In a game that came down to the final minute against a California Golden Bears team that racked up over 400 total yards, 300+ in the air, the Florida State Seminoles did something they hadn’t done in 294 days. They won a football game with Saturday night’s 14-9 victory in front of a boisterous crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Noles had a renewed rushing attack, a defense that bent but never broke, and a good enough game by Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei who ended with 177 passing yards and one interception. Lawrance Toafili led Nole rushers with 80 yards and one touchdown for the game.
Cal moved the ball throughout the game but failed to score a touchdown, making three field goals and missing two.
With the win, Florida State wrapped up a three-game homestand and now has a record of 1-3 with two of the losses in ACC league play.
This was the first meeting of the two teams and Cal’s first ACC game ever. The Noles avoided the memories of 2021 when the team got off to an 0-4 start and quarterback Jordan Travis was booed so badly, that he considered quitting football. Travis was a surprise guest on the FSU sideline and was welcomed with roaring cheers from the crowd.
California entered the game leading the nation with nine interceptions and number ten came in the second quarter off of Uiagalelei leading to the first of three field goals by the Bears.
The Noles offense showed spark in the first half of the game, gaining 208 total yards, evenly split between passing and rushing, but the offense sputtered in the second half gaining only 76 total yards. Still, a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Ja’Khi Douglas proved enough to seal the victory.
FSU travels to Dallas next week to play SMU, another new ACC member. Kickoff next Saturday night is at 8 p.m.
