Jameis Winston has battled challenging situations all season. From games on the road, early deficits and prime time games under a national spotlight, Winston has handled it all as well as a fifth senior would have, and he is a red shirt freshman. This week the latest question about Winston was how he would handle a week full of off-field distractions and once he again he proved to be charismatic once he stepped on to the football field. Winston threw four touchdowns to help No. 2 Florida State (11-0, 8-0 ACC) dismantle Idaho (1-10) Saturday afternoon by the score of 80-14 before getting an early exit.
Winston’s day was done early in the third quarter after leading Florida State to a second half opening touchdown. After Winston’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin -- their second hook-up of the game -- put Florida State up 49-7, head coach Jimbo Fisher called on Sean Maguire to finish the game under center and rest his Heisman candidate quarterback.
Florida State will host rival Florida next week and they could be in position to deal a knockout blow to embattled Gators head coach Will Muschamp. Florida was defeated by FCS Georgia Southern in Gainesville earlier in the day. The loss clinched the first bowl-less season for Florida since 1990 and the first losing season since going 0-10-1 in 1971. The job security for Muschamp may be crumbling despite the sign of vocal support from above. A blowout loss to Florida State though could make for the final nail in the coffin of what has been a disappointing couple of years for the Gators.
Florida State would love to be the team to drive it in.
The Seminoles are already locked in to the ACC Championship Game, where they may get to face Duke after the Blue Devils won earlier in the day. Regardless, all systems appear to be a go for a BCS title match, possibly against Alabama. Florida State also looks as though they will have Winston for sure against the Gators. As previously reported, a decision on whether or not to press charges against Winston is not expected before Thanksgiving, which could mean he will be available for Florida State’s next game without question.