What are the highest 10 video games in FSU historical past?

Across 898 video games and 80 seasons within the books, there have been loads of memorable moments within the story of Florida State Seminoles soccer.

The problem we issued to you was serving to slim them down, establishing the 50 finest Seminole video games. It was a troublesome activity, however one that you just all helped make occur.

We took another vote to completely lock within the prime 10 matchups within the illustrious historical past of this system, and whereas the highest three have been shoo-ins, the order wherein the whole lot shook out was a pleasant shock.

Three nationwide championship wins, program-trajectory-changing victories and iconic performs spherical out the final of the sequence.

FSU’s best-ever video games: 10-1

If you needed some indication that Jameis Winston was a particular quarterback, you noticed that in Florida State’s season-opener vs. Pitt.

If you needed proof that Florida State was a particular workforce, that got here within the type of its beatdown of the Clemson Tigers on the street.

Before the sport, it was being portrayed as an ACC Game of the Century, the primary time since 2005 {that a} convention matchup would characteristic two top-five groups. Florida State was seen as doubtlessly a 12 months away within the eyes of many, Clemson seemingly able to ascend after an 11-win season and led by senior quarterback Tajh Boyd. To break with third-person for a second, I bear in mind being a visitor on a Clemson speak present, the place I assumed that FSU would doubtlessly win final minute after a Boyd interception. I used to be laughed off by the radio hosts, who stated that the thought of a senior quarterback committing a turnover at house within the largest sport of the season was unimaginable.

All I may take into consideration after the sport was how badly they wished my prediction was what occurred, since that may have truly given some kind of aid within the outcome.

Instead, FSU dominated every minute of the sport, asserting itself to the faculty soccer world as a demise machine, terrorizing the Tigers and clearing out Death Valley in one of many largest assertion wins in program historical past.

Telvin Smith pressured a fumble on the primary play of the sport, resulting in a Jameis Winston-to-Kelvin Benjamin landing two performs later to present FSU a 7-0 lead. Later within the first quarter, Lamarcus Joyner stripped Boyd and Mario Edwards Jr. scooped it up, operating it again for one more Seminole landing.

Clemson made it 14-7 within the second, however Rashad Greene tore out the Tigers’ hearts shortly after on a 72-yard landing run. Florida State led 27-7 after a second Roberto Aguayo area aim to shut out the primary half, then proceeded to pile it on within the third.

Outside of Greene shushing the group and Winston’s exuberant postgame interview, essentially the most memorable second of the blowout maybe got here from Nick O’Leary, who demolished a Clemson defensive again to show a 5-yard catch right into a 27-yard run.

The win, which featured essentially the most factors ever scored by an opponent inside Memorial Stadium, snapped a five-game shedding streak inside Death Valley for the Seminoles. And, as a bonus, it gave Florida State a hilarious reference for the remainder of time, as Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney claimed afterward that “we’d probably win five, they’d probably win five” if the groups have been to play 10 instances.

At the time, it was simply the fourth-ever assembly between two undefeated groups within the common season finale.

The sport in opposition to the 2 undefeated 10-0 rivals opened with Florida State security Shevin Smith intercepting Florida quarterback legend Danny Wuerffel in the long run zone after Wuerffel threw a foul go off his again foot. FSU would flip and march 72 yards on the again of Dunn and kick a area aim.

On Florida’s subsequent possession, Fred Taylor took a first-down shovel go on the 40-yard line and was tackled for a 1-yard loss. On second down, Wuerffel was flushed out of the pocket by Reinard Wilson and Peter Boulware off the perimeters, then sacked by Connell Spain, although the referees known as holding on the play. The penalty was accepted and on third and 23 with 4:43 left within the first quarter, Andre Wadsworth did Andre Wadsworth issues, capturing proper by means of the A niche previous hapless Florida heart Wyley Ritch and completely leveling Wuerffel from behind, establishing a fourth-and-forever.

All-American Peter Boulware proceeded to dam the punt, electrifying the record-crowd of 80,932 in what is definitely one of many loudest moments ever in Doak Campbell Stadium.

