It seems like it’s been forever, but it’s only been two weeks since Florida State annihilated East Texas A&M 77-3. The boys in Garnet and Gold will be back on the field this Saturday as the Kent State Golden Flashes come to Tallahassee.
FSU has executed on both sides of the ball efficiently so far. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos has the offense operating at a 54-point per game clip. Defensively, the Seminoles are only allowing 10 points per game and have held their opponents to a 31% conversion percentage on third down.
Just looking on paper, Florida State should roll in this matchup. However, the games must be decided inside the white lines. Here are five reasons why FSU could struggle this weekend.
Loss of rhythm
Regardless of how talented Florida State or any team is, not playing for 14 days can cause some rhythm issues, especially offensively. So, the Seminoles will need to find a way to shake off the rust if there is any, and put Kent State away early.
Looking ahead to the ACC schedule
The Seminoles have the Virginia Cavaliers on the road next week before their in-state showdown with the Miami Hurricanes. Those are two of the biggest games of the year for the program and will have a huge impact on where they finish in the ACC. FSU must stay focused.
Turnovers
This kind of piggybacks off the first point about not having rhythm. The last thing the Seminoles want is to give a team that doesn’t score a lot of points (23 per game) any short fields to possibly put touchdowns on the board. Protecting the football is key.
Letting Kent State gain confidence early
One of the biggest reasons upsets happen in college football is when the superior team comes out flat and the inferior squad gains a lead early. Florida State should not play with its food against Kent State. Put them away expeditiously.
Not running the ball well
If Florida State can’t run the ball efficiently, then Castellanos will face a lot of third-and-long situations, and that’s not good regardless of who the opponent is. The Seminoles are averaging 295.5 yards per game on the ground in 2025, and they need to continue that against Kent State to control the pace.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Five reasons FSU could struggle vs. Kent State
Reporting by Matthew Lenix , FSU Wire / FSU Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
