Analysis: Florida State 56, NC State 41

E-mail Pete Fiutak 
Follow me … @PeteFiutak 

Oh, by the way, Jameis Winston is really, really good. 

This isn’t last year’s Florida State team – obviously. 

This team doesn’t have the same experience and it’s missing the same fire and hunger – as if that’s somehow quantifiable – as the 2013 version that ripped through everything in its path on the way to Pasadena. And no, this isn’t the No. 1 team in America at the moment, at least it’s not at the immediate moment. However, make no mistake about it; this team still has a killer instinct, and like it or not, it comes from its alpha dog. 

Of course Jameis Winston has massive maturity issues, and of course he’s a major red flag when it comes to his chances to succeed at the next level, and of course there are seriously big things hanging over his head. But in terms of what he can do on the field, the guy really is a legendary figure. For all the publicity surrounding Johnny Manziel, and all the ink devoted to his greatness, Winston is a Heisman winner who’s actually winning the big games. All of them. 

NC State’s Jacoby Brissett carved up the Florida State secondary, doing big things with his legs as well as his arm, coming up with a magical touchdown pass and finishing with 359 yards and three scores. But Winston was the one who took over the game with just over 20 minutes to play and with the national champions down ten – okay, helped by the running of Karlos Williams, too – to finish with four touchdown passes and 365 yards, making a 26-of-38 day appear almost pedestrian. 

And now, as shaky as things might be, the Seminoles are still 4-0, mainly because they have the best player in college football still under center. 

By Phil Harrison
Follow me @PhilHarrisonCFN

Florida State just keeps winning, but it’s far from pretty.

NC State came into the game looking to make good on its past history of giving highly ranked Seminole teams issues, and nearly pulled it off. The Wolfpack poured onto the field with emotion and made big plays on offense and defense to take early control of the game.

As can generally happen however, all that emotion can only last so long, and once things settle in, talent starts to take over with the adrenaline now gone from the less-talented team. True to form, Jameis Winston started being Jameis Winston, and the rest of the playmakers on the Seminole offense began to outshine the offensive players on the NC State sideline.

In the end, the tomahawk chop is still in full effect.

This is what the FSU team can expect the rest of the year though. It is the defending champ and the entire ACC conference would love to take aim at the top dog and garner a program defining or year defining win. It was on display today, and they’ll be more before January.

So far Jimbo Fisher’s crew has been able to battle out of the corner after taking body-blows. If the team can keep its guard up and make it to the College Football Playoff, it will have earned it. Let’s see what next round has in store.