less than two weeks to open the 2023 season.

It will mark the second straight year that the Tigers have opened up with the Seminoles. Last season’s contest in New Orleans certainly lived up the hype.

Although neither team was ranked for last season’s contest, both went on to finish in the AP top-20 and in the top 15 of the Coaches Poll. FSU came away with a thrilling 24-23 victory in a contest that was not decided until the final snap.

Jordan Travis (260 yards passing, two touchdowns), Ontaria “Pokey” Wilson (seven catches, 102 yards, two touchdowns), and Jared Verse (two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss) all shined for FSU, but it was safety Shyheim Brown who saved the day. After both teams committed what looked to be debilitating turnovers over the final 2-plus minutes, Brown blocked Damian Ramos’ game-tying extra point attempt with no time remaining to preserve the narrow FSU victory.

While matching the thrill of last year’s contest in the “Big Easy” won’t be easy, neutral-site contests between FSU and LSU have yet to disappoint. Historically, FSU has dominated the series. The Seminoles own an 8-2 record all-time against the Tigers, but it was LSU that took the first matchup.

In the first-ever Peach Bowl on Dec. 30, 1968, FSU and LSU went at it in another classic — this one at Grant Field in Atlanta. The Seminoles raced to an early 13-0 lead before the Tigers stormed back with 24 unanswered points.

Trailing 24-13 entering the final period, FSU went back in front on a pair of touchdown tosses from Bill Cappleman to Ron Sellers. With less than three minutes to go, Maurice LeBlanc scored from two yards out to put the Tigers ahead for good in a 31-27 victory. FSU reached LSU territory on its final possession, but ultimately turned it over on downs in what would be its final bowl game under head coach Bill Peterson.

The Sept. 3 contest in Orlando will mark the first time that the teams have met in Florida since 1990 when an end-of-game brawl at Doak Campbell Stadium marred legendary head coach Bobby Bowden’s 200th career win — a 42-3 victory for the Seminoles. The matchup in less than two weeks will also mark just the third meeting of ranked teams in series history and first-ever top-10 matchup between the schools. If the contest is as entertaining as the previous two neutral-site meetings, college football fans in Tallahassee, Baton Rouge and across the country are in for a real treat.

- 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.