FSU Football’s Best 15 Games Of The Last 40 Seasons: No. 13

Here’s a look at one of the best 15 games over the last 40 seasons of FSU football.

For the four decades, two men have led FSU football: Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher. Over that span, the Seminoles have gone from a football program that seemed to be just weeks from being cancelled to one of the top teams in the country and a known brand across the country and all over the world.

There have been big road wins that set the tone for FSU football’s “play anyone at anytime” attitude to rivalry wins against Florida and Miami. The 34 seasons with Bowden at the helm saw two national titles won and one of the greatest dynasty eras in the history of the sport take place. The last six seasons under Fisher have seen the ‘Noles bring another title to Tallahassee and restored FSU football’s place as one of college football’s elite teams.

Of all the games over the past four decades, which are the ones that meant the most to where FSU football is today? Let’s take a look at the best games over the past 40 seasons the ‘Noles have taken the field.

No. 13 – Florida State 31 Notre Dame 27 (October 18, 2014)

Throughout the past 40 seasons, FSU football has had their share of top five showdowns on their schedule. Some have gone the Seminoles’ way while others have ended in disappointment for the men from Tallahassee. This game was looking to be the latter…until a late flag saved the day.

After winning the 2013 national championship, FSU was having a tougher time putting games away and blowing out teams the following season. Sitting as the second ranked team in the country, the ‘Noles welcomed the fifth ranked Fighting Irish to town for just the second time in the history of this series. At this point on the calendar (and with both teams being looked at as unproven by the newly formed College Football Playoff committee), this was basically a play-in game for the new system that would decide the national champ.

In what may have been the loudest game in the history of Doak Campbell Stadium, both teams went back and forth in taking control of the game. Jameis Winston would find Rashad Greene to tie the game at 17, while Karlos Williams would run for two second half touchdowns to give FSU the lead. Notre Dame, led by future FSU graduate transfer quarterback Everett Golson, threw what looked to be a game winning touchdown with 13 seconds to go, but offensive pass interference was called and FSU football came up with an interception on the next play to survive.

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The victory would be the 23^rd straight for FSU football, who would win their next six games (including a third straight ACC Championship) before losing to Oregon in the Rose Bowl during the inaugural playoff system. Under the new arrangement with the ACC, these two teams will see more of each other with games schedule in 2018 (at Notre Dame) and 2021 (in Tallahassee on Labor Day night).

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