No. 10 Notre Dame is touted as a heavy favorite when it hosts Florida State on Saturday night in South Bend, Ind.
Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman offered a warning to his team this week: games are not played on paper.
Notre Dame (7-1) was a 26-point favorite to start the week according to oddsmakers, riding a six-game winning streak and Florida State (1-8) is mired in a five-game losing streak. Freeman said in studying the opponent there is still plenty of talent on the Seminoles’ roster that shows up on game tape.
“It’s a very talented football team, and it doesn’t take long to turn on the film and realize how talented they are,” Freeman said. “They might be one of the most talented teams we face all year, and that’s just what the film tells you. Their record doesn’t reflect their talent.
“They’ve had to deal with some injuries, especially at QB, and that has affected the outcome of their games. Our team must, and we will, respect the challenge Saturday night here.”
Florida State entered the season with a top-10 ranking and aspirations to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff. Those dreams quickly were dashed by three straight losses to start the season, followed by a 14-9 win against Cal, followed by five straight losses.
Seminoles coach Mike Norvell will try to pick his team up after their latest setback, a 35-11 loss at home against North Carolina a week ago. If outsiders are surprised by Florida State’s 1-8 record, Norvell knows the feeling.
“I am shocked (about) where we are,” Norvell said this week. “It was not expected.”
The offseason will bring major changes to the program, Norvell said. But for now, he wants to see which players show up and compete starting with a high-profile primetime showcase at Notre Dame.
“I can tell you that there’s going to be a change in what we’ve seen from this year to this next year coming up,” he said. “But right now, my entire focus is going to be on what’s ahead for these next three games, to go be the best we can be.”
The Seminoles will try to slow down a versatile Notre Dame offense.
Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard has passed for 1,360 yards and eight touchdowns, and he has rushed for 539 yards and 11 scores.
Jeremiyah Love has rushed for a team-high 564 yards to go along with nine touchdowns, and Beaux Collins is the team’s leading receiver with 28 catches for 359 yards and a pair of scores.
Florida State will counter with Brock Glenn at quarterback, and Luke Kromenhoek will serve as Glenn’s backup. Glenn, who is starting in place of injured signal-caller D.J. Uiagalelei, completed six of 11 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown last week against North Carolina.
Lawrance Toafili is Florida State’s top running back with 303 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Ja’Khi Douglas has a team-high 25 catches for 404 yards and three scores.
Florida State leads the all-time series 6-5. The Fighting Irish won the last matchup 41-38 on Sept. 5, 2021.
