Opponent Preview: What to know about Florida State

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Syracuse returns home Saturday for its final game inside the JMA Wireless Dome this season. The Orange will host No. 25 Florida State, a team that has scored over 40 points in two-straight wins. SU will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak after falling to Clemson, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh.

Garrett Shrader didn’t play against the Panthers, his first time not playing in a game in two years. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson filled in, but the Orange only mustered nine points, and the quarterback categorized his performance as “mediocre.” Head coach Dino Babers didn’t provide much insight into when Shrader will return, and said SU’s entire offense needs to play better Saturday. 

Syracuse will need to piece together a better offensive performance Saturday to keep up with Florida State, which leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing yards and averages over 33 points per game. Quarterback Jordan Travis has recorded 19 total touchdowns and only four interceptions this season. 

Here’s everything to know about the Seminoles before Saturday’s matchup: 

All-time series

Florida State leads, 12-2. 

Last time they played

Syracuse traveled to Tallahassee, Florida last October, looking to improve to 4-1 and pick up its first ACC win of the season. SU rallied from a 30-20 deficit in the fourth quarter, first by getting a touchdown pass from Shrader to Anthony Queeley, then through a Duce Chestnut interception on a screen pass. SU drove inside the FSU 10-yard line, but couldn’t convert for a touchdown, and Andre Szmyt’s field goal tied the game. 

Florida State got the ball at its own 21-yard line with 1:03 remaining. After a personal foul penalty on SU, Travis ran down the sideline for a 33-yard gain across midfield. Two plays later on 3rd-and-7, he took off for 25 yards. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald hit from 34 yards out for an FSU win. It was Syracuse’s seventh-straight loss at Doak Campbell Stadium, where they’ve still never won.

The Seminoles report

Led by third-year head coach Mike Norvell, Florida State has had somewhat of a roller coaster season. The Seminoles won their first four games, including a win over now-No. 7 LSU. But FSU lost its next three games against some of the ACC’s top teams, falling to Wake Forest and NC State before dropping a home contest against Clemson 34-28. Florida State recovered with wins over Georgia Tech and Miami by a combined score of 86-19. 

Babers said Monday that Travis is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback, and linebacker Mikel Jones said Florida State’s speed on offense stands out the most when watching tape. The Seminoles have averaged over 211 rushing yards per game, earning 5.5 yards per carry, providing yet another difficult test for SU’s rush defense, which struggled against Clemson and Notre Dame. Treshaun Ward is FSU’s leading rusher with 488 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.

Travis has already topped the passing numbers he posted last season, and has completed 63% of his passes. He has thrown for more than 200 yards in each of Florida State’s last three games, recording nine total touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Johnny Wilson is Travis’ top target with 32 catches for 625 yards this season. 

Megan Thompson | Digital Design Director

How Syracuse beats Florida State

The main thing for the Orange will be to score enough points. While FSU’s offense is rolling right now, Syracuse has the second best scoring defense in the ACC. SU’s defense can keep it in the game, but the offense will need to score. Sean Tucker needs touches and Del Rio-Wilson has to be put in positions to succeed (if he’s the starter). The Florida transfer has shown his speed and athleticism, and a good mix of read options, direct handoffs and short play-action passes can help Syracuse move the ball.

Containing Travis will obviously be key, too. SU has experience playing dual-threat quarterbacks after going against Malik Cunningham in week one, but Travis has been one of the ACC’s best quarterbacks this season. Against Pitt, the Orange struggled to get off the field quickly. Syracuse needs to limit FSU’s time with the ball and get three-and-outs to put the ball in the offense’s hands. Generating more turnovers, like it’s done the past few weeks, will also be crucial for SU. 

Stat to know: 13

Florida State has allowed just 13 sacks, the fewest in the ACC. Syracuse ranks near the bottom of the conference in total sacks. Just four of the Orange’s 20 sacks have come in their last three games, and the unit has been ravaged by injuries, forcing undersized, young players into playing significant snaps. Syracuse gave up six sacks, the most Pitt had recorded all season, but only recorded one itself. 

Player to watch: Jared Verse, defensive end, No. 5

Verse, a UAlbany transfer, has made a quick impact on FSU’s defense this season. He leads the ACC with 10 tackles for loss, and is tied for third with five sacks. Over two seasons with the Great Danes, Verse recorded 74 tackles and 14.5 sacks, and has continued that success at Florida State this season.

The defensive end had zero Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offers coming out of Central Columbia (P.A.) High School, but became highly sought after in the transfer portal this past offseason. Florida State defensive coordinator Adam Fuller actually found Verse when watching tape from Syracuse’s game against UAlbany last season. Fuller thought Verse was the best player going against SU. Florida State needed defensive line help, and Verse announced his transfer to FSU in early January. He has bolstered the Seminoles’ pass rush this season and will be a focal point for the Orange’s offensive line on Saturday.