Advertisement

Florida State avoids biggest upset of the season while Jameis Winston can only watch

(Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports)

(Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports)

It was a wild college football Saturday. Particularly in Tallahassee. Here’s what we learned and what we will be talking about into next week.

1. Jameis Winston didn’t play

Late Friday night, Florida State announced Jameis Winston was suspended for the entire Clemson game due to a “continuing investigation” after he shouted vulgar phrases on campus earlier in the week. He had previously been suspended for the first half.

Hours before kickoff, photos were tweeted of him walking into the stadium with the team. And then the ultimate happened: Winston came out on the field in full pads to warm up like he was playing. Coach Jimbo Fisher was not pleased and sent him to the locker room to change.

Did Winston misunderstand the rules of his suspension? Did he think it was OK to warm up? What exactly did Fisher tell him? It was a weird moment.

He was on the sideline throughout the game, however, playing a vocal role pumping up his team, especially quarterback Sean Maguire.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2. Florida State won anyway

Clemson blew it.

The Tigers had this game won, but there was too much time left in the fourth quarter. With about six minutes to play and Clemson up 17-10, Maguire found Rashad Greene for a 74-yard bomb that tied the game and ultimately forced overtime. Clemson couldn’t score in overtime. Florida State could. The top-ranked Seminoles escaped a major upset with a 23-17 win.

Things might have been different had Winston been playing, but you have to give Maguire credit for stepping into an emotional atmosphere. The team rallied around him and fought for the win. Clemson had opportunities and gave them away. This was likely the best chance for the Seminoles to be upset all season.

3. Mississippi State won in Death Valley

Death Valley used to be a place where dreams went to die. But Dak Prescott and Mississippi State came to Baton Rouge and beat No. 8 LSU 34-29. The Tigers scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and nearly made a comeback, but couldn’t convert a Hail Mary with five seconds left to win.

If Prescott was considered underrated before, he isn’t anymore. The Bulldogs quarterback threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 105 more yards plus a rushing touchdown — against LSU’s defense. Running back Josh Robinson rushed for nearly 200 yards and receiver Jameon Lewis added 116 yards receiving and a touchdown. It was an extremely impressive performance in one of the toughest environments in college football.

If Mississippi State doesn’t win the SEC, it will certainly have a say who does if it plays like this the rest of the season. Next up for the Bulldogs: a bye week followed by home dates with Texas A&M and Auburn.

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

4. Blake Sims is Alabama’s quarterback

It’s probably safe to say that Nick Saban has decided to go with Blake Sims as his starting quarterback over Jacob Coker, the Florida State transfer who was projected to win the job. On No. 2 Alabama’s first offensive play of the 42-21 win over Florida, Sims went deep to Kenyan Drake for an 87-yard touchdown.

Things got a little muddled the rest of the first half with turnovers and Sims left the game briefly with a shoulder injury in the second half, but Alabama ended up putting the Gators away. The mobile quarterback proved he can play by completing 23 of 33 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns. He had one interception.

Additionally, Alabama outgained Florida 645-200. In fact, receiver Amari Cooper had more yards than the Gators by himself with 201 receiving.

(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

5. Will BYU be a playoff contender?

Quarterback Taysom Hill led No. 23 BYU to a 41-33 comeback win over Virginia. Down 16-13 at halftime, the team turned things around, starting with two third quarter touchdowns. Hill threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns, plus 72 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Cougars only have to play one more team from a Power 5 conference — Cal in their final game of the season — and have a very good chance of finishing undefeated.

In other words, BYU will be an intriguing team for the College Football Playoff selection committee.

(Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

(Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

More College Football