State Champs! Florida State outduels Florida in 45-38 shootout to finish 9-3
For the first time since 2016, the Florida State Seminoles are champions of the state of Florida. But it took winning an absolute shootout — the highest-scoring game in series history — for the ‘Noles to do it.
Led by quarterback Jordan Travis and running back Trey Benson, the Seminoles’ offense racked up nearly 500 yards of offense to record a 45-38 victory over rival Florida before a sellout crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium.
It marked Florida State’s first victory over the Gators since 2019, and the first time they have swept UF and Miami in the same year in six seasons.
With the win, the Seminoles finish the regular season at 9-3. Florida falls to 6-6.
At one point in the year, Florida State was 4-3 overall before running off five straight victories.
It was a game of runs as Florida took a three-point lead into halftime before the Seminoles reeled off 17 straight points in the third quarter. The Gators then scored back-to-back touchdowns to tie the game at 38-38 with 7:41 remaining.
Florida State then pulled ahead for the final time with a 17-yard touchdown run by Benson. The defense then got a fourth-down stop in the final minute to preserve the win.
Benson led the way on the ground with three rushing touchdowns and 111 yards on 20 carries, but Travis might have been the most outstanding player on the field.
Despite having several passes dropped in the first half, the junior quarterback threw for 270 yards and one touchdown, and he ran for 83 more and two scores — with several highlight-reel runs mixed in.
The Seminoles rushed for more than 200 yards for the seventh game in a row — it’s the first time FSU has done that since 1987.
Florida State trailed 24-21 at the half and tied it up with a 47-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald early in the third. Then the Seminoles took a 31-24 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The big play was a 44-yard strike from Travis to Malik McClain. Then Benson took a pitch from Travis a few plays later to punch it in for the 1-yard score.
The Seminoles then pushed their advantage to 14 points later in the third quarter when Travis rolled out and found receiver Kentron Poitier for a 6-yard touchdown.
Travis and Benson were a two-man wrecking crew in the first half as well.
‘Benson had 114 yards of total offense and one touchdown before halftime, and Travis passed for 149 and rushed for 59 and two scores. Travis’ first touchdown run was a spectacular carry that saw him break several tackles, and he had another incredible run later to set up his second touchdown carry.
Florida State now will likely have to wait until after the conference championship games next Saturday to find out its bowl destination.
Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.
