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    • FSU football is approaching a low point after its first-ever loss to Duke
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    FSU football is approaching a low point after its first-ever loss to Duke

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    In a season full of lows, Florida State football continues to find ways to dig itself deeper into a hole.

    After a bye week with renewed optimism, Brock Glenn at quarterback and an outing against Clemson that included both losses and positives, FSU felt like things were moving in the right direction ahead of a trip to Durham, North Carolina.

    In fact, the Seminoles entered Friday night’s game against Duke with history on their side. It had won all 22 games against the Blue Devils, and looking at the stats from Friday night’s game, I wouldn’t blame anyone for assuming FSU got a 23rd win.

    That didn’t happen.

    FSU defeated Duke, 291-180, and posted its best rushing performance of the season — ironic, right — with 162 yards. The Seminoles defense held the Blue Devils offense to 13 points, but FSU’s self-inflicted mistakes gave Duke an early Christmas present Friday night.

    The Blue Devils defeated the Seminoles in a 23-16 win, led in part by a disastrous three-snap stretch from Brock Glenn. The redshirt freshman on consecutive snaps three and six, fumbled and threw another interception. Duke scored 17 points off that turnover.

    It’s the sixth straight game the Seminoles have been held to under 20 points this season, and the first time since 1975, a year before Bobby Bowden was named head coach.

    Out there? FSU had three drops that potentially cost them 17 points.

    An early third-down drop by Malik Benson set up a 48-yard field goal attempt, but it was blocked. After replacing Glenn, Luke Kromenhoek tied one to Kentron Poitier for what looked like the first touchdown of the game for FSU. It was dropped and the Seminoles punted instead. A fall by Hykeem Williams late in the first half prevented a field goal attempt that would have cut the lead to 17–9 at halftime.

    Those six plays represent FSU’s season well.

    Duke’s dominance was one of the few symbols of the era of Seminole college football dominance, but now its 22-game winning streak has been snapped. FSU is headed for a potential third losing season under Mike Norvell and a third season without a bowl game.

    In a year that felt like a clear opportunity to re-establish its return as a dominant force in the ACC and in college football, FSU dropped the ball (metaphorically and literally), and instead turned the honor over to the rivals of the Seminoles. the conference while FSU sits at 1-6.

    Playoffs were the expectation and now a bowl game is a nearly impossible task as FSU needs to win five games in a row. With games against No. 6 Miami, No. 12 Notre Dame and Florida still to come, the Seminoles’ hopes of salvaging postseason football in some form are over.

    The disaster in Durham has not yet reached its nadir, but it does feel like a pit stop on the way there. FSU’s 1-6 record is on track to join the ranks of the worst teams in Seminoles history, with the last and only one-win season coming in 1974.

    With few winnable matchups left, the 2024 FSU team could be the first two-win team in program history or join the rare ranks of Seminoles teams with three or four wins.

    Glenn briefly hoped that a turnaround could come in the second half. The reality, however, is that his entry into the lineup doesn’t change the fact that more often than not, passes end up on the turf after a drop or opposing defensive lineman crashes into an unprotected quarterback, creating long-yardage situations.

    The season has been a notable fall from grace for the Seminoles after they went 13-1 and won the ACC title last season. However, a playoff snub and a blowout loss to Georiga in the Orange Bowl were a sign of setbacks for the Seminoles.

    It’s clear that there will be changes this season. Norvell is safe, but there is a real possibility we see turnover in addition to a large number of players entering the transfer portal or, for a select few, pursuing NFL dreams.

    A change in strategy is needed, not just on the pitch, but off it too. The transfer portal was a miss this year, with few if any players contributing. The approach and evaluation must change, especially as high school recruiting proves to be a challenge for the Seminoles.

    On the field, play calling is a problem. Norvell is known for creative and innovative offense, but this season’s replay was predictable and too often poorly executed. Maybe the play calling suffers from the issues with drops and run games, but the play selection issues have been present since the season opener against Georgia Tech.

    Change is needed, and it’s likely coming for FSU.

    With the season in full swing, the Seminoles need to give the future a chance. Do what you can to keep the potential playmakers you have on the roster and start preparing for next season.

    What else does FSU have to lose at this point?

    Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @__liamrooney

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