Last Updated: Friday, December 22, 2017
The Florida State Seminoles are playing in a bowl game for the 36th straight year, but even that fact has controversy surrounding it in a season where everything has seemed to go wrong.
Reddit College Football revealed that FSU’s win over Delaware State shouldn’t have counted toward the six wins the Seminoles needed to become bowl eligible.
According to the report, the Hornets did not meet the 90 percent scholarship limit threshold that’s necessary for a win over an FCS opponent to count for bowl eligibility, and if it didn’t count, the Seminoles would’ve been one win short of making it.
In spite of that fact, the ‘Noles (6-6) will move forward as planned to face off with Southern Miss (8-4) in the Independence Bowl.
The Seminoles and Golden Eagles kick off at 12:30 p.m. at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La., on Wednesday.
Florida State is chasing its 41st consecutive winning season, and the two teams will play for the first time since FSU crushed Southern Miss (54-14) in Tallahassee in 1996.
Bartow High School graduate Odell Haggins, who won his first game as Florida State’s interim head coach in a 42-10 victory over Louisiana-Monroe, looks to remain undefeated before handing over the head coaching duties to Willie Taggart.
Haggins, the longest-tenured member of the Florida State coaching staff in his 24th year with the team, can help guide the Seminoles to their seventh win, a number the Seminoles have reached every year on the field since 1981.
Becoming bowl eligible gave Haggins and the ‘Noles staff extra weeks of practice to work with underclassman, including two of the most successful true freshmen in team history statistically.
Running back Cam Akers (930 rushing yards, 7 TD) is only 79 yards away from breaking Dalvin Cook’s single-season record for rushing yards from a true freshman (1,008 yards).
Akers has topped 100 rushing yards four times during a solid first year in the program, including 117 yards in the regular season finale against ULM.
Quarterback James Blackman has already set single-season passing records for an FSU true freshman in yards (1,997) and touchdown passes (15).
He’s thrown for six scores over the last three games, and Blackman helped guide FSU to wins in four of its last five contests.
Junior safety Derwin James (Haines City) announced he would enter the NFL draft and skip the Independence Bowl, but Florida State’s defense hopes to go out in style after playing well down the stretch this season.
The Seminoles returned two takeaways for touchdowns in their 38-22 win at Florida, the first time the ‘Noles ever scored two defensive touchdowns during a single game in the 62-game rivalry.
The ‘Noles will have their hands full with Southern Miss junior wide receiver Korey Robertson (72 receptions, 11 TD), a big target who relishes the role of being the Golden Eagles’ go-to guy in the red zone.
Southern Miss is also powered by senior running back Ito Smith (1,323 rushing yards, 13 TD), who rushed for 100 yards or more 10 times this season.
Junior quarterback Kwadra Griggs (1,793 pass yards, 15 TD, 2 INT) has been lethal since returning to form after missing three games with a hand injury.
Griggs has thrown seven touchdowns without throwing in interception the last three times he’s taken the field, all wins for Southern Miss.
Florida State, which will also be without standout defensive end Josh Sweat and wide receiver Ermon Lane, hasn’t lost to Southern Miss since being shocked by the Golden Eagles in 1989.
That day, a promising young quarterback named Brett Favre led Southern Miss to a shocking 30-26 victory over the 6th-ranked ‘Noles in Jacksonville.
FSU hopes to avoid a similar result on another neutral field.
Here’s more on this year’s Independence Bowl battle.
KEY MATCHUP:
AUDEN TATE VS. SOUTHERN MISS SECONDARY
After a great start to the season, former Wharton High School star Auden Tate has been quiet.
The junior wide receiver hasn’t been the same since suffering a shoulder injury during a nine catch, 138 yard performance against NC State in September.
The 6’5 Tate would love to close the season on a high note, but he’ll face a Southern Miss squad that ranks 25th in the nation in passing defense (189.8 yards per game).
An effective Tate could go a long way in determining whether or not Florida State can outlast the Golden Eagles and finish the year with a winning record.
X-FACTOR:
JACQUES PATRICK, FLORIDA STATE
Jacques Patrick has been an X-Factor for us before, and with good reason.
The Timber Creek High School alum rushed for 253 yards and five touchdowns over the past four games, including 155 and two scores against ULM, the second-best statistical performance of his career.
At one point, it looked like Patrick would be out for the season with an injury, but he’s battled back.
The offense has looked much more complete since he returned to the lineup.
THE PICK:
FLORIDA STATE 24, SOUTHERN MISS 21
Haggins can ride into the sunset in Louisiana with an undefeated record as the Seminoles head coach.
The two-headed monster of Patrick and Akers will be incredibly productive again, and the Seminoles will play with pride to make it 41 consecutive winning seasons.