Florida would try to mount a comeback, slicing the Seminole result in 17-14 within the second half and lacking and a wide-right area aim simply earlier than halftime that may have tied it. But in the long run, Wuerffel’s 362 passing yards and three touchdowns have been all for naught. Mostly as a result of he was harassed all day by the FSU go rush.

Three straight carries by fullback Pooh Bear Williams would give FSU a 24-14 lead with 7:15 left to play within the fourth quarter. Wuerffel would lower it to 24-21 with 2:28 to play however the Gators’ NCAA-best scoring offense wouldn’t contact the ball once more. Florida State ran out the clock on the No. 1 workforce within the nation and clinched its second-ever undefeated common season and a visit to the nationwide championship. After the ultimate whistle, followers stormed the sphere and tore down the aim posts in Doak, bringing one of many uprights to Lee Corso — who had picked the Gators to win earlier that day throughout College GameDay.

Despite ending within the prime 5 three totally different seasons between 1980 and 1988, the fact of the state of affairs in 1989 was that Bobby Bowden and his Barbarians had but to beat a very elite Miami Hurricanes squad. Yes, there was the 38-3 shellacking of the defending nationwide champs and No. 4 ‘Canes in 1984, but the Miami team lost four other games and finished just inside the top 20. By the end of the decade, people were beginning to wonder if Bowden would ever get his team over the Miami hump. 1989 changed that and in a way legitimized the rivalry.

Of course, the way the season began you never would have guessed this type of performance was coming. FSU opened the season with a 30-26 loss to Southern Miss and followed it up the next week by getting physically dominated at home by a Clemson team out for revenge from the previous year’s Puntrooskie sport. At 0-2, the ‘Noles dropped out of the top 25 for the first time since 1986. But the Seminoles found their footing over the next few weeks. A 41-10 demolition over a top-20 Syracuse team in the Carrier Dome raised eyebrows and a home victory two weeks later over the 11th-ranked Auburn Tigers moved FSU to 5-2, setting the stage for a top-10 showdown in Tallahassee against Dennis Erickson’s undefeated Hurricanes, who got here into the sport having defeated 5 of six opponents by 28 or extra factors.

In a basic “Doak after Dark” sport, the electrical energy was palpable from the beginning. A pregame battle the place Miami refused to let Osceola and Renegade come to midfield ratcheted the ambiance up one other stage and a success stick of a deal with on the opening kickoff whipped the frenzy even additional (I made positive the video beneath reveals the pregame actions). Then Florida State did what they appeared to drag off greater than every other program within the nation in that period — landed an uppercut to the chin in spherical one.

LeRoy Butler picked off Gino Torretta on the sport’s first play from scrimmage after Kirk Carruthers pressured a rushed an errant go. One play later, Dexter Carter smoked the “fastest defense in the country” for a 37-yard landing run and pandemonium ensued. For many individuals the sport ends there of their minds. But whereas Miami was knocked to the canvas, they picked themselves up and made a sport of it, no less than for a short while. FSU’s protection pressured not one, however two stops on the 1-yard line, recovered two fumbles, and managed the time of possession to close Miami out after the opening quarter for a 24-10 win.

FSU used the sport as a launchpad, operating roughshod over the remainder of their schedule. In the playoff period, the ‘Noles would have marched into the postseason playing the best team in the country and favorites to win it all. Alas, the bowl and poll era did not allow for a title shot, and Miami of all teams wound up winning the national championship anyway. As it is, the 1989 team is still one of just two FSU teams (along with 1996) to defeat the eventual national champs.

By 1991, Florida State was solidly into the era that would later become known as “The Dynasty,” having finished the season ranked in the AP top four each year from 1987-1990. To put this into perspective, after FSU’s 14 straight, the subsequent longest streak of consecutive years ending within the prime 5 of the AP ballot is seven years (Miami, USC and Oklahoma). So, 4 straight years was a reasonably large deal by itself on the time.

