This was an even game for 2 1/2 quarters, though definitely assisted by some very good special team work by NIU it was an even game. If Martel Moore catches the pass thrown behind him after the onside kick they tie this game at 17.
By the 4th Q, Florida State’s D line began to dominate but this NIU team came to play!

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Don’t think that’s accurate.

Florida State was absolutely dominating that game throughout the first half. The score was only close because of horrendous 3rd down playcalling and poor execution. NIU’s only significant play in the first half was on a fake punt that, frankly, FSU should’ve seen coming.

But really, it felt like Florida State should’ve been up about 31-0 at the half. That’s how lopsided it was.

NIU came out with a little spark early in the 3rd quarter, but that was that.

The BCS are “writers” like the moron who wrote this piece. Their stories are better used as toilet paper then anything else.

FSU orange bowl victor.
Clemson beat LSU
GT killed USC

Not bad right? Oh yeah it was a fluke or something and the big10 big 12 and pac10…. Are sooo awesome.

Go figure that the Michigan-Carolina matinee provided far more theater and highlights than this dog.

Thinking about it harder, maybe these crappy games belong in prime time, so when they turn for the worse, we can just go to bed.

If you went to bed early, then you probably shouldn’t comment on what you obviously missed. FSU went up by 21 and had the ball several more times and didn’t throw another pass as to not run up the score and embarrass the team. I’m an FSU fan and wasn’t happy about the matchup, but it was a blowout and could have been a lot worse had they wanted to blow them out.

Don’t be so quick to dismiss Louisville. Their QB, if healthy, is an extraordinary player. His passing is very accurate, has a quick release, and he doesn’t make many mistakes with the ball. The Gator Defense has to show up tonight because Bridgewater can “nickle and dime” you to death. He is coming off an ankle injury so he will not be that mobile. The Gators should win this game but don’t take Louisville lightly. Plus Charlie Strong has proven to be a solid HC and knows Florida all too well. I’m rooting for the Gators and I’m sure many South Carolina fans are also…..like the Head Ball Coach has often said: “If not South Carolina, than let’s hope it’s Florida”.

Remember too, the score going into the 4th quarter was only 17-10 FSU. 3 of 14 on 3rd downs does also not help translate the game to a “blowout”.

Conversely, it DOES translate to a blowout when you consider that FSU ran up 534 yards of total offense, while NIU had a pathetic 259, and just 83 on 32 rushing attempts (23 of those attempts by their QB, for only 44 yards).

Lynch may want to give back some of those Heisman votes by the way. 15 of 41 passing? And if you take away his 22 yard run, he AVERAGED exactly ONE YARD PER CARRY for his other 22 carries! Welcome to real football, young man.

Bottom line: if it weren’t for gimmick plays (fake punt, onside kick, etc.), this game genuinely would have been a blowout where most people look for it to be… on the scoreboard. And to think, as Ben points out, FSU sleep-walked through most of this game. Can you imagine what would have happened had they actually showed up? I went to bed long before this one was over… and I’ll probably do the same during tonight’s Florida-Louisville game.

I have no idea what this sentence is referring to”

“… were screwed out of a first down or two and a fumble that should not have been thanks to some of the worst officiating the college football world had seen … ”

I’m guessing that’s a reference to the late fumble by the WR near mid-field? Good call. Ball was popping loose just before his knee hit. Didn’t look so at first, but on the slow-mo replays you could definitely see it. Refs also made some very good, tough calls throughout. Sure they’ll miss one or two, but I think Millen was right on when he pointed out that they were doing a real good job.

NIU didn’t beat anyone all year. There was a graphic showing that NIU had the 120th ranked schedule in FBS this year. They even barely scraped by some average MAC teams. Meanwhile, you look back at those Boise teams and others and they were beating SEC/ACC teams on the road and beating their conference foes by 50 points.

No doubt NIU getting into a BCS game was an abberation and they were bound to get steamrolled — would’ve been alot worse if not for some wildly inconsistent throws by Manuel and some terrible playcalling (how many times are you going to try low percentage, outside the numbers throws on 3rd and short rather than just impose your superior talent and either run or call some high percentage throws to convert?). But this shouldn’t preclude future non-AQ schools from getting into BCS games. Those schools still have a winning record in BCS bowls. The voters just need to do a little more digging when assigning their Top 25 rankings rather than just lazily bumping up teams with good records and unimpressive wins.

Don’t you mean niu had no business on the field with Florida state

I sure didn’t watch the game, because I already knew how it would turn out.

Florida State was given a patsy opponent, just to make them feel good about beating “someone”, I guess.

A win.

Unimpressive as some, and sometimes too many wins are, it is still a win. Florida State has won 12 games. 12. How many teams would trade them for that record? I know even my home team would.

Maybe we should just rejoice in wins, as fans used to, and not have such high expectations?

You are what your record says you are. Fla State 12-2. The end.

There are pretty much unwatchable, like the NBA.