Sep 4, 20232 min read

A Top Ten Beatdown - #5 LSU Falls to #8 Florida State 45-24

Statue of Unconqurered Seminole-Florida State University — "Unconquered & Doak Campbell" by MasknFins via Flickr

For the first half Sunday night in Orlando, #5 LSU was able to keep the #8 Seminoles of Florida State in check and took a 17-14 lead into halftime. However, the second half was a different story as Florida State ran the Tigers out of Camping World Stadium and not so quietly into the night. Florida State dominated in that second half on their way to a 45-24 victory.

LSU-Florida State Game Summary/Notes

LSU marched down the field on the opening possession to get down inside the 5-yard line. LSU tried five times to punch the ball into the endzone and failed, the last try ending in a sack of QB Jayden Daniels.

Florida State promptly moved the ball down the field 86 yards on nine plays on their first possession and scored on a slant pass from QB Jordan Travis to WR Keon Coleman to take a 7-0 lead.

Early on, the Tigers couldn’t get anything going on the ground and totaled -9 yards rushing at one point. But then Tre Bradford scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 7-7.

In the second quarter, Florida punted the ball on 4th and 6 and the demons of last year’s special teams’ blunders appeared when LSU fumbled the punt and FSU recovered. But the Tigers picked off FSU QB Jordan Travis to get the ball back. But then the Tigers drive stalled.

LSU would later score on a Noah Cain dive over the top to take a 14-7 lead. But of course, the Seminoles answered right back to tie the game at 14-14. On the ensuing drive, LSU drove down the field and converted a 36-yard Damian Ramos field goal to end the first half with a 17-14 lead.

In the second half, the LSU playbook was thrown in a hole and buried. Florida State outscored the Tigers 31-7 and gained 285 yards to get a statement victory over a Top 5 opponent.

Play of the Game

In the 3rd quarter, FSU faced a 4th down and 2 and converted for big yardage to get down to the LSU 1-yard line. Travis then ran the ball on the next play and scored to put the Seminoles up 24-17, a lead they would never relinquish.

MVP for Florida State

Travis passed for 342 yards and accounted for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing).

MVP for LSU

Daniels accounted for 411 total yards, despite only throwing for one touchdown and completing only 59% of his passes.

What the Win Means for Florida State

With this win, Florida State will move into the Top 5 and already looks in mid-season form.

What the Loss Means for LSU

LSU probably will fall out of the Top Ten. They must study film and regroup. The offensive line allowed four sacks. Wide receivers dropped passes. And the play calling must improve.