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Florida State football: 3 takeaways from Cheez-It Bowl win over Oklahoma

By Michael Thompson

Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Johnny Wilson (14) catches a pass while defended by Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Justin Broiles (25) in the fourth quarter during the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Johnny Wilson (14) catches a pass while defended by Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Justin Broiles (25) in the fourth quarter during the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wow. What an incredible and entertaining display of football we saw between Florida State football and Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl. In a battle of football blue bloods trying to return to glory, the 13th ranked Seminoles survived a game 6-6 Sooners squad, 35-32.

It was an offensive explosion in a wild atmosphere down in Orlando, one that should remind people of some of the beauty that may be lost in the potential College Football Playoff expansion. Both of these teams, missing a few starters, looked like they were playing for the national championship, that’s how intense it was.

3. Florida State completes remarkable turnaround

This game was not easy for the heavily favored Seminoles. Trailing by double digits and their defense struggling to stop the run, the offense led by quarterback Jordan Travis and wide receiver Johnny Wilson, carried the Noles to a huge victory. Wilson caught eight balls for a remarkable 202 receiving yards, while Travis had 468 total yards and two touchdowns.

The victory was not a sigh of relief for the Seminoles, but the burying of a dark five-year stretch.

When the season started, I think most fans at Florida State were hoping Mike Norvell would fail, so the fans and boosters down in Tallahassee could bring their golden son Deon Sanders home. Fast forward to today, and FSU looks to be back.

Norvell took over a broken program during the pandemic, and it shows what a little patience in college football can bring to those who show faith. Now, the Noles are 10-3 and have completed their most successful season since 2016. With local schools Florida and Miami still trying to get a foundation built to return to greatness, Florida State appears to have a strong head start on its rivals.

The Deon Sanders question may never go away for Norvell until he gets the Noles back to the playoff, but for now, he continues to look like the right man leading Florida State.

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