Florida State is just over 24 hours away from hosting Central Arkansas in Week 4 for a game that should give each team a chance to experiment. The Seminoles are fresh off a 50-36 loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa that arguably could have resulted in the firing of multiple staff members due to the collapse. However, the Seminoles move forward into a clash against the Bears, where frankly everything needs to go right.
Central Arkansas might be a serious underdog in Tallahassee, but two key statistics could influence how the game ends.
Stat #1: Central Arkansas - Sack total: 7
There have been some clear issues with Florida State this season, and one of the most prominent issues has been the offensive line. The Seminoles' staff entered the season with ongoing evaluations and a commitment to finding the right combination of five players. Despite having a bit of a broken line, Florida State had some positive moments against a menacing Alabama defensive front.
Now, Florida State has a chance to build on those positives while also erasing the three sacks allowed against the Crimson Tide from recent memory. The issue for the Seminoles, however, is that Central Arkansas may have a stronger pass rush than many previously thought ahead of the season.
The Bears currently have seven sacks through four games this season, which is more than half of the 2025 season total in just a third of the way through. The explosion in sack production this season is notable, but how Central Arkansas managed to get to this point is even more impressive, as only one player has been involved in more than one sack. The Bears spread the wealth on defense, which makes eliminating the potential of being brought down for a loss much harder.
Senior defensive end Deorius Cobbs has taken a big step forward this season for the Bears, and his 1.5 sacks currently lead the defense. Cobbs is arguably the most dangerous player on defense in terms of sack production for Central Arkansas, but stopping Cobbs and the rest of the defense go hand-in-hand.
Florida State needs to take a page out of the Southeast Missouri State playbook by attacking the Bears with power and speed. Quarterback Braylen Ragland was not sacked once by the Bears during the 27-9 win, and his quick decision-making helped eliminate the chances Central Arkansas had at bringing him down. Additionally, the Redhawks pounded the rock on the ground with an average of 3.6 yards, which tired and broke down the defensive line.
Stat #2: Florida State - Total yards allowed per game: 490.3
Defense is the one thing Florida State truly has not figured out this season, with all three early-season opponents finding success on offense. The Seminoles have been moving backwards, with SMU plucking apart the defense before Alabama drove right down the field every time without much resistance. You can win games without a reliable defense at times, but you cannot consistently expect winning results without a defense capable of stringing together stops.
Will Central Arkansas realistically come into Doak Campbell Stadium and steal a win away? No. However, the Bears could make the game far more difficult than it needs to be for Florida State, and you simply cannot struggle to put away two much weaker programs in one season.
Week 4 needs to be the week Florida State finally looks like a team that can competently play defense, and failing to do so this time could realistically result in staff changes.
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