Current:Home > Contact-usJordan Travis accounts for 5 TDs and No. 8 Florida State thumps No. 5 LSU 45-24 in marquee matchup-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Jordan Travis accounts for 5 TDs and No. 8 Florida State thumps No. 5 LSU 45-24 in marquee matchup
View Date:2024-12-23 11:16:14
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Travis accounted for five touchdowns, including three to Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman, and No. 8 Florida State throttled fifth-ranked LSU 45-24 on Sunday night in the most anticipated matchup of college football’s opening weekend.
The Seminoles extended their winning streak to seven and established themselves as an early season favorite to make the College Football Playoff.
They won this one primarily on fourth down.
FSU stopped the Tigers twice on fourth down in the first half, including once at the goal line, and scored the go-ahead touchdown one play after Travis connected with Lawrence Toafili for 41 yards on fourth-and-2. Travis ran in on the ensuing play to put the Seminoles ahead 24-17 and send most of the 65,429 in attendance into a frenzy.
Roughly 80% of those on hand were draped in garnet and gold. They got exactly what they wanted: a blowout to kickstart the program’s most hyped season in nearly a decade. LSU was a 2 1/2-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
FSU won its final six games last season and then surprisingly returned nearly everyone for coach Mike Norvell’s fourth season, including Travis, standout receiver Johnny Wilson and stud pass rusher Jared Verse.
But the star of the opener was Coleman, who left East Lansing, Michigan, for greener grass in Tallahassee. He finished with nine catches for 122 yards, including scoring plays of 40, 21 and 7 yards.
Wilson added seven receptions for 104 yards and would have had better numbers had it not been for two drops.
Travis was at his best in the second half, connecting on 11 of 13 passes as the Seminoles took the lead for good. He sent most of the LSU faithful to the exits when he found South Carolina transfer Jaheim Bell down the sideline for a 44-yard score with 7 minutes remaining.
Travis completed 23 of 31 passes for 342 yards and the four TDs. He and Coleman hooked up for a 40-yarder to start the scoring, added a 21-yarder late in the second to tie the game at 14 and then connected on a 7-yard fade in the fourth.
Jayden Daniels wasn’t nearly as effective for LSU in a showdown of two of the top three preseason Heisman Trophy favorites. He was 22 of 37 passing for 347 yards, with an interception and a 75-yard score in the waning minutes. He ran 15 times for 64 yards and was on the receiving end of the hit of night: FSU’s Tatum Bethune hammered him to the ground after he attempted to leap another defender.
Florida State probably would have trailed by double digits in the first half had it not stopped the Tigers twice on fourth down.
After Daniels connected with Tre Bradford for 55 yards on the first play of the game, LSU had six shots to score from inside the 5-yard line. The Tigers never got close, with Daniels misfiring twice and then getting sacked on fourth down.
The Tigers were in the red zone again in the second quarter, but Daniels was sacked on a fourth-and-1 play from the FSU 13.
Two drives deep into Seminoles territory, no points.
FSU had its own issues. The ’Noles struggled to run the ball, kept getting beat up front and were flagged for three personal fouls. Adding to their woes, Wilson dropped two passes with dozens of NFL scouts in the press box for the top-10 matchup.
THE TAKEAWAY
LSU: Coach Brian Kelly has plenty to fix defensively as the Tigers move forward. They allowed 483 yards and were ineffective on third down, allowing the Seminoles to convert 8 of 13 on the all-important down.
Florida State: The Seminoles have been building toward this season for years, with Norvell stockpiling talent through the transfer portal while developing youngsters who have been in the program.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Florida State could move into the top five when the next Associated Press poll is released Tuesday.
SIDELINE STARS
Former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu was on the sideline with his family before the game. Florida State countered with a slew of former players, including Pro Football Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler, Andre Wadsworth, Darnell Dockett, Bryant McFadden, Travis Johnson, Peter Warrick and Snoop Minnis.
UP NEXT
LSU hosts Grambling State of the Football Championship Subdivision on Saturday.
Florida State hosts Southern Miss of the Football Championship Subdivision on Saturday.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
veryGood! (9422)
Related
- Sting Says Sean Diddy Combs Allegations Don't Taint His Song
- Alleged carjacking suspect fatally shot by police at California ski resort
- Josef Fritzl, Austrian who held daughter captive for 24 years, can be moved to regular prison, court rules
- Teen Mom’s Kailyn Lowry Shares Her Twins Spent Weeks in NICU After Premature Birth
- FSU football fires offensive, defensive coordinators, wide receivers coach
- Look back at every Super Bowl halftime performer, including Michael Jackson, JLo, Beyonce
- Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, longtime Maryland Democrat, to retire from Congress
- AP Photos: Indians rejoice in colorful Republic Day parade with the French president as chief guest
- UConn, Kansas State among five women's college basketball games to watch this weekend
- Utah joins list of states to pass a bill banning diversity programs in government and on campus
Ranking
- Vikings' Camryn Bynum celebrates game-winning interception with Raygun dance
- Morgan Wallen's version: Country artist hits back against rumored release of 2014 album
- Czech lower house approves tougher gun law after nation’s worst mass shooting. Next stop Senate
- Comedian Mark Normand escorted off stage at comedy club, denies prior knowledge of 'surprise'
- Lala Kent Swears by This Virgo-Approved Accessory and Shares Why Stassi Schroeder Inspires Her Fall Style
- Bipartisan Tennessee proposal would ask voters to expand judges’ ability to deny bail
- Kenya’s high court rules that deploying nation’s police officers to Haiti is unconstitutional
- Morgan Wallen's version: Country artist hits back against rumored release of 2014 album
Recommendation
-
The ancient practice of tai chi is more popular than ever. Why?
-
Sydney Sweeney explains infamous 'Euphoria' hot tub scene: 'Disgusting'
-
Russian man who flew on Los Angeles flight without passport or ticket found guilty of being stowaway
-
Christina Hall Slams Load of S--t Rumor That She Refuses to Work With Women
-
Mike Tyson impresses crowd during workout ahead of Jake Paul fight
-
Closing arguments slated as retrial of ex-NFL star Smith’s killer nears an end
-
Mikaela Shiffrin hospitalized after crash on 2026 Olympics course in Italy
-
Nevada high court ruling upholds state authority to make key groundwater decisions