This rare Sunday match-up is a great way to cap off the opening weekend.
Last season the Seminoles jumped out of the gate with four wins in a row, including a one-point win at home versus #16-ranked LSU Tigers. But the Seminoles couldn’t sustain success and lost three games in a row, including a six-point loss to rival Clemson 34-28. Then, FSU flipped the switch, going on a six-game winning streak that included wins over instate rivals Florida and Miami. The Noles finished the year at 10-3 and ended the season with a bowl-game win over the Oklahoma Sooners.
Soon, Florida State and LSU will battle again. This time it will be to open the season at the Camping World Kickoff in Orlando on Sunday, September 3, at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ABC.
The Seminoles aren’t strangers to this kickoff classic, having won there in 2016 when quarterback Deondre Francois (419 yards passing/two TDs) and Dalvin Cook (101 receiving yards/91 rushing yards) beat Ole’ Miss in a 45-34 shootout.
This time, the ‘Noles’ offense will rely on senior QB Jordan Travis (3,214 yards passing, 417 rushing yards, 24 TDs, seven TDs), and its defense will try to slow down the Tigers. LSU is led by Jayden Daniels (2,913 yards passing, 885 rushing yards, 17 TDs passing, and 11 rushing TDs) and junior wide receiver Malik Nabers (1,017 receiving yards).
That means FSU’s D will be challenged. The Noles’ stop troops will be led by senior linebacker Tatum Bethune (two-year combined total of seven sacks and 192 tackles), linebacker Kalen DeLoach (single-season total of 63 tackles, three sacks, and seven passes defended), and defensive back Renardo Green (42 solo tackles, 58 total).
It’s a great opener (ESPN Power Rankings, LSU #5, FSU #7), with the opening line favoring LSU-2.5.
