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Florida State Football: 3 takeaways from season-opening win vs. Duquesne

By John Scimeca

TALLAHASSEE, FL - AUGUST 27: Runningback Rodney Hill #29 of the Florida State Seminoles avoids a tackle by Cornerback Jaelen Carson #11 of the Duquesne Dukes during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on August 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Dukes 47 to 7. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - AUGUST 27: Runningback Rodney Hill #29 of the Florida State Seminoles avoids a tackle by Cornerback Jaelen Carson #11 of the Duquesne Dukes during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on August 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Dukes 47 to 7. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Florida State football lost in 2021 at home to FCS foe Jacksonville State. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Florida State football lost in 2021 at home to FCS foe Jacksonville State. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

3. The Seminoles showed up vs. FCS foe

Florida State fans can be forgiven for trying to forget the 0-4 start to the 2021 season. The four-game losing streak began with an overtime loss to Notre Dame and was followed by a home loss to Jacksonville State, an FCS program.

The Gamecocks left Tallahassee, Fla. with a 20-17 victory in what was one of the biggest upsets in college football last year. Jacksonville State outgained the Seminoles and held the overall edge in time of possession by game’s end. Florida State also choked a 17-7 lead in the fourth quarter in the loss.

Would FSU get off to a similarly slow start for the 2022 season vs. Duquesne?

That question was answered in the early going, as the Seminoles raced out to a three-touchdown lead before the end of the first quarter. While it doesn’t make the loss from 2021 any better, Jacksonville State is one of the three FCS programs primed to make the jump to the FBS level by next year. Duquesne, on the other hand, hasn’t been to the FCS playoffs (24 teams) since 2018 and did not figure to pose as much of a challenge on Saturday.

The Seminoles haven’t defeated an SEC squad since 2017 when they beat Florida by a score of 38-22 en route to a 7-6 finish. The last time that Florida State started the season with a win against an SEC team was in 2016 when the No. 4 Noles knocked off No. 11 Ole Miss.

Florida State, which didn’t receive any votes in the preseason AP Top 25 this season (out of 48 teams that received at least one vote), hasn’t been ranked in three years. That lack of ranking may not change with a home win against an outmatched FCS foe, but naturally, a win against LSU would change that.

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