Needless to say, this weekend’s game against the #1 Sooners is a rather important game for the #5 Seminoles. They may be lower in the rankings, but especially since the game will be played in Florida, the spread between the two teams is rather close — a mere four points. So despite Oklahoma’s #1 ranking, this is definitely a winnable game for Florida State.
What would winning against the Sooners do for Florida State? For one thing, it’d give them a great boost in the AP poll rankings; while they are already ranked #5 in the nation, proving themselves against the current #1 team can only help move them higher. This is a make-or-break moment for FSU, one that will help determine which path they go down the rest of the season.
But an FSU victory on Saturday would also be a huge coup for the ACC as a whole. Thanks to ESPN’s ACC Blog for these stats:
Since Florida State beat Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl, ACC teams are 6-47 against nonconference teams ranked in the top 10.
During that span, the conference is 1-32 against top five teams.
The ACC has lost 10 straight to top five teams, and 13 of the past 14 against top 10 opponents.
In other words, the conference has failed quite frequently when the spotlight is on. Granted, the Seminoles are the underdogs in this game and if they lose, it shouldn’t speak to the general unworthiness of the ACC as a whole. But if they were to win, it certainly would be a much-needed notch in the hat for ACC fans.
For more on the Seminoles, follow along with Tomahawk Nation.