Since losing to Florida in the final regular season game of its 2012 season, Florida State had been on one of the finest runs in college football history. And the Seminoles had been especially impressive against their ACC foes and in close games.
Georgia Tech gave Florida State its first ACC loss in 1,113 days
The Yellow Jackets finally took down the ACC’s Goliath. No other team had come closer to slaying Florida State in a close game of late.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
On Saturday night, Georgia Tech broke both spells in spectacular fashion.
The Yellow Jackets’ 22-16 win over FSU handed the ‘Noles their first loss to an ACC team since October 6, 2012, a mere 1,113 days ago, when they let a 16-0 lead slip away at N.C. State. In the more than three years since then, FSU had won its last 28 games against ACC opponents, and compiled an amazing 9-0 record in games decided by a single possession.
Granted, seven of those single-score victories came in 2014, as Jimbo Fisher's team staged escape after escape — including single-score wins in their final four games before the College Football Playoff. But that was as much evidence of greatness as proof of luck: The 'Noles won their only close game of 2013 to win a national title, consistently won nail-biters a year later, and avoided close games more often than not.
They also dominated the ACC. Only five of those nine single-score wins came against ACC teams, and one of them, last season's overtime triumph against Clemson, came without a suspended Jameis Winston.
FSU’s recent run of success against the ACC didn’t quite match its initial blaze through the conference. Bobby Bowden’s team joined the ACC in 1992 and didn’t lose a game in conference play until 1995 ... when the Seminoles had a 29-game ACC winning streak (which lasted 1,153 days) dashed at Virginia.
The 29th win of that streak? It was over Georgia Tech. So it’s fitting that the Yellow Jackets got to prevent the ‘Noles from getting to win No. 29 this time around.
It also makes sense that Georgia Tech would be the team to sting this king. No other team had been in two single-score games with FSU since 2012, but Paul Johnson's merry band of optioneers lost 21-15 to FSU in the 2012 ACC Championship Game, and by a 37-35 count in the 2014 ACC Championship Game.
Now, after near-misses, Georgia Tech has its win over FSU. And the Seminoles will just have to start another streak.
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