Nevertheless, there was a big section of nationwide school soccer pundits and followers who nonetheless didn’t totally place FSU’s program among the many sport’s elite. Sure, the ‘Noles had tremendous athletes with lots of flash and style, and yes, Florida State had done well to beat other southern teams like Miami, Auburn and Clemson, or even a Big Eight power like Nebraska. But this was different. This was a true blue blood of the sport. This was The Big House and Keith Jackson. This was the Maize and Blue with their massive offensive line, pro-ready quarterback, and Heisman favorite Desmond Howard. “Let’s see how these flash and sprint boys from Florida deal with this” was the final chorus heading into the sport. (the primary video beneath reveals all the pregame lead-in and it’s value a watch if you’d like a way of what I’m speaking about).

Three hours later, FSU walked out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, having scored essentially the most factors of any visiting workforce within the Wolverines’ 113-year historical past.

Terrell Buckley, the newest in FSU’s refrain line of game-changing defensive backs, let everybody know early how this one would go when he stepped in entrance of Howard on an out-route to accommodate an interception on the second play from scrimmage. (He might need even given LeRoy Butler inspiration for the not-yet-invented Lambeau Leap when he jumped into the arms of Seminole devoted who made the journey north). But it was Bobby Bowden’s high-flying offense that may finally steal the present. FSU rolled up 460 yards of offense in opposition to the third-ranked workforce within the nation, had three totally different quarterbacks full a go (one in all them thrown to Casey Weldon himself), faked a area aim for a landing, and senior operating again Amp Lee piled up 201 whole yards from scrimmage whereas breaking the ankles of hapless UM defenders all sport lengthy.

Devastating accidents to the offensive line later within the 1991 season capped the offense — and the season — on the knees and a nationwide title quest must wait a pair extra years. But on a picture-perfect late September afternoon, Florida State placed on what is perhaps argued as their most entertaining and finest offensive efficiency within the historical past of the college as much as that time.

Florida State knew heading into its matchup vs. Clemson that it would pull out the Puntrooskie at any level.

The Seminoles have been nonetheless smarting from an embarrassing 31-0 season-opening loss to Miami. A dominant win over Brett Favre and Southern Miss the subsequent week took the sting out of it a bit, however the excessive was short-lived as Florida State knew it had one other main take a look at on the docket in Week 3 — No. 10 Clemson.

And so within the leadup to the matchup, head coach Bobby Bowden determined to put in the Puntrooskie, a play he knew was one thing particular after seeing how usually it confused his personal workforce in apply. Clemson, in actual fact, knew that one thing was coming after LeRoy Butler let it slip to his outdated highschool coach that FSU had cooked up a trick play — a sport of phone ensued, resulting in the Tigers being on watch.

Clemson largely managed the sport by means of the primary half, main 14-7 and outgaining the Seminoles 232-71, boosted by a 99-yard landing drive to retake the lead.

The first break for Florida State got here within the type of an all-time punt return for a landing by Deion Sanders, who known as his shot earlier than the kick was even within the air. He took it again 76 yards, floating by means of Clemson’s punt workforce with such ease you’d assume it was scripted. FSU then took its first lead of the sport after FSU large receiver Bruce LaSane beat out Clemson cornerback Donnell Woolford for a achieve of 36 yards to the 1, with operating again Dayne Williams punching it in after to make it 21-14. Clemson tied it up with 2:32 on the clock, giving Florida State one final shot at making one thing occur. The Seminoles, at first, appeared to have squandered the chance, first being pushed again on kickoff as a result of a clipping penalty. FSU picked up simply 6 yards, and on fourth and 4, lined as much as punt from its personal 21, doubtlessly giving Clemson a shot at stealing a win in entrance of its house crowd.

Instead, the second that Bowden had been clamoring for all sport lastly introduced itself.

“I had been thinking of it through the last three series we ran,” he said. “But it hadn’t worked out just right to set it up. Actually, I had thought about it the whole game.”

