Corey Clark: Even down 12-0, with a backup QB, we shouldn't have doubted this Florida State football team

GAINESVILLE — In the second quarter, after Tate Rodemaker took that sack in the end zone for a safety, I thought to myself about Florida State: “Well, hey, 11-1 seasons are still pretty great.”

Maybe you still believed at that moment, with the Gators holding a 12-0 lead, with the offense looking like it was playing a different sport, with the Seminoles’ defense not able to get off the field, with the backup quarterback looking rattled and with The Swamp at full decibel level, maybe you still had all the confidence in the world in this team.

I did not. Because I’m an idiot.

***ALSO SEE: FSU 24, UF 15 — Press Conferences

You’d think I would learn by now. That just because this Florida State team looks lost, or looks shaken, or looks like it’s about to get blown off the field, the end result is always the same:

This team wins. Period.

The Seminoles, who haven’t lost since October of 2022, are trying to chase something special this season. They’ve had a magical year already. They’re 12-0 and winners of 18 straight games. It’s already been a wonderful ride for all of us.

And there was just no way, none, that it was going to come to an end in THAT place. Against THAT team.

I know that now. The safety wasn’t the end of the perfect season. It was the start of another great night for a program that has had, with the exception of last Saturday,13 straight months of great nights.

And a mediocre, poorly coached Gator team, with defenders who apparently don’t know there are rules against targeting and spraying someone with your Saint Bernard-like spit, wasn’t going to be the crew to hand the Seminoles their first defeat.

Winning 24-15 was exactly what should have happened. It was the right result. The just result. And it was a great win for Florida State. Because so many different players had to play a part.

“We’ve talked about it all year,” Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said. “Just the heart that this group has. They are a resilient group. And we challenge them every day in everything that they do. For nights like tonight. The adversity was there. It was present. We experienced it. We did not start very well in that game.

“But our guys battled.”

Because they always do. Even with their star quarterback, Jordan Travis, watching from a sky box inside the stadium, these Seminoles found a way. It’s a really cool trait for a team to have: The ability to always find a way. It’s not normal. It’s not common. And it absolutely needs to be celebrated.

Sure, Rodemaker had some struggles, but he also authored a comeback in the second half on the road in The Swamp. He made some big-time throws, truly big-time, and didn’t commit a turnover. Trey Benson had some horrific runs early against the Gators, but then ripped off a couple of the biggest TD runs of his career. Jared Verse was a maniac in the second half. Completely unblockable. Patrick Payton added two sacks. Kalen DeLoach iced it with a pick.

Keon Coleman didn’t do a ton on offense, but his 34-yard punt return — after another moon-shot by the Florida punter — was a huge play. Johnny Wilson had some enormous catches. Ja’Khi Douglas had a great fourth-down snag to set up the go-ahead field goal. And Ryan Figtzgerald — FitzMagic, as he is known around these parts — made his lone field-goal attempt.

Akeem Dent had his best game of the season, even though he was robbed of a sack by one of the worst personal-foul calls in the history of the planet Earth. That led directly to the only touchdown the Gators scored all night. And it was a gift from the referee. Because the Florida State defense, after getting knocked on its heels early, did what it’s done pretty much all season long. It took over the game.

This was a great win. Truly.

Don’t apologize for it. Or dismiss it. Ever.

Wins over rivals should always be embraced. Forever. And the Seminoles have now won six straight over their rivals (three against Miami, one against Clemson, and now two against Florida).

With a backup quarterback, down 12 points, with ALL the pressure on you, in a really loud environment, you went out and won. Again. To finish off just the sixth perfect regular season in Florida State history.

I don’t care that it came against a team that won’t make a bowl. I don’t care that the offense struggled for long stretches. I don’t care about any of it. Neither should you. Not at this moment anyway. Care next Saturday in Charlotte, sure. But enjoy the hell out of this one.

“An undefeated regular season is big,” Norvell said. “Back-to-back state champions. That’s huge. To be able to come here, on the road, with a new quarterback starting for the first time this season, it was definitely an impressive rally for our football team.”

Norvell knows there’s a big game next week in Charlotte. He mentioned it multiple times in his postgame press conference. But man, no matter that happens against Louisville, it’s pretty astonishing that in two seasons his team went from bowl-less to undefeated.

The last time the Seminoles were in The Swamp, they were getting beaten by a coach-less team, to finish with a 5-7 record.

Now?

Well, now the program has climbed well past that.

“I’m proud of our team and I’m proud of everyone associated with the program,” Norvell said. “Because this is a long time coming. We had a heck of a journey. And the great thing about it is, it’s not done yet.”

Florida State is 12-0. Perfect. And has one game left to improve to 13-0, win an ACC Championship, and qualify (one would think) for the College Football Playoff.

Oh, and the Seminoles just won a second straight state championship.

The magical ride continues.

Let’s see just how long it can last.

Contact senior writer Corey Clark at [email protected].

Talk about this story with other die-hard Florida State football fans on the Tribal Council.