Florida State traveled across the pond to Dublin, Ireland, and faced Georgia Tech in the first game of the 2024 college football season.
The Seminoles entered the game with a chip on their shoulder after failing to make the playoffs last year despite winning the ACC undefeated. The pressure to continue to be perfect was on head coach Mike Norvell and a revamped FSU team that brought in 17 transfers in the offseason.
The ‘Noles struck first on their opening possession when senior running back Lawrance Toafili ripped off a run to the outside for a 28-yard touchdown. The impressive run was followed by a surprise two-point conversion that gave the Garnet and Gold an 8-0 lead.
Georgia Tech made light work of Florida State’s defense, something they did often in this game. The Yellow Jackets stormed down the field with ease as junior quarterback Haynes King found Malik Rutherford for a 42-yard gain, setting up the offense in the red zone. Backup quarterback Zach Pyron found his way into the end zone three plays later, and after the extra point, the Seminoles’ lead was one point.
FSU’s defense failed to live up to the expectations it received all offseason. The first seven allowed five and a half yards per carry to Ramblin Wreck, who rushed for nearly 200 yards against the ‘Noles. They also had trouble getting into the backfield, failed to record a single sack and managed just one quarterback hit.
After a promising drive, the Garnet and Gold got stuck at the Yellow Jackets’ 31-yard line and eventually had to settle for a 52-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, giving Florida State an 11-7 lead.
The Yellow Jackets responded by marching the ball 75 yards down the field, taking nearly eight minutes off the clock, to score another touchdown at the goal line.
The Seminoles began the final drive of the half on their own 25-yard line with all timeouts and over three minutes remaining. However, Norvell decided not to call his first timeout until just 15 seconds remained. It took FSU’s offense nine plays to gain just 34 yards, and ultimately had to settle for a 59-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, the highest field goal of the senior’s career.
Both teams went into the locker room with a 14-14 tie.
Georgia Tech running back Jamal Haynes started the second half with a 36-yard run that put the Yellow Jackets in position at the Seminole 40. The Jackets’ offense stalled and ended up missing a potential field goal, leaving the game tied.
After three consecutive possessions that ended in punts, Georgia Tech drove 89 yards in 11 plays and outpaced the Garnet and Gold defense. Haynes King fought through the Seminole defenders and brought the Yellow Jackets to the 2-yard line, leading to a Jamal Haynes touchdown run.
Trailing by seven points, the Seminoles’ offense picked up the tempo. Senior quarterback DJ Uiagalelei worked the middle of the field and converted two fourth down attempts during the impressive drive. Great completions from receivers Jah’ki Douglas and Malik Benson brought FSU to the Yellow Jackets’ two-yard line, allowing Roydell Williams to score his first touchdown as a ‘Nole.
With six and a half minutes left in the game, Georgia Tech’s offense launched a methodical attack that ran down the clock and got them within field goal range. One second remained on the clock when Georgia Tech called its final timeout. Kicker Aidan Birr, who had missed a field goal earlier in the game, broke Seminole fans’ hearts by putting a 44-yard field goal just wide of the left upright, securing the first major upset of the college football season.
This is an incredibly disappointing start for a team with national championship aspirations. The Garnet and Gold will most likely have to continue playing perfectly to keep those aspirations alive, which is a difficult task considering teams like Clemson, Miami and Notre Dame are on the schedule.
Florida State returns to Doak Campbell Stadium for its first home game when it hosts the Boston College Eagles in Tallahassee for a Labor Day showdown on Sept. 2. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
