12/02/23 11:04:00
Printable Page
12/02 23:02 CST No. 4 Florida State beats No. 15 Louisville 16-6 for ACC title,
but could miss playoff at 13-0
No. 4 Florida State beats No. 15 Louisville 16-6 for ACC title, but could miss
playoff at 13-0
By STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) --- Florida State made things as difficult as possible on
the College Football Playoff selection committee, using a dominant defensive
performance to beat No. 15 Louisville 16-6 on Saturday night for the
fourth-ranked Seminoles' first Atlantic Coast Conference championship since
2014.
The Seminoles moved to 13-0, but even that doesn't guarantee a spot in the
four-team playoff after Alabama knocked off No. 1 Georgia for the Southeastern
Conference championship and Texas, which beat Alabama this season, won the Big
12 title.
No Power Five team has ever gone unbeaten, won its conference title and failed
to make the playoff.
Seminoles fans held up signs reading "Win and we're in!" But Florida State's
offensive performance created some doubt about whether it's one of the four
best teams in the country.
Lawrance Toafili ran for 118 yards and a touchdown for the Seminoles, who stuck
to a conservative game plan with third-string quarterback Brock Glenn behind
center. Glenn finished 8 of 21 for 55 yards.
Starting QB and Heisman Trophy candidate Jordan Travis is out for the season
with a leg injury. Tate Rodemaker, Travis' backup, was sidelined with a
concussion.
The difference for the Seminoles was their defense, which had a season-high
seven sacks and a critical interception that kept Louisville out of the end
zone.
Trailing 10-6 in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals (10-3) had a chance to take
the lead after they tackled Seminoles punter Alex Mastromanno before he could
get the kick away.
Louisville took over at the Seminoles 11, but three plays later, Tatum Bethune
picked off Jack Plummer's pass in the end zone.
___
Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and
https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
|
