LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Florida State Seminoles visit the Louisville Cardinals on Friday night at L&N Stadium, looking to build on recent momentum while attempting to end a prolonged slump away from home.
Florida State enters the Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with a 3-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in conference play following back-to-back victories over Central Arkansas and Virginia. However, the Seminoles have dropped 10 straight true road games dating back to November 2023, along with 13 consecutive contests away from Tallahassee, according to SB Nation. Florida State has also lost six consecutive road games in ACC competition.
Quarterbacks and explosive offenses
Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels is coming off a record-setting showing in a 38-7 rout of Virginia, where he scored five rushing touchdowns. According to SB Nation, Daniels became the first FBS player since at least 1995 to produce at least 180 passing yards, 130 rushing yards and five rushing scores in a single game. Daniels ranks third in the FBS with nine rushing touchdowns and third nationally with 15.87 yards per completion, Sports Illustrated reported.
The Seminoles also feature running back Ousmane Kromah, backup Tre Wisner and wide receiver Duce Robinson, who led the ACC in receiving yards per game last season. In the red zone, Florida State has converted all 21 trips into points this season, with 17 ending in touchdowns, according to SB Nation.
Louisville, sitting at 2-3 overall, enters the contest after consecutive three-point losses to Wake Forest and North Carolina State. Seven of the Cardinals’ past eight losses have been decided by three points or fewer, including every defeat this season, Sports Illustrated noted. Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz was listed as probable to start on Friday, the New York Post reported.
Head coach Jeff Brohm’s offense has remained one of the country’s most explosive units, averaging 486.0 yards per game. Louisville is tied with Indiana for the national lead with 37 plays from scrimmage spanning 20 yards or more, and stands alone atop the FBS with eight touchdowns measuring at least 50 yards, Sports Illustrated reported. Five separate players have scored from 50 yards out or deeper, including running back Isaac Brown, who ran for 125 yards and a score against NC State, and receiver Tre Richardson, who leads the team with 28 receptions for 445 yards.
Defensive battle at the line
Florida State’s defense delivered a dominant outing last week against Virginia, piling up 10 sacks and holding the Cavaliers to 2.8 yards per play, according to SB Nation. The Seminoles rank eighth in the nation with 3.4 sacks per contest, spearheaded up front by Rylan Kennedy, Jalen Anderson and brothers Mandrell and Darryl Desir, alongside Southern Miss transfer linebacker Chris Jones.
The Cardinals have struggled with penalties, ranking 129th out of 138 FBS programs in penalty yards per game, according to SB Nation. Louisville has nevertheless held opponents to 16 first-quarter points this season, outscoring rivals 41-16 in opening frames.
Historically, Florida State holds an 18-6 edge in the all-time series, including a 16-6 win in the 2023 ACC Championship Game, though Louisville is 4-6 against the Seminoles since joining the ACC in 2014, Sports Illustrated reported. The winner will gain crucial footing in the conference standings as Florida State prepares to face rival Miami next.
