FSU Halftime Reaction: Oregon 18 FSU 13

The college football playoff semifinal between Oregon and Florida State is at halftime, here’s some FSU halftime reaction:

Florida State looked like it was going to have a tough time coming back in this one before a late flourish put the Seminoles within a score. FSU will receive to start the second half.

Still, this all feels familiar.

The Seminoles have not been without their opportunities, but so far FSU has come up short. There was the play when Jameis Winston came up short on a fourth-and-goal to give Oregon back the ball. There was a blown chance to punch it in after an Oregon penalty extended an FSU drive deep in Ducks’ territory. There was a potential interception that dropped to the ground — off of Jalen Ramsey’s out-stretched hands — when the Ducks were threatening to go up two scores in the second quarter.

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If you want to be a championship team, these are plays you have to make.

Things started off promising enough. FSU forced an Oregon punt on the very first possession of the game and started on its own 41. But things stalled out late and the ‘Noles settled for three.

Oregon answered with eight.

After another Florida State defensive stop — so far this defense has played extremely well — Florida State drove the ball again but stalled out late and failed to score anything after going for it on 4th down deep in Oregon territory.

This is not how you beat good teams. Granted, FSU has earned the benefit of the doubt with its ability to climb out of these holes but eventually one of these deficits will prove fatal.

The Seminoles find themselves in good shape. The run game is working, the pass has been there — even if Winston has been a little high with his throws at times — and between the 20’s FSU is moving the ball.

But you have to score touchdowns. And you can’t shoot yourself in the foot. Right now — as far as self-inflicted wounds go — FSU is on its second clip of ammunition. False starts, holding penalties and even bad play-calling has plagued the ‘Noles so far in the first half and as a result most the ‘Noles most promising drives have yielded only field goals– if they ended in points at all.

But it seems like FSU has settled down. FSU got it together for a big touchdown drive at the end of the half. Now the entire momentum of this one feels different.

This is familiar territory for Florida State — coming out behind in the second half — but it’s against a better team. Oregon isn’t going to let up. The Ducks won’t make mistakes. FSU is going to have to go out and win this one.

The ‘Noles are capable. But eventually — and FSU plays the odds a lot — the percentages are going to catch up with the Seminoles.

We’ll know in a couple hours whether tonight will be the night it happens.

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