Florida State University Athletics
Saturday, December 2
Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, N.C.
8:00 PM
Florida State
13-0 , 8-0
16
vs
6
Louisville
10-3 , 7-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Louisville
0
0
3
3
6
Florida St.
0
3
7
6
16
Photo by: Mike Erdelyi
Florida State Wins The ACC Championship With A 16-6 Win Over Louisville
12/3/2023 12:45:00 AM | Football
Charlotte, N.C. – No. 4 Florida State's defense put together a performance that ranks among the best in school history to lead the Seminoles to a 16-6 win over Louisville in the ACC Championship game. The win pushed FSU to 13-0 on the season and in position for a berth in the College Football Playoffs.
FSU held the Cardinals' offense, which came in averaging 33 points per game, to just two field goals and just 188 yards by dominating the line of scrimmage and recording seven quarterback sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
The win was Florida State's third over a Top 25 team this season and second over a Top 15 opponent. It also means the Seminoles led the nation with eight wins over Power 5 bowl-eligible teams.
FSU knew it would need an extraordinary defensive performance and that limiting mistakes had to be a priority with third-team, true freshman Brock Glenn starting at quarterback in place of Tate Rodemaker who was held out after suffering an injury in the win over Florida last weekend. While the Noles struggled much of the night on offense, they did not have a turnover and were penalized just three times.
Running back Lawrance Toafili was named the championship's Most Valuable Player after providing the offense with a spark when coaches put him at quarterback in the wildcat formation. He led all rushers with 10 carries for 118 yards, including a 73-yard scamper that set up FSU's only touchdown. Glenn got his first start with both a conference title and playoff berth on the line and completed 8-of-21 passes for 55 yards in the win.
The Seminoles harassed Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer all night forcing him into a 14-of-36 passing effort and forcing an interception in the end zone for the biggest play of the game.
The Cardinals' vaunted running game never found any room and managed just 77 yards on 34 attempts.
Defensive tackle Braden Fiske led the Seminoles with nine tackles, and he had three quarterback sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Jared Verse had six stops, including a pair of QB sacks, three tackles for loss and a QB hurry.
Cornerback Renardo Green blanketed Louisville's top receiver and recorded a team-high three passes broken up.
It was clear from the start that the ACC title would be a defensive battle with the teams combining for just 37 yards of offense over the scoreless first quarter. Glenn completed 4-of-5 passes but gained just 12 yards. Louisville's 6th-year quarterback wasn't any more effective completing just 1-of-8 passes for five yards.
The Seminoles got their offense somewhat untracked early in the second quarter using multiple formations including having Toafili taking snaps. Mounting an 11-play, 50-yard drive that began at its own 25, FSU took the lead 3-0 on a 45-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald with 10:32 left in the first half.
The Seminole defense was simply spectacular over the first half holding Louisville to 69 total yards and recording six tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks.
Louisville tied the score on its first possession of the second half with a 12-play drive capped by a 36-yard field goal with 7:02 left in the third quarter.
FSU could not have had a more emphatic answer on their next play from scrimmage. Toafili took the snap in the shotgun and waited for blocking before racing 73 yards to the Cardinals' 2-yard line. He took the next snap and dove through the right side of the line to put FSU up 10-3 with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter.
With 13:36 left in the game, Louisville drove to Florida State's 7-yard line before losing yardage and settling for a 33-yard field goal to cut FSU's lead to four points at 10-6.
Louisville's punt rush swallowed up Alex Mastromanno on an attempt deep in his own territory setting them up at the Noles' 12 with just over 10 minutes remaining. FSU's defense then came up with the biggest play of the game when linebacker Tatum Bethune stepped in front of the Card's tight end to intercept a third down pass and keep the Seminoles in the lead.
Florida State extended its lead to 13-6 with 3:13 left using good field position on the Cardinal's 49 to drive to the 15 before bringing on Fitzpatrick who drilled his second field goal, this from 33, to put the Noles up 13-6 with 3:13 remaining.
Louisville's next-to-last possession started on their own 25 with just over 2:30 left and ended when the Noles sacked the quarterback on a 4th-and-7 giving FSU the ball on the 22. Three runs up the middle set up Fitzgerald's third field goal and the 40-yarder put FSU out of the Cardinal's reach for good with a 16-6 lead.
##seminoles.com##
FSU held the Cardinals' offense, which came in averaging 33 points per game, to just two field goals and just 188 yards by dominating the line of scrimmage and recording seven quarterback sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
The win was Florida State's third over a Top 25 team this season and second over a Top 15 opponent. It also means the Seminoles led the nation with eight wins over Power 5 bowl-eligible teams.
