No. 4 Florida State can solidify its hold on a playoff spot with a victory against rival Miami
Florida state running back Trey Benson (3) celebrates after a touchdown with tight end Jaheim Bell (6) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Credit: AP/Matt Freed
Miami (6-3, 2-3 ACC) at No. 4 Florida State (9-0, 7-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
Line: Florida State by 13 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Miami leads 35-32.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Florida State puts its 15-game winning streak on the line at home against rival Miami. The Seminoles already clinched a spot in next month’s Atlantic Coast Conference title game in Charlotte, North Carolina, but have their sights set on making the College Football Playoff. They probably can’t afford a loss to the Hurricanes, who have dropped three of five since a 4-0 start.
KEY MATCHUP
Miami’s formidable pass rush, which ranks 10th in the country with 30 sacks, versus elusive quarterback Jordan Travis. The Heisman Trophy candidate has 19 touchdown passes and just two interceptions this season. Travis also has 190 yards rushing, including avoiding countless sacks, and seven more scores on the ground. He’s playing behind a now-healthy O-line that’s allowed just 12 sacks in nine games.
Miami's Tyler Van Dyke (9) passes against pressure from North Carolina State's Devon Betty (26) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Credit: AP/Ben McKeown
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Miami: QB Tyler Van Dyke has thrown 10 interceptions since the start of October, by far the most in major college football. No other player at the FBS level has more than seven in that span. Van Dyke has thrown for 2,057 yards this season, with 16 TDs and 11 INTs.
Florida State: Standout WRs Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson might be back on the field together for the first time in three weeks. Coleman missed last week’s game at Pitt with an undisclosed injury, and Wilson has sat out the last two games because of an injury. Coleman leads the team with 38 catches for 538 yards and nine TDs; Wilson is second with 25 receptions for 415 yards and two scores.
FACTS & FIGURES
Florida state tight end Markeston Douglas (85) celebrates after a touchdown with quarterback Jordan Travis (13) and offensive lineman Casey Roddick (70) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Credit: AP/Matt Freed
FSU has won back-to-back games in the series and nine of the last 13. … No player at the FBS level has intercepted more passes since the start of 2022 than Miami’s Kamron Kinchens, who has 10 picks in that span. ... Florida State is 9-2 all-time as a ranked team when facing an unranked Miami team. ... Miami is 9-7 when facing a top-5 Florida State team, but 0-3 as an unranked team in that scenario — losing those games by a combined 118-43 score. … FSU has not allowed more than 30 points to any opponent this season.
