ACC Football: 5 storylines to follow during Week 4 action

3. Life after Deondre Francois

Florida State starting quarterback Deondre Francois went down with a season-ending injury. Subsequently, Hurricane Irma swept through Florida and caused cancellations and game movements at the high school, NFL and college levels moving the Miami vs. FSU annual rivalry matchup to a later date.

Thus, Florida State has had a couple of weeks to prepare true freshman James Blackman who will take over for Francois. Blackman is a former three-star dual-threat from Glades Central High School in Florida. The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder will have the 35th-ranked defense per the S&P+ applying the pressure.

In the past, the Seminoles could rely on Dalvin Cook when in a time of need. Now that he’s off in a starring role in the NFL, the ‘Noles will have to find other ways to take pressure off Blackman.

The FSU defense is fourth ranked in the S&P and has star hybrid player Derwin James as the feature defender. The 12th-ranked Noles were beaten up by Bama in the opener, and that was with Francois at quarterback.

In life after Francois, Jimbo Fisher will have to get the running game going. All-world freshman Cam Akers ran for three yards per carry against the Crimson Tide and Orlando, Fla., native Jacques Patrick was shut down to 2.8 yards per carry. Those numbers have to improve for FSU to stay a viable ACC title game option in 2017.

Fisher’s squad will face tough defensive competition in the Wolfpack, Demon Deacons and Gators; offensive based squads like Syracuse and Louisville shouldn’t worry them quite as much unless they completely can’t get an offense going to match points.

The stretch of games against Miami, Duke and Louisville should be their toughest but also a game in Death Valley against Clemson on Nov. 11 will be the pinnacle. The Noles have to hope the extended time off because of Irma has helped Blackman prepare for the ACC slate ahead.