FSU knew it would need an extraordinary defensive performance and that limiting mistakes had to be a priority with third-team, true freshman Brock Glenn starting at quarterback in place of Tate Rodemaker who was held out after suffering an injury in the win over Florida last weekend. While the Noles struggled much of the night on offense, they did not have a turnover and were penalized just three times.
Running back Lawrance Toafili was named the championship's Most Valuable Player after providing the offense with a spark when coaches put him at quarterback in the wildcat formation. He led all rushers with 10 carries for 118 yards, including a 73-yard scamper that set up FSU's only touchdown. Glenn got his first start with both a conference title and playoff berth on the line and completed 8-of-21 passes for 55 yards in the win.
The Seminoles harassed Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer all night forcing him into a 14-of-36 passing effort and forcing an interception in the end zone for the biggest play of the game.
The Cardinals' vaunted running game never found any room and managed just 77 yards on 34 attempts.
Defensive tackle Braden Fiske led the Seminoles with nine tackles, and he had three quarterback sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Jared Verse had six stops, including a pair of QB sacks, three tackles for loss and a QB hurry.
Cornerback Renardo Green blanketed Louisville's top receiver and recorded a team-high three passes broken up.
It was clear from the start that the ACC title would be a defensive battle with the teams combining for just 37 yards of offense over the scoreless first quarter. Glenn completed 4-of-5 passes but gained just 12 yards. Louisville's 6th-year quarterback wasn't any more effective completing just 1-of-8 passes for five yards.
The Seminoles got their offense somewhat untracked early in the second quarter using multiple formations including having Toafili taking snaps. Mounting an 11-play, 50-yard drive that began at its own 25, FSU took the lead 3-0 on a 45-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald with 10:32 left in the first half.
The Seminole defense was simply spectacular over the first half holding Louisville to 69 total yards and recording six tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks.
Louisville tied the score on its first possession of the second half with a 12-play drive capped by a 36-yard field goal with 7:02 left in the third quarter.
FSU could not have had a more emphatic answer on their next play from scrimmage. Toafili took the snap in the shotgun and waited for blocking before racing 73 yards to the Cardinals' 2-yard line. He took the next snap and dove through the right side of the line to put FSU up 10-3 with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter.
With 13:36 left in the game, Louisville drove to Florida State's 7-yard line before losing yardage and settling for a 33-yard field goal to cut FSU's lead to four points at 10-6.
Louisville's punt rush swallowed up Alex Mastromanno on an attempt deep in his own territory setting them up at the Noles' 12 with just over 10 minutes remaining. FSU's defense then came up with the biggest play of the game when linebacker Tatum Bethune stepped in front of the Card's tight end to intercept a third down pass and keep the Seminoles in the lead.
Florida State extended its lead to 13-6 with 3:13 left using good field position on the Cardinal's 49 to drive to the 15 before bringing on Fitzpatrick who drilled his second field goal, this from 33, to put the Noles up 13-6 with 3:13 remaining.
Louisville's next-to-last possession started on their own 25 with just over 2:30 left and ended when the Noles sacked the quarterback on a 4th-and-7 giving FSU the ball on the 22. Three runs up the middle set up Fitzgerald's third field goal and the 40-yarder put FSU out of the Cardinal's reach for good with a 16-6 lead.
##seminoles.com##
Team Stats
LOU
FSU
Total Yards
188
219
Pass Yards
111
55
Rushing Yards
77
164
Penalty Yards
48
20
1st Downs
10
12
3rd Downs
3
2
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
28:32
31:28
2nd Quarter
LOU 0, FSU 3
FSU - Fitzgerald,Ryan 45 yd field goal 11 plays, 50 yards, TOP 05:01
3rd Quarter
LOU 3, FSU 3
LOU - Travelstead,Brock 36 yd field goal 13 plays, 56 yards, TOP 06:20
LOU 3, FSU 10
FSU - Toafili,Lawrance 2 yd run (Fitzgerald,Ryan kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:42
4th Quarter
LOU 6, FSU 10
LOU - Travelstead,Brock 33 yd field goal 8 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:10
LOU 6, FSU 13
FSU - Fitzgerald,Ryan 33 yd field goal 6 plays, 34 yards, TOP 02:52
LOU 6, FSU 16
FSU - Fitzgerald,Ryan 40 yd field goal 4 plays, -2 yards, TOP 00:16
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
8
TD
0
YDS
55
INT
0
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
K
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
P
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
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