FSU Rapid Reaction: FSU 37 GT 35

The ACC Championship Game between the Florida State Seminoles and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets has just gone final, here’s some FSU Rapid Reaction:

Be honest, if you wanted FSU to win tonight, the Seminoles had you plenty nervous.

And if you wanted them to lose, you’ve probably heard this one before.

Once again, FSU escaped a seemingly un-winnable situation with a victory on Saturday night. It just wouldn’t have been fitting for the season to end any other way.

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FSU has gone down by 21 and won. FSU has trailed 24-7 twice this season and won. The ‘Noles have surrendered a blocked punt and four interceptions and won. So, perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that on Saturday night FSU added another entry to its list of daring escapes this season. This time the Florida State defense gave up well over 300 yards on the ground and came away with a victory.

This is not how you’re supposed to win games. All of these scenarios — every single one of them — are near statistical certainties for a team to lose. You don’t let a team gash you for over 300 yards and dominate the time of possession battle by over ten minutes and still win. You just don’t.

Unless you’re 2014 FSU.

It wasn’t a pretty evening if you were hoping for good defense. FSU looked fairly inept in the face of Georgia Tech’s triple-option attack. The Yellow Jackets took an early lead and forced Florida State to play catch-up for most of the first half. But a late stop and a Seminole touchdown in the final minute gave FSU a seven-point lead heading into the tunnel.

It looked like FSU was in trouble when Georgia Tech evened the score on its opening possession of the second half too. But credit this Florida State defense for buckling down just enough to pull this thing out. The Yellow Jackets failed to score again after their initial touchdown until the final minutes of the fourth quarter and FSU’s offense continued to move the ball and put points on the board — in the form of three field goals — and slowly but surely the Seminoles pulled this thing out.

Just take a minute to consider what an accomplishment that is for a defense that was undermanned heading into this one. Depth issues at DT and LB were exacerbated by the injury of Eddie Goldman early in the evening and it was an uphill battle all night for the Seminole defense.

And no, it didn’t look great.

But it was good enough.

And that’s what matters. On a night when Florida State’s offense looked as lethal as it has all season, FSU’s defense did just enough to set up the boys on the other side of the ball and Florida State came away with its third straight ACC title.

Now it’s all up to the committee to decide where FSU plays in the opening round of the college playoff.

What it Means: FSU is in. Like it or not, the undefeated defending national champs will be included in the inaugural playoff. Whether it’s as a four seed or higher remains to be seen, but on a weekend when all four of the top four teams won, FSU finds itself in good position.

The committee does have a difficult decision to make, yes. But that’s in regard to one-loss schools like Ohio State, TCU and Baylor. Alabama, FSU and Oregon are in. Breathe easy, FSU fans.

You knew it was over when: Demarcus Walker recovered Georgia Tech’s onside kick. The Yellow Jackets were able to score late on a passing play and force FSU to sweat a little bit at the end of this one. But Walker fell on the ball and preserved the win for the Seminoles.

Player of the Game: It’s tough not to give it to Winston, who was brilliant on Saturday night. But Dalvin Cook gets the nod for rushing for 177 yards and a touchdown. Cook is now the all-time freshman rushing leading Florida State history. Tonight though, it was obvious that he is going to be a whole lot more by the time it’s all said and done. Cook is a special player. He’s dynamic, he can run it, he can catch it– he can do it all.

And believe me, after the last two weeks — he’s run for over 300 yards the last two games — the country has been served notice. Jameis Winston might not be around next year, but Dalvin Cook will. And FSU is going to be tough to beat with him carrying the ball.

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