Chuck Burton/Associated Press
Dalvin Cook set season-highs with 31 carries for 177 yards.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Florida State knew exactly what to expect from Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets' triple-option offense would piece together long drives and score points. And keep the number of FSU drives to a minimum.
So the Seminoles made the most of each possession, scoring touchdowns on four straight first-half drives and then had three field goals on consecutive drives after halftime. That's seven consecutive scoring drives when FSU only had nine possessions on Saturday.
For an FSU offense that has been up and down, it was by far the No. 4 Seminoles' most efficient performance of the year—and their first complete game—as they clinched an Atlantic Coast Conference title with a 37-35 win over No. 11 Georgia Tech on Saturday night.
Was this FSU's best offensive performance, in terms of a complete game, this season?
Was this FSU's best offensive performance, in terms of a complete game, this season?
Yes
No
"We were very efficient," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "We knew going in that we had to be and we wanted to be balanced running and throwing."
FSU (13-0) won for a 29th straight time and captured its third consecutive ACC title with an offensive effort that was impressive. Dalvin Cook ran 31 times for 177 yards, both season highs. And Jameis Winston was efficient, completing 21-of-30 passes for 309 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
One week after Winston had his worst game, throwing four interceptions in a win over Florida, he spent two days in a code of conduct hearing while juggling his class schedule and night practices. Perhaps as motivation to focus on football, he turned in one of his best efforts of the season, completing 70 percent of his passes.
"I'm just blessed to have a great Seminole family," Winston said. "My week has been great. Ending with another ACC championship. We're just a great family, and I love those guys, and I love Seminole Nation."
And Winston didn't have an interception. He's had plenty this season, tossing 17 in his 11 games coming into Saturday. But against Georgia Tech, he forced a few passes late but didn't have an interception.
"He's elite," Fisher said. "He's different than anybody I've ever been around."
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher celebrates with Jameis Winston, who threw for 309 yards and three TDs in Saturday's win over Georgia Tech.
The same could be said for another emerging star, Cook. With senior starter Karlos Williams on the sideline with a concussion, the true freshman handled the starting role and took 31 of the team's 33 carries.
An early enrollee, Cook has the best season of any freshman in FSU history. He has 905 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, surpassing Greg Allen's rookie record of 888 rushing yards in 1981.
Cook said he had trouble being patient and waiting for playing time. He didn't play in the season opener against Oklahoma State, but now Cook has made significant contributions in the past six games. He has 635 yards on 96 carries in that span, an average of 6.6 yards per carry.
"I think it was just my time," Cook said of his success of late. "I couldn't relax. I just had to put my foot on the gas and just keep going."
FSU hasn't exactly had its foot on the gas this season. But the Seminoles keep going and going.
Now, they're on the way to the College Football Playoff. Fisher feels comfortable that there will be no drama when the four teams are announced Sunday. The only questions that remain are who FSU will play and where.
"There ain't no decision to be made," Fisher said. "The decision just got made."
Bob Ferrante is the lead FSU writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bob on Twitter. Stats courtesy of seminoles.com.
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