FSU Football: Top 10 best Nole games to re-watch this summer

2013 National Championship, final score 34-31

This game was the best. That’s a fact. It simply had to be number one. In the Rose Bowl, as the last BCS National Championship, a comeback for the ages.

The camera quality is great and complex as there is a lot of panning, zooming, and camera switches during the recording. The audio quality is great. The ESPN bottom scoreboard graphic is one of my absolute favorites. There were in-game highlights used over the top of a 2010’s Fall Out Boy soundtrack, which is terrible music by the way.

This game had everything. Iconic photos, memes, AJ McCarron’s mom getting canceled, and so so so many old takes exposed. The recording I watch included halftime and the post-game ceremonies.

The commentary had a very pro-SEC tilt and was talking up Auburn even as they began to falter. Before shifting to the game, I just want to mention how good John Legend’s Anthem was and how cool it was that Bo Jackson and Bobby Bowden were made honorary captains.

It was also cool to see the crowd split very evenly and to be able to see Osceola and Renegade start the festivities. It would have also been cool to see the Auburn War Eagle fly, because I know that is a big deal for them as well.

Now, the game. It was cool to see a legend from each team introduce the quarterback. Cam Newton introduced Nick Marshall, and Chris Wienke introduced Jamies Winston. The defense got gashed for big runs pretty frequently early on and had some major coverage lapses that lead to big plays.

It just goes to show how much trouble FSU has always had with an option-based run scheme. FSU does drive early but only got a field goal. For much of the first half, miscues, penalties, and poor starting field position would restrict the offense. Oh, I probably should mention Auburn knew every offensive play FSU was going to run thanks to Dameyune Craig. Notice how once FSU figured this out it was a completely different looking offense in the second half?

The defense was decent, but you can tell that they were struggling with being on the field for so long. They had a difficult time stopping third downs, and the offense didn’t do them any favors with constant ineptitude.

The defense always performed when it had to and the deficit could have been much worse. A funny element to this game was that Cody Parkey, the kicker for the Chicago Bears that kicked the double doink field goal attempt, began his career of missing kicks in the clutch during this game. Had he made his field goal early, the game could’ve gone to overtime at the least.

Then, on FSU’s last drive before the half, the fake punt with Karlos Willams converting it. That finally seemed to wake up the offense as they drove to the end zone and scored a touchdown before the half. All despite a missed facemask penalty, and Brett Musberger calling the game a blowout at 21-3.

After halftime FSU came out inspired and stopped Auburn on the first drive of the half. The offense scored a field goal on their next possession, making this game an 21-13 battle going into the fourth quarter.

Both offenses began slow, but Auburn kept toying with danger as they muffed and recovered three kicks. Then, FSU was pinned inside their five-yard-line before James Wilder Jr. took us out to the 30, but the offense was then forced to punt.

On the ensuing Auburn drive, after a massive tackle for loss, comes the P.J. Williams interception that catalyzed the rest of the comeback. Devonte Freeman has a big run on the next play, and then a great Benjamin catch to the 11-yard-line and a touchdown a play later.

Auburn responds with a chip-shot field goal, but then the Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield kick-off return for a touchdown happens right after and FSU takes their first lead since the first quarter. Auburn would respond with a touchdown of their own via Tre Mason.

Now with 1:19 left, we all know what happens next. The Rashad Greene catch and run with the horse-collar tackle missed call. The delay of game penalty. The Chris Davis pass interference penalty and the iconic Benjamin touchdown catch over Davis. If anything is a “poster” in football, that play is.

That ends up being the game-winning touchdown, but I will never lie and say I was comfortable when that lateral play got to Mason with blockers in front. Thankfully, the tackle was made, and FSU was National Champions again.

As a last note, the referees were ok. The refs had some missed calls, bad spots, and called one of the weakest taunting penalties I have ever seen. However, they did not decide the game and had equally questionable calls that went in our favor.

5 out of 5 footballs