The ball was snapped on to Dayne Williams, who positioned it between the legs of Butler as punter Tim Corlew placed on an Oscar-worthy efficiency and acted just like the ball was snapped out of his attain. Butler, who was supposed to attend three seconds earlier than operating, took off after simply over one second and sprinted straight towards the Clemson finish zone, dragged down on the 1-yard line. FSU, at first, appeared to have received it with a Williams landing run however as a result of the play clock hadn’t began, the rating was nullified and a penalty known as. Not eager to play with fireplace any longer, FSU opted for a second-down area aim, with Richie Andrews knocking by means of the 19-yard kick to safe the win and propel FSU to one in all its best-ever seasons, one which culminated within the Seminoles’ first Sugar Bowl trophy.

Florida State didn’t have fairly the extent of workforce in 1994 because it did in 1991 (pre-OL accidents), 1992 or 1993. That a lot was clear earlier within the season with a 14-point loss to Miami. But the Seminoles began to resemble a top-five workforce down the stretch with a 59-20 win over a Duke workforce that received eight video games, a impartial website win over Notre Dame, and a 34-3 beatdown in Raleigh over an NC State workforce that completed the season ranked within the prime 20. So hopes have been excessive coming into the annual showdown in opposition to the Gators, regardless of UF being ranked fourth within the nation with their solely blemish being a 3-point loss to Terry Bowden’s top-10 Auburn Tigers.

Those hopes didn’t final lengthy. Steve Spurrier’s “Fun ‘N Gun” offense peaked in the mid-1990s and the aerial attack was on full display in the first half of this one. Operating out of a no-back offense, future Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel threw touchdown passes of 58, 35 and 28 yards in the first half as the Gators went into the locker room leading 24-3. Florida State moved the ball early in the third quarter, but a missed chip-shot field goal led to UF going up 31-3 a few minutes later following an 80-yard drive and many FSU fans began heading for the exits. Keep in mind, this was a Seminoles program that had lost one home game in the previous four seasons, and that was by a single point.

Entering the fourth quarter it appeared as if the Seminoles could do nothing well, while the Gators could do no wrong. Then everything flipped. Forced into desperation mode, Danny Kanell started gunslinging and suddenly he couldn’t miss. A fourth-and-10 conversion to Kez McCorvey stored a drive alive and Zack Crockett plowed into the tip zone from 5 yards out to present FSU life with 12:59 left.

Spurrier’s ego wouldn’t let him begin operating clock and FSU pressured a fast three and out. Three passes and 33 seconds later, FSU scored to make it 31-17 and similar to that there was that magic feeling again in Doak. Following one other UF punt, Kanell hit 6 of seven passes earlier than calling his personal quantity on a brief TD run and with over 5 minutes left FSU was now down only a landing. James Colzie grabbed a diving interception on the following drive and regardless of their being in all probability solely 70% of the document crowd of 80,210 remaining, the roar after this play rivaled almost any in Seminole historical past. A 37-yard swing go to Warrick Dunn arrange Rock Preston’s 4-yard lunge into the tip zone and with 1:45 left the comeback was full. Kanell set a college document with 40 completions together with 18 of twenty-two for 232 yards and a landing within the fourth quarter alone.

Some look again and marvel why didn’t Bobby go for 2? FSU had as a lot momentum as any workforce can have and doubtless may have transformed utilizing any name in its playbook. However, it’s a must to take a look at the larger image. Back in 1987 FSU went for the win, as a substitute of the tie, in opposition to Miami and that misplaced legitimately price Bobby a title. On prime of that, there was nonetheless 1:45 left. FSU may conceivably get the ball again with an opportunity to win the sport, and in reality they did. With one other eight to 10 seconds, a driving Florida State workforce in all probability does win it.

But maybe most significantly, take a look at how the tie has preserved the legacy of the sport. This tied an NCAA document for largest fourth-quarter comeback and arrange the “fifth quarter in the French Quarter” rematch wherein FSU received. If the ‘Noles go for two and lose, neither of those happen. Nor does FSU finish in the top five, meaning the streak of top-five finishes ends at seven. UF, on the other hand, perhaps goes on to play for the national title? And Spurrier gets the elusive win in Tallahassee, something he never did accomplish. The tie game preserves the exuberance around this game forever. And as someone who was among those still in the stadium when the final whistle blew, I’ve by no means felt higher after a non-win.

