FSU 2017-18 Athletic Year in Review: Noles Best Gators, Canes Head-to-Head Across Spectrum

Another year of Florida State athletics has come to an end and this one ended with a bang as FSU captured its first softball national championship and first in any sport since soccer in 2014.

The Seminoles accomplished a number of things across the sports spectrum including six conference titles, Elite Eight appearances in men’s basketball and women’s tennis and a national championship appearance in beach volleyball. Another positive for FSU this past year is that across the spectrum, the Seminoles finished with a winning record against each of its two biggest rivals. Here’s a look:

vs. Florida

After going 7-7 against Florida across the spectrum last year, the Seminoles got the better of their arch-rivals across the spectrum this time around. Despite a disappointing season, FSU beat Florida on the gridiron for a record fifth straight time, 38-22.

The FSU men also topped the Gators on the hardwood for a record fourth straight time. The Seminoles won the only meetings over Florida in women’s basketball, soccer and men’s tennis. Florida won the only match-ups in men’s and women’s swimming and volleyball.

Florida continued to dominate FSU on the baseball diamond, sweeping the regular season series for a third straight year and improving to 13-1 in its last 14 games against the rival Seminoles. Florida State’s women’s tennis team went 2-0 against the Gators, winning in Lake Nona during the regular season and rallying from a 3-1 deficit to end Florida’s season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last month.

The teams split a pair of softball contests with each team winning at home. The Seminoles won 4-1 in Tallahassee on April 11, but lost 5-1 in Gainesville two weeks later. Still, there is no denying that FSU had the better overall season when it came to softball.

vs. Miami

In the biggest sport for both programs, Miami finally got the better of the Seminoles back in October. A last-second touchdown pass from Malik Rosier to Darrell Langham propelled the Hurricanes to a thrilling 24-20 victory over FSU, snapping a 7-game losing streak to the rival Seminoles.

The only other sport where Miami took the season series against FSU was in women’s tennis as the Hurricanes prevailed 5-2 in Lake Nona on March 9. The teams split series in men’s basketball and volleyball with both teams winning at home, but losing on the road.

FSU’s men’s tennis blanked Miami in the only meeting between the teams in Lake Nona. FSU women’s hoops swept the regular season series from the Hurricanes before topping Miami a third time in the ACC Tournament, 73-69. FSU outscored Miami by an average of more than 20 points over the three games.

FSU baseball took two of three when the teams met in Tallahassee this past season. The Seminoles won contests on April 27 and April 28 as head coach Mike Martin tied Augie Garrido for the most wins in college baseball history. The Hurricanes were able to avoid the sweep and history made at their expense with an 11-5 win on April 29.

Overview

It would be inaccurate to say that Florida State dominated its rivals this past year, but having a winning record across the spectrum is certainly cause for bragging rights. Last year, FSU went 7-7 against Florida and 10-3 against Miami.

Overall, FSU got the better of Florida in six of the 11 sports in which they competed head-to-head. Against Miami, the Seminoles fared better in three of the seven sports with two being splits.

The Seminoles claimed one national championship this past year in softball while Florida claimed a title in men’s indoor track and field. Florida baseball is also vying for a second straight College World Series championship. Miami hasn’t claimed a national championship since its football title in 2001.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson