Florida State at Pittsburgh: Three Seminoles Who Could Play Big Roles On The Road
The Florida State Seminoles are back in the College Football Playoff, for now. After taking care of business against Wake Forest last week, the ‘Noles were awarded with the #4 spot in the first iteration of the College Football Playoff Committee’s rankings. The Seminoles are now faced with the task of finishing the season unblemished, but they’ll have to overcome a few remain threats before making their return to that national stage. In the meantime, Mike Norvell’s team is also in the driver seat to make a return to the ACC Championship game. If they can come on top with wins over their two remaining in-conference games, a trip to Charlotte is surely in order for the ‘Noles. That goal will be put to the test this weekend in a road matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers.
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Perhaps to your surprise, reader, the Pittsburgh Panthers lead the all-time series against the Seminoles by a record of 6-4. The last meeting between the two took place during the COVID season in 2020 when Pat Narduzzi and his team traveled to Tallahassee and laid 41 on a Seminole team in their first year under the tutelage of Mike Norvell. Three years have since passed and a lot has changed for both football programs in that time. Norvell’s ‘Noles sit at 7-0, first in the conference, fourth in the nation, and they possess a roster filled to the brim with talent. The Panthers, on the other hand, are 2-6, nearing the bottom of the conference leaderboard, and are fervently trying to patch the holes on their roster.
This weekend’s matchup against the Panthers lacks grandeur of any kind, but it does provide the Seminoles with a different kind of challenge. With a bitter rivalry game lined up just around the corner, FSU must travel to Pittsburgh and find a way to avoid the “trap game” pitfall they nearly fell into during their trip to Chestnut Hill. Moreover, the ‘Noles will have to do so with the added target of a CFP #4 ranking now brandished across their back. Performances from a few impact players could prove to be pivotal in leaving town with another emphatic conference win.
1. Renardo Green, Defensive Back
Earlier in the week, our staff detailed “Three Key Matchups” to look out for in the upcoming contest between the Florida State Seminoles. One such matchup contained within that article was the one between Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback and FSU’s defensive secondary. Since taking over for former starter Phil Jurkovec a few weeks into the season, sophomore Christian Veilleux has struggled in the passing game. Thus far, he has recorded 774 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns and 6 interceptions following his 5 game appearances and 3 starts for the Panthers. Four of those interceptions came against Notre Dame last week en route to a 58-7 loss that saw the Pittsburgh offense record a measly 202 passing yards. Put simply, the Panther offense is struggling through the air, and defensive back Renardo Green must be licking his chops at the sight.
Green made the list earlier in the season, but he has since progressed in his development and garnered increased attention for his elevated play. The redshirt senior defensive back leads the team with 8 passes defended, he has already recorded 1 interception, he ranks third amongst the team with 21 solo tackles, and he has been attributed with 0.5 of a sack. The impressive stat-line provides clear insight into why Green is being heralded as a high-level talent and why he was recently named as a semifinals for the Jim Thorpe Award. Beyond the numbers in a box score, however, Green brings a leadership quality and a veteran presence to a defensive secondary that did not allow a passing TD throughout the entire month of October. Given Pitt’s struggles in the passing game, look for the suffocating Florida State defensive backs to thwart any success through the air with a focus on forcing turnovers. If they find success in doing so, keep a watchful eye on how veteran defensive back and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist Renardo Green gets involved.
2. Trey Benson, Running Back
At some point, we were bound to bring this man’s name up again. He may have had a slower start to the season than many expected, but his performance last week reminded them of his innate ability at the running back position. There’s a reason redshirt junior Trey Benson is heralded as one of the most talented backs in the country. Actually, there’s a handful of reasons. He’s been clocked as one of the fastest players in college football; he’s the first player in FSU history to record an 80 yard touchdown reception and an 80 yard rushing touchdown; he’s the first FSU running back to rush for over 200 yards since Dalvin Cook; and the list goes on. The once Oregon transfer has cemented quite the legacy in Tallahassee, and he still has some gas left in the tank for the Seminoles.
Benson has recorded 544 yards and 7 touchdowns on 85 carries so far this season. Last week, the running back flexed his receiving ability, surpassing 100 yards through the air. This week, Florida State will need the workhorse back to find his footing on the ground against a Pittsburgh Panther defense that has struggled to defend against the run in their previous matchups. Pittsburgh gave up 155 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground against Notre Dame one week ago. Just imagine what kind of damage a running back of Benson’s caliber is capable of inflicting. Like I said, we were bound to start repeating players on these lists because the Seminoles will constantly need its most impactful players to do what they do best. As far as FSU’s rushing game is concerned, Trey Benson is that difference maker.
3. Deuce Spann, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist
It’s about time we give a nod to this Seminole. The 6’4”, 207 pound junior may not be as involved in the receiving game as he would like, but Deuce Spann has burst on to the scene with his dynamic play in the kick return game. Of course, the most notable of his special teams plays was the 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that he had against Duke. Outside of that one highlight, however, Spann has been a constant threat in the return game for the ‘Noles. He’s tallied over 184 total return yards over the course of just 4 attempts, and despite having just the one touchdown under his belt, he’s been close to breaking through on multiple occasions. Truth be told, I wouldn’t be surprised if the speedster found the end zone gain before the end of the season. Plus, I wouldn’t count Spann out of any offensive production either. Florida State’s offense has utilized him in both the rushing, receiving, and passing game so far this year. If they continue to give him those occasional nods, he’s more than capable of making the most of his involvement. Nonetheless, it’s Spann’s knack for the kick return game that has garnered the most attention and it’s that facet of his game you’ll want to watch closely on Saturday. Who knows what could happen?
The talents of Green, Benson and Span are but a microcosm of the talent littered across this Florida State roster. Time and again, we’ve seen that talent perform at the highest level and come up in the most clutch of moments. This week is no different for the Seminoles because this week's opponent just so happens to be Pitt and they just so happened to deliver a beatdown last time these two teams met. However, things are drastically different this time around. Florida State now travels into Panther territory with an improved culture, a talent-filled roster, and a hunger. Norvell and his ‘Noles are capable of delivering a beatdown of their own. In doing so, they just might shake off some of the disrespect and doubt from the committee in the process. With a conference championship and playoff berth on the line, FSU will need its stars to shine.
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