In a sequence that at all times options two groups determined for a win, the stress had by no means been increased on Florida State.

FSU was as soon as once more the No. 1 workforce within the nation, with a win over No. 4 Florida the one factor in the way in which of a berth within the Orange Bowl. The Seminoles had seemingly squandered their probability at a nationwide title with a loss to Notre Dame, however the Irish gave FSU hope as soon as extra after falling to Boston College. Florida State, dejected at the opportunity of as soon as once more developing simply wanting competing for a title, out of the blue had a shot as soon as once more, now needing to topple the Gators so as to get the dream totally again on observe after beating NC State to solidify an ACC Championship the week prior.

At first, it appeared like FSU would make mild work of the rivalry matchup, going up 27-7 after three quarters. Entering the fourth, FSU had outgained Florida 401-156, the Seminoles’ protection caring for enterprise to set them up for what seemed to be a stress-free closing quarter-hour.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that simple, as UF scored on the prime of the quarter to make it a 27-13 sport after which FSU helped hold the Gators within the sport with a William Floyd fumble. Florida drove 94 yards to make it a 27-21 sport, amping up the Swamp to lethal ranges and placing FSU’s nationwide title hopes on the sting for the second time in as many weeks.

With the whole lot — nationwide title hopes, bragging rights — on the road, Charlie Ward noticed his first two passes batted down. On third and 10 and the Florida crowd in absolute delirium, Ward rolled to his left, prevented the go rush and located Warrick Dunn, calling for the ball. The freshman caught the ball in stride, taking off for a 79-yard rating and sticking the ultimate dagger within the lizards.

It has maybe been overshadowed in historical past books by a pair of BCS title video games that may be performed only a handful of years later (Miami/Ohio State and USC/Texas), however make no mistake, this sport had all of it. A legendary pair of a number of the most electrifying gamers to ever step onto a school soccer area? Check. Basketball-like runs with one workforce racing out to a 28-7 lead, solely to see the opposite workforce come all the way in which again and go up 29-28, with 1 / 4 left to play? Check. Massive performs in all three phases of the sport? Check. A spectacular ending blow that grew to become an iconic second within the sport? Checkmate.

But as nice as the sport itself was (and having attended in individual, belief me — the phrases actually can’t do it justice. Just go watch it), this sport rises even increased on the listing due to what it meant within the grand scheme of Florida State’s program and what it meant for the legacy of Bobby Bowden.

Consider for a second that FSU doesn’t win this. That Michael Vick’s dazzling efficiency allowed Virginia Tech to seize their first nationwide title, not simply in soccer however in any sport. That would imply that FSU would have misplaced three straight nationwide championship video games (1996, 1998, 1999). It would imply that Wire-to-Wire by no means occurs. It would imply Bobby Bowden would nonetheless have an empty body reserved for the elusive undefeated and untied workforce (one thing UF is lacking to today). And the one nationwide title FSU would have received throughout their decade of dominance would have been a 12 months the place they misplaced to a workforce with the identical document and barely survived a sloppy, mistake-filled title sport in opposition to a workforce they have been 17-point favorites in opposition to.

This win modifications all of that. This win cemented Bobby as somebody who really belonged among the many all-time greats. It confirmed FSU’s title as “Team of the ’90s,” and gave actual legitimacy to the “Dynasty” moniker.

Peter Warrick’s pregame entrance on this one is arguably the very best nationwide title sport walk-out within the sport’s historical past. It is definitely the brashest. But successful this sport proved that, like Warrick, FSU would truly stroll the stroll when it got here to successful on the highest ranges of the game.

They have been useless. Dusted. Done for.

Entering the ultimate BCS National Championship, Florida State was acknowledged as an explosive, dominant workforce, however ridiculed for a regular-season schedule that featured simply two ranked opponents. Facing off in opposition to Auburn, a workforce battle-tested by the SEC, loads have been able to see the Seminoles stumble in opposition to an “actual” workforce and for an excellent chunk of the sport, they acquired what they needed.

