What to Know: FSU at Louisville

Florida State will be looking for its first road win and first ACC win of the Willie Taggart era on Saturday as it heads to Louisville to take on the Cardinals. Louisville is coming off a 27-3 loss at Virginia, but is undefeated at home this season.

FSU is looking to build upon a 37-19 victory over a Northern Illinois team that had played other Power 5 teams like Iowa and Utah tight well into the second half. Florida State also looks to avoid starting 2-3 for a second straight season.

The Match-Up

Who: Florida State Seminoles (2-2, 0-2 ACC) at Louisville Cardinals (2-2, 0-1 ACC)
Where: Cardinals Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky
When: 3:30 p.m. EST
Network: ESPN2
Spread: Florida State -6*
Last Week: Florida State defeated Northern Illinois, 37-19; Louisville fell at Virginia, 27-3.

Key Players

For Florida State
Deondre Francois, QB (R-Jr.): 63.5% completions, 1,083 yards passing, 5 TD, 5 INT, 2 rush TD
Brian Burns, DE (Jr.): 13 tackles, 5 TFL, 3.5 sacks
Kyle Meyers, CB (Jr.): 14 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INT, FF

For Louisville
Jaylen Smith, WR (Sr.): 8 catches, 124 yards receiving, TD
Dee Smith, S (Sr.): 25 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks
Tabarius Peterson, DE (R-So.): 23 tackles, 3 TFL, 0.5 sacks

Series History

All-Time Series: Florida State leads 14-4
Last Meeting: Louisville won in Tallahassee, 31-28 (Oct. 21, 2017)
Last Meeting in Louisville: Louisville won 63-20 (Sept. 17, 2016)
First Meeting: Louisville won 41-14 (Oct. 4, 1952)

Notable Contests

One of the major upsets for Louisville in program history came at home on a Thursday night in 2002 as the Cardinals defeated No. 4 FSU in overtime, 26-20. On the first play of overtime, FSU quarterback Chris Rix was intercepted by Anthony Floyd. Running Henry Miller scored on the first play of Louisville’s possession on a 25-yard rushing touchdown.

The biggest ACC comeback ever for Florida State came on a Thursday night on the eve of Halloween in 2014 as it overcame a 21-0 deficit in a 42-31 win. Jameis Winston passed for 401 yards and three touchdowns for the Seminoles in the victory. It was running back Dalvin Cook’s 38-yard scamper with less than four minutes to play that put FSU ahead for good.

The only match-up of AP-ranked teams came in the last meeting in Louisville as the No. 10 Cardinals obliterated second-ranked FSU, 63-20. The Cardinals scored more points than any FSU opponent ever on the day as eventual Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Lamar Jackson accounted for 372 total yards and five touchdowns.

What’s at Stake

For Florida State: Florida State will look to avoid falling back below .500 and to 0-3 in ACC play for the first time since 2009. A win would also move the Seminoles halfway to bowl-eligibility with seven games to play.

For Louisville: Louisville aims for its first ACC win of the season and to avoid falling to 0-3 against Power 5 competition. The Cardinals will also look to join Clemson and Wake Forest as the only ACC schools to defeat FSU in three consecutive seasons. The Tigers topped the Seminoles from 2005-07 and in each of the last three meetings. Wake Forest won three straight from 2006-08.

Fun Fact

Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino was Florida State head coach Willie Taggart’s successor at Western Kentucky. Taggart left Western Kentucky in 2012 after three years to become head coach at South Florida. Western Kentucky was Taggart’s first head coaching job and alma mater. Petrino went 8-4 in 2013 — his only season leading the Hilltoppers.

*According to Bovada

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