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 has been everything from 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. 10 – Florida State 18 Nebraska 14 (October 4, 1980)
In the 1979 season, FSU football had their first unbeaten regular season in nearly 30 years. It didn’t end the way head coach Bobby Bowden wanted as the ‘Noles were brought back to earth in the Orange Bowl by an Oklahoma team that showed FSU they still had a way to go if they wanted to win that elusive national championship.
The 1980 season started with the ‘Noles working their way into the top 10 before a one point loss to the rival Miami Hurricanes sent them down in the rankings. FSU football didn’t have a lot of time to feel bad for themselves after the loss to Miami…the third ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers were waiting the following weekend for the first ever meeting between the two schools. After the struggles FSU football had the previous season against an option offense from the former Big Eight Conference, there wasn’t too much hope outside of those wearing garnet and gold that an upset was about to take place.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the funeral…this FSU football team didn’t go anywhere and didn’t back down from their opponent. Offensively, the ‘Noles had their struggles and finished the day with less than 200 yards of total offense. The story of the day would be the FSU defense. The Seminoles forced four turnovers from Nebraska (two interceptions and two fumbles) to keep them with decent field position for kicker Bill Capece, who connected on four field goals over the course of the game. Running back Sam Platt scored FSU’s only touchdown in the game as the ‘Noles shut out their opponents 15-0 in the second half and got the upset win. It was a performance that got FSU players and coaches a standing ovation from Nebraska fans as they left the field that day inside Memorial Stadium.
FSU football would win the rest of their regular season games (including a home victory over fourth ranked Pittsburgh the following weekend and their quarterback, Dan Marino) and set themselves up for a shot at the national title in a rematch with Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately, the ‘Noles still couldn’t get past the Sooners and lost 18-17, meaning the wait continued for Bowden to get his first title.