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What To Watch For: Florida State Seminoles

Florida State’s offense will lean heavily on **zone read** plays this weekend, following a dominant performance by **Ashton Daniels**, who rushed for five touchdowns last week—four of them on zone read runs. The Seminoles’ success with this scheme, combined with **NC State’s** ability to exploit it against Louisville, suggests **Mike Norvell** will continue dialing up these plays.

Daniels benefits from having a strong supporting cast, and the flexibility of the zone read allows FSU to tailor runs for both short-yardage and explosive gains, regardless of the game situation. Meanwhile, the defense must decide whether to maintain aggressive pressure or prioritize stopping Louisville’s explosive playmakers, particularly **Tre Richardson**, who could turn quick screens or blitz pickups into big gains.

The Seminoles’ front seven, led by **Chris Jones**, recorded a program-high 10 sacks and 12 tackles for loss against Virginia, but the challenge this week is greater: balancing pressure without leaving the Cardinals’ speedy offense vulnerable to counterattacks.

Louisville’s season remains far from over, despite early struggles to meet expectations. While the Cardinals face a narrow path to the ACC title, pride and avoiding a program-low finish remain key motivators.

The team’s defense, which thrives on disrupting quarterbacks, must avoid costly turnovers or missed tackles that could derail their season. **Gerod Holliman’s** 2022 interception-heavy campaign serves as a cautionary tale: even elite playmakers can see their NFL prospects dimmed by inconsistent film.

For FSU, the focus will be on sustaining their offensive momentum while navigating Louisville’s unpredictable play-calling—a game where execution, not just talent, could decide the outcome.

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