FSU, hampered by signal-stealing and maybe urgent an excessive amount of, rapidly noticed itself dig a gap that more and more appeared unable to be overcome. After going up 3-0, FSU punted thrice in a row after which fumbled. The Tigers, in the meantime, have been making the most of area place and FSU errors, the exclamation level being a 50-yard landing go from Nick Marshall to Melvin Ray.

Another Auburn rating made it 21-3, at which level even essentially the most devoted of followers let a bit of little bit of doubt creep into their minds.

Then got here the turning level.

Facing fourth and 4 from its personal 40, FSU known as a pretend punt, transformed by Karlos Williams to spark a drive that led to Florida State’s first landing of the sport.

The third didn’t characteristic a lot fireworks, the Seminoles scoring the lone factors off a 41-yard Roberto Aguayo area aim to drag inside eight factors. Florida State punted to begin off the fourth, giving Auburn an opportunity to additional draw back, however FSU’s protection got here up clutch, forcing its first and solely turnover of the sport in dramatic trend — P.J. Williams choosing it off after which fumbling it, with the ball recovered by Lamarcus Joyner. FSU capitalized, driving to the crimson zone and ending it off with a landing reception by Big Pad Chad Abram, making it a 21-20 sport and the start of back-and-forth scoring to shut out the sport. Auburn hit a area aim to increase its result in 4, however that was short-lived as on the following kickoff, Kermit Whitfield registered one of many best moments in not simply FSU historical past, however school soccer itself, going 100 yards to the home to present Florida State its first lead since late within the first quarter. The Tigers then reeled off a 3-minute landing drive, draining clock en path to a Tre Mason landing and a celebration that may have been chilly — if the subsequent minute had by no means taken place.

Whitfield wasn’t in a position to replicate his magic on the subsequent kickoff, going simply 17 yards to power FSU to drive 80 yards to retake the lead. Winston was as much as the problem, steadily finishing passes till Rashad Greene broke by means of, going 49 yards earlier than being dragged down by his horsecollar (a penalty that went uncalled) at Auburn’s 5. Never a workforce to make issues simple, Florida State discovered itself dealing with a 3rd and eight after a delay of sport — and after an incomplete go, seemed prefer it was going to be dealing with a fourth and lengthy for all of the marbles. Instead, Chris Davis, who the month earlier than had been the hero of Auburn’s Kick Six, was whistled for go interference, setting FSU up on the 2-yard line and resulting in a second that can endlessly be etched within the minds of Florida State followers.

Seventeen seconds on the clock. Ball snapped. Play motion, pretend to Devonta Freeman. Ball within the air. Ball caught by Kelvin Benjamin.

Auburn would get one final shot at making one thing ridiculous occur and, at first look, it appeared just like the Tigers would one way or the other pull it off. But in actuality, there was no hope for the schoolyard malarkey Auburn had arrange, Tre Mason was pulled down and the best comeback within the historical past of the BCS Championship was solidified. The SEC’s seven-year successful streak was over, FSU’s nationwide title drought was over and with it, the glory of being one of many best groups of all time.

It nearly didn’t occur.

The Seminoles have been presupposed to be down for the depend in 1993, after No. 1 FSU took on No. 2 Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and slipped up as a favourite. Game of the Century was an understatement, as there was hype and pleasure surrounding the sport that was beforehand unseen, to the purpose that ESPN’s College GameDay determined to go on-site for the primary time, heading to South Bend and beginning one of many sport’s now most-cherished traditions.

