Florida State falls to Duke for first time in program history: Is this rock bottom for Seminoles?

Florida State's season-long spiral continued Friday night with its first loss to Duke in program history. Before the Blue Devils' 23-16 home win, the Seminoles had won all 22 games against Duke – the most wins without a loss in a Power Four series in the AP poll era.

The loss continued the Seminoles' impressive slide from 13-1 last year to their first 1-6 start since 1975 (a year before Bobby Bowden took over).

Florida State's nadir was a disastrous stretch in the first half: a pick six, a lost fumble and an interception on three consecutive offensive plays. According to ESPN, it was the first time this season that a team turned the ball over three games in a row, turning the Seminoles' 3-0 lead into a 17-3 deficit. There were many other misses by Florida State University, including a botched field goal attempt, multiple offsides penalties in one series and several costly drops, even one in the end zone.

CHOOSE. SIX. pic.twitter.com/pyDtgb5Ccc

— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) October 18, 2024

Duke earns a proof-of-concept victory in coach Manny Diaz's first season. The Blue Devils are 6-1 for the first time since 2015 and fourth time in program history. They also qualified for a bowl game for the third time in a row, a feat they have achieved only once before (four years under David Cutcliffe from 2012 to 2015). For Diaz, a Florida State graduate, it was validation, if not revenge. His tenure as Miami's coach fell apart against the Seminoles when he lost after a fourth-and-14 in 2021.

Is this the bottom for Florida State?

Maybe in public perception. Although Duke is no longer an ACC doormat, the Blue Devils don't have much brand power or history. There is a stigma attached to a loss like this (ask Clemson, which lost to Duke last year).

On the field, however, Mike Norvell's Seminoles have more room to fall. Florida State will be the big underdog at No. 6 Miami next week and No. 12 Notre Dame next month. Losing either game will cause FSU to miss a bowl game for the third time in Norvell's five seasons. But lose both, and the Seminoles are looking at (at best) 4-8 and their worst non-COVID season since 1975.

FSU’s QB situation remains difficult

DJ Uiagalelei was an easy scapegoat as the Oregon State/Clemson transfer struggled in the first five games before injuring his hand. His replacement, redshirt freshman Brock Glenn, had an encouraging performance against Clemson in his first start of the year.

The good mood is gone. Glenn was retired after three turnovers and FSU used true freshman Luke Kromenhoek. In his first appearance, the 2024 top-60 national recruit went 3 of 7 for 19 yards. Glenn came back into the game in the second half; He finished the game 9 of 19 for 119 yards and two picks.

On Friday night, it became clear that Uiagalelei wasn't the only reason Florida State fell. The Seminoles have more problems than one player and one position.

What the win means for Duke

It wasn't pretty. Quarterback Maalik Murphy passed for just 70 yards, and the Blue Devils went 3 of 16 on third down and finished with 180 total yards. But the win over Florida State has resonance, even if it's the worst Seminoles team in decades. The defense looks legitimate. Duke has not allowed more than 26 points in a game and has sacked Florida State six times.

The Blue Devils remain alive in the ACC Championship race with a potentially big game coming up on November 2nd against Diaz's former school, Miami.

Required reading

(Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)