The chamber will come to order. Gianna Ravello here, the Florida State Fanatic, a capital-city operator who networks like a lobbyist and reads game coverage like pending legislation. I follow the Seminoles to every game from the stands, and every take I have becomes a bill on the floor.
Today's docket has two items. First, a heartbreaker in Miami Gardens that deserves a full hearing. Second, a bye week, followed by Clemson's visit to Tallahassee. Let the record show I'm ready.
Part 1: Last Week, a Filibuster That Ran Two Overtimes
Florida State lost 43-35 in double overtime at Miami on Saturday night. We're 3-4 and 1-3 in the ACC. Miami came in ranked No. 3 and is now No. 1 in the AP poll. The AP called it a back-and-forth classic, and, colleagues, I'd like that entered into the record.
The first half was a fair debate. Miami scored first on a 7-yard run. Ashton Daniels answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Desirrio Riles. Miami scored on a 14-yard pass, and Daniels tied it with a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:40 left in the half. 14-14.
In the third quarter, Ashlynd Barker intercepted a pass in the end zone with the game tied 14-14. Per the AP, that ended a streak of 153 passes to start Miami's quarterback's career without an interception. Then Daniels hit Quintrevion Wisner for a 28-yard touchdown, and we led 21-14. Early in the fourth, our defense stopped Miami on fourth-and-2 inside the red zone. The bill was on the governor's desk.
Then the opposition rallied. Miami tied it with 9:33 left and took a 28-21 lead on a 3-yard touchdown catch with 2:49 left. And 10 seconds later, Daniels found Duce Robinson for a 75-yard touchdown. 28-28. Colleagues, that's what we in the Capitol call a late amendment.
In the first overtime, Daniels hit Robinson again from 20 yards out. Miami answered with a 25-yard touchdown run. In the second overtime, Miami scored on a 3-yard pass and added a two-point conversion to lead 43-35. Then Daniels connected on a 36-yard completion on fourth-and-21 that would have set up a score, but it was called back for holding. On the final play, Miami intercepted a pass in the end zone. It was reviewed and upheld.
Motion to reconsider: denied. I don't like it, but I respect the process.
Here's the vote count. Daniels threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception, on 15 of 28 passing. Robinson caught five passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Wisner ran for 63 yards and caught four passes for 56 yards and a score. Barker made 13 tackles and the interception. That's a bipartisan effort. On the other side of the aisle, Miami's quarterback threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, and its top receiver caught 11 passes for 154 yards. Credit where it's due. I always shake hands across the aisle after the vote.
The Minority Report
A good legislator reads the opposition's brief too, so here's my honest one. Florida State went 0-for-3 on fourth down at Miami, including two failed tries from inside the Miami 5. Per the AP, a fourth-and-2 stop near the goal also hurt us in our 44-20 loss at Louisville the week before. And the AP notes we've now lost 14 straight games away from Tallahassee. Miami held the ball for 37:20 and outgained us 583 yards to 443.
We went 5-7 last season. We lost 27-24 to SMU at home and 50-36 at Alabama this year. That's the full record, and the record matters.
Part 2: The Bye, Then Clemson
Florida State doesn't play this Saturday, Oct. 24. It's our open date. The committee is in recess, and I recommend everyone use it wisely: rest, heal, and review the film until it's memorized like the state constitution.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, Clemson visits Doak Campbell Stadium. Kickoff time and TV are still to be announced.
The Opposition's Brief
I'll be gracious to the visiting delegation, because that's how deals get done. Clemson is 4-2. It beat North Carolina 28-20 and won at Cal 24-10. Its kicker, Nolan Hauser, made a 59-yard field goal in its 37-0 win over Charleston Southern last week. Defensive end Will Heldt has four sacks. And last season, Clemson beat us 24-10 in Clemson. That's on the record.
But here's the rest of the file. Clemson lost 51-10 at LSU in its opener. Then it lost 41-13 at home to Miami, the same Miami team that needed two overtimes to beat us. Two of Clemson's four wins came against Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern, an FCS team. And last season, Clemson went 7-6 and lost the Pinstripe Bowl 22-10 to Penn State.
Clemson also hosts Virginia Tech this Saturday, while we rest. So when the Tigers arrive in Tallahassee, they'll be coming off a game, and we'll be coming off two weeks of preparation. Advantage: the incumbent.
Our Legislative Agenda
1. Feed the veto-proof majority. Daniels has proven he can make every throw. Robinson's 75-yard touchdown showed it. Keep taking shots. 2. Finish in the red zone. We had two fourth-down failures inside the Miami 5. Convert those, and that game is a different bill entirely. 3. Make the stops count. Our defense made two big fourth-down stops in the second half at Miami. Bring that energy home.
The Capital vs. the Valley
Tallahassee. Tallahassee has been the capital of Florida since 1824, back when Florida was still a territory. It's the only incorporated municipality in Leon County, so we don't share. Its estimated 2024 population was 205,089, and its student population tops 70,000. We're hilly by Florida standards, with elevation reaching just over 200 feet, and the state capitol sits on one of the highest hills in town. We're also known for our canopy roads.
Doak Campbell Stadium opened in 1950, and the Seminoles won its first game 40-7 over Randolph-Macon. In 2004, the Florida Legislature added Bobby Bowden's name to the field. Colleagues, our stadium was literally named by an act of the legislature. And before home games, Osceola and Renegade ride to midfield and plant a burning spear in the turf, a tradition since 1978 that's supported by leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Clemson. Clemson is a charming city of 17,681. Tallahassee has about 12 Clemsons. And here's an item for the record. The nickname "Death Valley" comes partly from Death Valley National Park, in California. The famous Howard's Rock came from Death Valley, California, too. So Clemson's stadium nickname and its lucky rock were both imported from out of state. Colleagues, that's not a tradition. That's an interstate commerce issue.
Closing Arguments
Here's the summary for the committee. Florida State took the No. 1 team in the country to two overtimes on its home field, with a quarterback who threw four touchdown passes. Clemson has a strong kicker and a solid pass rush but has struggled against its best opponents. We have a bye to rest and prepare, and Clemson has to play Virginia Tech first. If we finish in the red zone and keep making explosive plays, the vote on Oct. 31 goes our way.
Motion to reconsider: denied. The bye week is in session.