FSU opens season against No. 9 Notre Dame
Florida State opens the 2021 football season by hosting No. 9 Notre Dame in a rare Sunday night showdown at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Seminoles are looking to bounce back after a 3-6 season, coach Mike Norvell’s first.
Norvell made roster additions, bringing in 13 transfers led by former UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton and pass rushers Jermaine Johnson (Georgia) and Kier Thomas (South Carolina).
No. 9 Notre Dame at Florida State
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium
When: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
RADIO: Seminole Sports Network/Sirius XM Ch. 84
Weather: 70 degrees, 11% percent rain chance
Favorite: Fighting Irish by 7.5
Online: orlandosentinel.com/seminoles; @osmattmurschel on Twitter.
Quick slant: This is the 11th meeting between these programs with FSU holding a 6-4 edge in the series. Notre Dame has won the past two games, including 42-26 in South Bend last season.
About Florida State (0-0, 0-0 ACC): The Seminoles haven’t announced who will start at quarterback, listing Jordan Travis and Milton as starters on the projected depth chart. FSU averaged 196 passing yards to rank next-to-last in the ACC. Travis became the program’s single-season rushing leader for a QB with 559 yards, surpassing Charlie Ward’s 504 yards in 1992. The offensive line returns five starters led by senior Devontay Love-Taylor but still struggled at times to protect the quarterback. Norvell revamped the defense, adding seven players through the transfer portal led by Johnson and Thomas. The unit gave up 36 points and 456 yards per game in 2020.
About Notre Dame (0-0): The Fighting Irish’s brief time as a member of ACC football was fruitful but they’ve returned to independent status. Brian Kelly’s program is coming off its fourth consecutive double-digit win season and its second College Football Playoff semifinals appearance in three years. But the Irish only return 13 starters and must make up production in several key areas. Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan steps into the quarterback role vacated by Ian Book. Coan’s strength is his accuracy and a strong arm that will help upgrade the team’s vertical passing game. The offensive line lost four starters to the NFL and must rely on a young core.
Three things to watch:
1. FSU offense vs. Notre Dame’s defense: New Irish defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman guided Cincinnati to a top 15 finish in total defense last season. He inherits a deep front seven that is expected to pressure at all points.
2. Jashaun Corbin vs. Irish: The Seminoles tailback finished second on the team in rushing with 401 yards in his first season after transferring in from Texas A&M. Now 100% healthy, Corbin believes FSU can improve a ground game that averaged close to 200 yards per game in 2020.
3. McKenzie Milton vs. Notre Dame’s defense: Milton hasn’t played competitive football in almost three years after a catastrophic knee injury in 2018. His return is expected to be an emotional one with the dual-threat QB providing a boost to the Seminoles’ offense.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.
