Throughout its football history, Florida State has played a number of big name opponents and will again soon as the Seminoles open the 2017 season against Alabama. Over the years, there are a number of opponents that fans would have liked to have seen more of.
Here’s a look at five notable opponents that FSU has faced just one time ever:
Indiana
Indiana has only recently found football respectability. The Hoosiers are 0-9 all-time in bowl games, but their second ever bowl appearance came against Florida State in the 1986 All American Bowl. Sammie Smith rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-13 FSU victory. Tanner Holloman also scored a pair of touchdowns in the win.
Navy
The only of the three military schools to ever face the Seminoles was Navy in Tallahassee in 1978. Jimmy Jordan passed for 280 yards and four touchdowns, including three to Sam Platt in the 38-6 win for Florida State. Ron Simmons led an FSU defense that forced four turnovers.
Oregon
This is the one unhappy memory for FSU fans on the list as the Seminoles were destroyed by Oregon in the Rose Bowl at the conclusion of the 2014 season. It was also the first-ever national semifinal. FSU hung tough for a half in a game that went back and forth, but the Ducks scored the game’s final 34 points in a 59-20 Oregon triumph. At one point in the second half, the Seminoles turned the ball over on five straight possessions.
UCLA
While the NCAA doesn’t consider the 2006 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco to have ever happened, FSU fans know it did. In a contest of 6-6 teams, the Seminoles needed to beat UCLA to avoid its first losing season since 1976. FSU trailed 27-23 entering the fourth quarter, but outscored the Bruins 21-0 in the final quarter to leave with a 44-27 victory. Lorenzo Booker finished with 208 yards from scrimmage before Tony Carter put the exclamation point on the win with an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Wisconsin
Like three of the other teams to make the list, Florida State’s only contest against Wisconsin came in a bowl. The Seminoles closed the 2008 campaign with a 42-13 thrashing of the Badgers in Orlando’s Champs Sports Bowl. Specialist Graham Gano was named the game’s MVP for keeping Wisconsin pinned deep. The Badgers lost three fumbles, including two that were returned for FSU touchdowns by Dekoda Watson and Derek Nicholson. Christian Ponder tossed a pair of touchdowns for the Seminoles in the win.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
You must be logged in to post a comment Login