FSU football: Ja’Khi Douglas emerges as a weapon when needed the most

FSU football defeated the Florida Gators on Saturday night by a score of 24-15.

It was a crucial “survive and advance” type of victory for the Seminoles as they remain undefeated on the regular season and face off against the Louisville Cardinals in the ACC Championship Game this Saturday.

Hopefully, the College Football Playoff committee will decide to include an undefeated Power 5 champion Florida State (if they do indeed beat Louisville on Saturday).

The committee’s updated rankings will be announced on Tuesday night. With the previously ranked No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes losing to No. 3 Michigan Wolverines, they will most certainly drop down a couple of spots.

This will allow the Seminoles to, at the very least, jump up to No. 4 (they were No. 4 in this week’s AP poll). Unfortunately, the committee has not been kind to the Seminoles’ football teams since the inauguration of the College Football Playoff in 2014.

There have even been ESPN media members that have suggest that an undefeated Florida State team (even when redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Travis was playing) could potentially be jumped by a one-loss Texas, Oregon, or Alabama squad.

Style points seem to be at the forefront of some individuals’ minds, but this Florida State Seminoles football team is focused on winning the game no matter the cost.

The Seminoles were in a dogfight in the fourth quarter with the Gators where they were trailing by one point. Florida State’s offense was faced with a 4th down & 3 at the Florida 34-yard line. The Seminoles elected to go for it.

Redshirt junior quarterback Tate Rodemaker threw an absolute missile to redshirt junior wide receiver Ja’Khi Douglas to continue the drive, which resulted in the Seminoles taking the 17-15 lead with 7:17 left to go in the fourth quarter.

It was the only catch of the night for the Louisiana native, but it couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time for Florida State in the contest. Douglas has been a consistent weapon when the Seminoles’ offense needs him the most this season.