FSU that 12 months was feared past perception; FSU had a Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Charlie Ward, the nation’s finest scoring protection led by Derrick Brooks, the Seminoles’ common margin of victory coming into the sport was 37.9 factors and all the nation was on alert about dealing with them. In a preview of the sport, then-Sports Illustrated’s Rick Reilly wrote:

“The NCAA should just ship the championship rings to Tallahassee right now—that’s what other coaches think. When asked how Notre Dame could beat Florida State, coach Phillip Fulmer of Tennessee said, ‘Play 12 or 13 people on defense.’ Ray Goff of Georgia suggested that the Irish sneak the Dallas Cowboys into their uniforms. The coach at Auburn said, ‘Kidnap Charlie Ward. Or sneak into [Seminole coach] Bobby Bowden’s house and steal the game plans. Both of those things I could do.’ The Auburn coach is Terry Bowden. Bobby’s son.”

But then Notre Dame got here in, and laid down the regulation as large underdogs. The Irish led 21-7 at halftime, and clung onto a 24-14 lead going into the fourth quarter. FSU posted a livid comeback, together with Ward hitting Kez McCorvey on 4th and 20 with 1:39 to go. Ward drove the Seminoles to the 14-yard line within the waning seconds of the sport, however as he rolled out and threw his closing go, Notre Dame batted the ball and the Seminoles down, seemingly ending Florida State’s hopes of a championship.

But one week later, Notre Dame misplaced to Boston College on a last-second area aim, and FSU discovered themselves within the Orange Bowl on the finish of the season, the place they’d face No. 2 Nebraska for the title.

The sport began off sluggish, and because the two groups went to halftime with a 7-6 Nebraska lead, it grew to become painfully apparent the showdown could be about protection. It was, in actual fact, FSU kicker Scott Bentley, not Ward, who was the star for the Seminoles, scoring no less than as soon as in each quarter to maintain Florida State in it.

FSU took the lead for the primary time within the third quarter, with William Floyd scoring from 1 yard out for the Seminoles’ solely landing of the sport. Florida State’s two-point try failed, however a Bentley area aim later that quarter put FSU up 15-7.

Nebraska clawed its manner again, first with a landing on the prime of the fourth after which a area aim with 1:16 remaining within the sport; FSU trailed 16-15.

“Everybody was looking at me,” Ward stated to Sports Illustrated of getting within the huddle when the sport was on the road. “I got no problem with that. I know I’m going to have to make a play sooner or later.”

Ward proceeded to guide the Seminoles on a drive from their very own 35-yard line to Nebraska’s 5. For years, the kicking sport haunted FSU groups, as last-second area targets terrorized the Seminoles. Bentley lined up, and the freshman ready for the largest second of his life.

“It was like everyone expected me to miss,” Bentley stated to Sports Illustrated after the sport. “It’s like, ‘If it comes down to Bentley, he’ll miss it.’”

It was for a second like this that FSU had so prioritized Bentley as a recruit — he was, at that time, essentially the most sought-after kicking prospect within the historical past of the game. More than 90 colleges had provided him, together with Miami, which instructed him he would have the ability to play receiver as properly. He had jilted Nebraska in his recruiting course of, finally selecting FSU over Notre Dame due to the Seminoles’ perception in him as a soccer participant, not only a kicker.

With a lot using on the swing of his proper foot, the assured freshman kicker lined up on the proper hash mark close to the 10-yard line, took one closing take a look at the aim posts, nodded to his holder Danny Kanell, and with the collective breath of all Seminole devoted held, he break up the uprights.

Florida State led as soon as once more, but it surely wasn’t over but, because the Seminoles needed to flip round and defend a last-second effort by the Cornhuskers — one the place it appeared like the whole lot was about to go proper for them and shatter Florida State’s hearts. First, an extreme celebration penalty following Bentley’s kick helped arrange Nebraska up on its 43-yard line to start its closing possession. Quarterback Tommie Frazier hit a 29-yard go to maneuver the Cornhuskers to the FSU 28, with the clock initially ticking all the way down to zero earlier than the officers dominated there was one second left on the clock.

One final try to win lay on the shoulders of Nebraska kicker Byron Bennett, a manageable 45-yard try. Just 21 seconds after Bentley had his heroic second, Bennett had the identical alternative, the prospect to grab a win away in essentially the most heartbreaking manner. He lined up, the ball was snapped, and he kicked it.

Florida State, for the primary time, had lastly reached the mountaintop.