FSU’s Winston Dominant In Debut

Sep 2, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to pass the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State QB Jameis Winston took center stage Monday night at Pittsburgh.

The redshirt freshman took full advantage.

Winston finished the night 25-of-27 for 356 yards and 4 TDs passing. He also ran for 25 yards and another TD in guiding the Seminoles to what will be a blowout victory over a Pittsburgh team that was helpless to even slow the immediate star.

A 5-TD performance on national TV? That’s a great way to escalate already-ridiculous hype. To do it with such precision, such touch and such excellent ability to stand up in the face of pressure to deliver sensational throw after sensational throw is a way to generate Heisman buzz.

And Twitter didn’t disappoint. Look for Winston to appear as early as this week on Heisman short-lists.

Even before FSU coach Jimbo Fisher named Winston the starter — which only happened within the last couple weeks — the quarterback had already been compared favorably to Seminoles legend Charlie Ward. Now it’s easy to see why.

Winston showed Monday night that he can do it all. And he did it with such brilliance and poise that there’s no reason to think he can’t duplicate it every week this season.

Is that making too much of one performance? Of course.

Then again, when he lived up to comparable hype in Week 1, it’s difficult to tame expectations.