2020 Florida State Seminoles football team

Summary

The 2020 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Seminoles played their home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, and competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Mike Norvell, in his first season.

2020 Florida State Seminoles football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record3–6 (2–6 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKenny Dillingham (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorAdam Fuller (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumDoak Campbell Stadium
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 5 Notre Dame y^   9 0     10 2  
No. 3 Clemson y$^   8 1     10 2  
No. 22 Miami (FL)   7 2     8 3  
No. 18 North Carolina   7 3     8 4  
NC State   7 3     8 4  
Boston College   5 5     6 5  
Pittsburgh   5 5     6 5  
Virginia Tech   5 5     5 6  
Virginia   4 5     5 5  
Wake Forest   3 4     4 5  
Georgia Tech   3 6     3 7  
Louisville   3 7     4 7  
Florida State   2 6     3 6  
Duke   1 9     2 9  
Syracuse   1 9     1 10  
Championship: Clemson 34, Notre Dame 10
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll.

The Seminoles finished the season with a losing record for the third consecutive season for the first time since the 19741976 seasons and their worst record since 1975.[1]

Coaching staff edit

Florida State Seminoles coaches

Head coach

Assistant coaches

  • Kenny Dillinghamoffensive coordinator/quarterbacks
  • Adam Fullerdefensive coordinator
  • John Papuchisspecial teams/defensive ends
  • Chris Thomsendeputy head coach/tight ends
  • Odell Hagginsassociate head coach/defensive tackles
  • Alex Atkins – offensive line
  • Ron Duganswide receivers
  • David Johnson – running backs/recruiting coordinator
  • Chris Marvelinebackers/defensive run game coordinator
  • Marcus Woodson – defensive backs/defensive passing game coordinator
  • Josh Storms – strength and conditioning

[2]

Schedule edit

Florida State had games scheduled against Boise State, Florida, Samford, and West Virginia, which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[3] which resulted in the ACC playing a ten-game conference schedule with one non-conference opponent and reduced stadium capacity. Florida State ended up playing nine games as the result of further cancelations of games against Clemson and Wake Forest. This was the first season since 1957 that the Seminoles did not play Florida.

The Seminoles were picked to finish in seventh place in the ACC,[4] while Marvin Wilson, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Tamorrion Terry and Asante Samuel, Jr. were selected to the preseason All-ACC team.[5]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 124:00 p.m.Georgia TechABCL 13–1617,538[6]
September 267:30 p.m.at No. 12 Miami (FL)ABCL 10–5212,806[7]
October 34:00 p.m.Jacksonville State*
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ACCRSNW 41–2413,589[8]
October 107:30 p.m.at No. 5 Notre DameNBCL 26–4210,409[9]
October 177:30 p.m.No. 5 North Carolina
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ABCW 31–2818,016[10]
October 2412:00 p.m.at LouisvilleACCRSNL 16–4811,465[11]
November 74:00 p.m.Pittsburgh
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ACCNL 17–4116,568[12]
November 147:30 p.m.at NC StateACCNL 22–384,032[13]
December 12[a]4:00 p.m.Duke
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ACCNW 56–3514,872[14]
^[a] The game between Florida State and Duke was originally scheduled to take place on December 5 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. However, due to COVID-19 management requirements in response to positive tests and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the Florida State program which led to the cancelation of the two prior games, the game was rescheduled for December 12 in Tallahassee.[15]

Game summaries edit

Georgia Tech edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Yellow Jackets 0 0 7 9 16
Seminoles 10 0 3 0 13

In Mike Norvell's debut, the Seminoles fell 16–13 to the Yellow Jackets in their fourth-straight season opening loss and the first win for the Yellow Jackets against the Seminoles in Tallahassee since 2009.[16]

Miami (FL) edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 3 0 7 0 10
#12 Hurricanes 14 24 0 14 52

On September 19, it was announced that head coach Mike Norvell had tested positive for COVID-19 and would be quarantining as a result. Chris Thomsen, the deputy head coach, handled on-field coaching duties for the game.[17]

The Seminoles fell 52–10 to the Hurricanes to mark their fourth-straight loss in the series[18] and suffering their second largest loss to their rival.[19]

Jacksonville State edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 14 7 3 0 24
Seminoles 0 14 20 7 41

The Seminoles overcame an early fourteen-point deficit to defeat the Gamecocks, 41–24, in their lone non-conference game to secure the team's first victory of the season as well as Norvell's first win as head coach.[20]

Notre Dame edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 17 3 6 0 26
#5 Fighting Irish 14 21 7 0 42

Prior to the game, Jordan Travis was named the starter at quarterback, making him the third player to start at the position throughout the first four games of the season.[21]

The Seminoles were beaten by the Irish, 42–26, in their first and only meeting as conference foes.[22]

North Carolina edit

1 2 3 4 Total
#5 Tar Heels 0 7 14 7 28
Seminoles 7 24 0 0 31

Entering the game as a double-digit underdog, Florida State built up a twenty-four point halftime lead and survived a second-half rally to defeat the Tar Heels, and alum Mack Brown, by a score of 31–28, giving Mike Norvell his first win over a ranked team as head coach of the Seminoles.[23]

Louisville edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 7 7 2 0 16
Cardinals 21 10 7 10 48

The Seminoles were beaten by Louisville, the former school of quarterback Jordan Travis, by a score of 48–16.[24]

Pittsburgh edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 10 14 7 10 41
Seminoles 14 3 0 0 17

In only their second meeting since Pittsburgh joined the conference, the Seminoles lost to the Panthers by a score of 41–17, in a game that featured three turnovers by the Florida State offense and seven sacks by the Pitt defense.[25]

NC State edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 0 3 6 13 22
Wolfpack 7 14 14 3 38

