TALLAHASSEE — Even if it’s not readily admitted, Florida State will be watching the scoreboard this weekend.
The focus is on Florida in the regular-season finale in Gainesville Saturday. The second-ranked Seminoles (11-0) can’t concentrate on a potential national championship berth without a victory over the Gators (4-7) in the 58th meeting between the teams. They also can’t hope to advance to the Bowl Championship Series finale without securing the Atlantic Coast Conference title.
FSU will appear in its fourth ACC Championship Game Dec. 7 in Charlotte, N.C. It’s won two of those games, including last year’s and clinched this season’s Atlantic Division title with an 8-0 mark. The Seminoles’ opponent from the Coastal Division will be determined this weekend.
Four teams, Duke, Miami, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, harbor hopes of winning the Coastal crown. Duke (9-2, 5-2) controls its destiny and will advance to its first title game with a victory over in-state rival North Carolina. The 24th-ranked Blue Devils will not earn the tiebreaker if they lose.
A Duke loss opens the way for the other three with Virginia Tech having the best odds. The Hokies (7-4, 4-3) will win the division with a win over Virginia and a North Carolina victory over Duke.
Miami (8-3, 4-3) needs a win over Pittsburgh and victories by Virginia and North Carolina for its first championship appearance. Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3) will make a return appearance with wins by Pittsburgh, Virginia and North Carolina. The Tar Heels also could finish 5-3 but lose out on all tiebreakers.
FSU has faced Virginia Tech (2005, 2010) and Georgia Tech (2012) in the ACC Championship Game.
Back on track: FSU running back Devonta Freeman is on pace to rush for more than 1,000 yards after a season-high 129 in last week’s 80-14 win over Idaho. Freeman has a team-high 808 yards for the season and raised his per game average to 73.5.
FSU has three games remaining, Saturday at Florida, the ACC Championship and a bowl game. Freeman is on pace to finish with 1,028 yards. If he achieves the feat he will become FSU’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Warrick Dunn in 1996.
Rashad Greene (889 yards receiving) and Kenny Shaw (828) are on pace to become FSU’s second pair of receivers with 1,000 yards since 1995. Anquan Boldin was FSU’s last 1,000-yard receiver in 2000.
Season awards: FSU quarterback Jameis Winston, defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, tight end Nick O’Leary and place-kicker Roberto Aguayo were named finalists for seasonal awards, it was announced Monday.
Winston is one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award (given to the nation’s best player) and the Davey O’Brien Award (top quarterback). Joyner is one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Awards (top defensive back) and O’Leary is in the running for the John Mackey Award (top tight end).
Aguayo, a freshman, is a Lou Groza Award finalist to name the nation’s best kicker. He is 15 of 16 on field goals and has a national record of 80 consecutive converted extra points.
