TALLAHASSEE — There were three turnovers at Virginia. The 13 penalties at Stanford. And then the red-zone fumble and five penalties at Clemson.
Florida State finished its home schedule 5-2. But the Seminoles’ offensive players can see exactly how opportunities slipped away on the road as the mistakes piled up.
“Obviously we’ve not played well on the road — it’s time for us to go get that done,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said.
The Seminoles (5-5, 2-5 ACC) now travel to NC State (5-5, 2-4), which is also seeking bowl-eligibility on Friday at 8 p.m. (ESPN). Here are three questions ahead for FSU:
Where does FSU need to improve to win on the road?
FSU hasn’t scored in the first quarter of any of its road games. And the Seminoles haven’t scored in the first quarter of their past four games, which includes two home wins (Wake Forest and Virginia Tech). FSU needs to begin there, with a positive start, and must avoid deficits like it faced at Clemson (trailing 18-0 with 2:31 to halftime).
The Seminoles have also not been efficient enough on third downs, 6-for-15 at Virginia, 8-for-19 at Stanford and 5-for-15 at Clemson. They were also 1-for-3 on fourth downs at Stanford and Clemson. And the Seminoles were just 2-of-4 on red-zone trips in the last two losses.
“We got to do a better job offensively,” FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “Got to come out the gate faster and play a little more free, too. Short week, usually you’re maybe a little simpler. On the road and let our guys play fast and not think about so much. I think that will be a big key, too.”
How much will a change at corner impact the Seminoles?
FSU lost one of its most improved defensive players in cornerback Ja’Bril Rawls, who missed the VT game and is now out for the remainder of the season due to injury. Rawls had 40 tackles and was a good run defender, too.
True freshman Shamar Arnoux started for FSU against the Hokies and had three tackles. Arnoux has 15 on the season.
“His preparation, his work, the competitiveness that he has, I thought that showed up,” Norvell said. “Still some things that he’s going to get to grow through with every rep, especially at that position as a true freshman. It’s a lot on him. He’s got the right mindset. He’s going to grow up right there in front of our eyes.”
What version of NC State will take the field?
NC State has lost three of its past four games, including three straight on the road. The Wolfpack won a 48-36 shootout with Georgia Tech two weeks ago at home and then couldn’t score until late in the fourth quarter in a lopsided 41-7 loss at Miami. Which version of the Wolfpack will show up Friday?
Quarterback CJ Bailey is emblematic of NC State’s inconsistency, but he’s been at his best at home, with 10 touchdown passes and just one interception. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound sophomore from Hollywood’s Chaminade-Madonna has four 300-yard passing days, including 340 yards, two TD passes and a TD run in the upset of the Yellow Jackets. But he’s also had three interceptions in losses at Duke and Notre Dame.
FSU has lost three straight games at Carter-Finley Stadium. NC State has been an impressive 10-3 in November at home since 2020, showing just how tough it is to win at Raleigh.