Starting their fourth quarterback of the season due to injury, the Seminoles fell to the Wolfpack, led by former Florida State quarterback Bailey Hockman, by a score of 38–22.[26]

Duke edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Blue Devils 7 14 0 14 35
Seminoles 28 0 14 14 56

Playing their first game in nearly a month due to issues pertaining to the pandemic, the Seminoles built up an early lead and survived a comeback attempt to defeat the Blue Devils 56–35 on Senior Day.[27] Jordan Travis broke the school record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback.[28]

Rankings edit

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
APRVRV*RV
Coaches—*
CFPNot releasedNot released

Watchlists edit

Award Player
Lott Trophy[29] Marvin Wilson
Bednarik Award[30] Marvin Wilson
Hamsah Nasirildeen
Doak Walker Award[31] Jashaun Corbin
Biletnikoff Award[32] Tamorrion Terry
Thorpe Award[33] Hamsah Nasirildeen
Outland Trophy[34] Marvin Wilson
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[34] Marvin Wilson
Hamsah Nasirildeen
Wuerffel Trophy[35] Jaiden Lars-Woodbey
Maxwell Award[36] Marvin Wilson
Tamorrion Terry
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[37] James Blackman

Honors edit

Players drafted into the NFL edit

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
2 47 Asante Samuel Jr. CB Los Angeles Chargers
4 134 Janarius Robinson DE Minnesota Vikings
4 144 Joshua Kaindoh DE Kansas City Chiefs
6 186 Hamsah Nasirildeen S New York Jets

References edit

  1. ^ Baker, Matt (December 2, 2020). "Why Florida State football wanted two more games in a lost, losing season". Tampa Bay Times.
  2. ^ "Staff Directory". June 6, 2017.
  3. ^ Talty, John (July 30, 2020). "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Weiler, Curt (September 4, 2020). "Florida State football picked to finish seventh in ACC". Tallahassee.com.
  5. ^ "Noles Land Four on Preseason All-ACC Team". Seminoles.com. September 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "Football Falls 16–13 In Opener". Seminoles.com. September 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Football Falls To Miami". Seminoles.com. September 27, 2020.
  8. ^ "Football Takes Down JSU 41–24". Seminoles.com. October 4, 2020.
  9. ^ "Football Battles Notre Dame in 42–26 Loss". Seminoles.com. October 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Football Takes Down No. 5 UNC". Seminoles.com. October 18, 2020.
  11. ^ "Football Drops One On The Road To Louisville". Seminoles.com. October 25, 2020.
  12. ^ "Football Final: FSU 17 Pitt 41". Seminoles.com. November 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Football Falls at NC State". Seminoles.com. November 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "Noles Explodd for 56 in Win Over Duke". Seminoles.com. December 12, 2020.
  15. ^ Hale, David (November 30, 2020). "Third Florida State football game in row nixed; Duke to host Miami instead". ESPN.com.
  16. ^ Ferrante, Bob (September 12, 2020). "Georgia Tech edges Florida State 16–13". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "Florida State Seminoles football coach Mike Norvell positive for coronavirus". ESPN. September 19, 2020.
  18. ^ Ferrante, Bob (September 26, 2020). "King throws 2 TD passes, No. 12 Miami routs Florida State". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  19. ^ "Florida State Seminoles coach Mike Norvell takes blame for loss to Miami Hurricanes". ESPN. September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  20. ^ Ferrante, Bob (October 3, 2020). "Travis comes off bench to guide Florida State rally". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "Florida State names Jordan Travis to start at QB against Notre Dame". ESPN. October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  22. ^ "Williams, Crawford lead No. 5 Notre Dame past Florida State". AP News. Associated Press. October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  23. ^ Adelson, Andrea (October 17, 2020). "Florida State coach Mike Norvell: 'Going to be monumental' for us to build off win vs. No. 5 UNC". ESPN. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  24. ^ "Hawkins fuels Louisville in 48–16 rout of Florida St". AP News. Associated Press. October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  25. ^ "Pickett returns to help Pitt snap skid, defeat Florida St". AP News. Associated Press. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "Hockman's 4 TDs Help NC State Beat Florida St. 38–22". AP News. Associated Press. November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "Corbin, Travis help Florida St. end 3-game skid". ESPN. Associated Press. December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  28. ^ "Jordan Travis sets Florida State school record". Tomahawk Nation. December 13, 2020.
  29. ^ "Wilson Named To Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. June 5, 2020.
  30. ^ "Bednarik Award Watch List Includes Two Noles". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. July 13, 2020.
  31. ^ "Corbin Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. July 15, 2020.
  32. ^ "Terry Earns Biletnikoff Watch List Recognition". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. July 16, 2020.
  33. ^ "Nasirildeen Named to Thorpe Award Watch List". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. July 20, 2020.
  34. ^ a b "Wilson, Nasirildeen Add to Watch List Honors". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. July 21, 2020.
  35. ^ "Lars-Woodbey Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. July 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "Terry, Wilson Earn Maxwell Award Recognition". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. July 24, 2020.
  37. ^ "Blackman Earns Unitas Golden Arm Recognition". Seminoles.com. Florida State University Athletic Department. August 11, 2020.
  38. ^ a b "ACC Football Players of the Week Announced". Atlantic Coast Conference. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  39. ^ "Week 4 Football Players of the Week Announced". Atlantic Coast Conference. October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  40. ^ "Florida State's Mike Norvell named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week". Tallahassee Democrat. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  41. ^ "Week 14 Football Players of the Week". Atlantic Coast Conference. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  42. ^ a b "Tigers, Irish Lead All-ACC Football Team". Atlantic Coast Conference. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  43. ^ "The 247Sports True Freshman All-American Team for 2020". 247Sports. December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.