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. 5 – Florida State 51 Clemson 14 (October 19, 2013)
For the previous four seasons, FSU football had alternated with the Tigers as the kings of the ACC’s Atlantic Division. After winning the conference in 2012, the Seminoles were expected to take a step back with a new starting quarterback in the fold and Clemson returning so many weapons on both sides of the ball. With their annual matchup taking place in the Palmetto State, most experts thought the Tigers were going to take back to top spot in the ACC after this top ten showdown.
But, a funny thing took place under the lights of Memorial Stadium on that fall October night: FSU football decided it wasn’t ready to give up the ACC crown or their small national championship hopes at that point in the year. Before the game was even a minute and a half old, the Seminoles had a 7-0 lead when Jameis Winston (that freshman quarterback who was supposed to be “exposed” by the Clemson defense) connected with Kelvin Benjamin for the score. By the time the first half had come to a close, Florida State had a 27-7 lead in front of a Clemson home crowd that was shocked to say the least. A long touchdown pass from Winston to Rashad Greene and a fumble “scoop and score” by Mario Edwards Jr. had the Tigers wondering what was taking place.
The second half wouldn’t be much different as FSU football would find the end zone three more times (another pass to Greene and touchdown runs by Winston and Devonta Freeman) and cruise to a victory that was shocking to say the least (not because FSU won, but the absolute beat down they put on the Tigers). The War Chant played all through the night inside of a stadium that was nearly void of any Clemson fans by the time the final gun sounded. On the night, Jameis Winston through for 444 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense harassed Tajh Boyd all night and sacked the Clemson quarterback four times while coming up with two interceptions and forcing two fumbles.
FSU football would cruise the rest of the season (including wins over Miami, Florida and Duke in the ACC title game) en route to their third national championship title with a classic come from behind win over the Auburn Tigers in the final BCS championship game.