Florida State-Louisville Preview Capsule
No. 2 Florida State (2-0, 0-0 ACC) at No. 10 Louisville (2-0, 1-0), noon (ABC)
Line: Florida State by 1ˆ½.
Series record: Florida State leads 14-2.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Florida State begins conference play seeking its third straight win against Louisville and third in a row when facing the AP's No. 10 team. The Seminoles beat Florida last season and Clemson in 2012 when they were both No. 10. The Cardinals are trying to break the hold Florida State and Clemson have on the ACC Atlantic.
KEY MATCHUP
Louisville QB Lamar Jackson vs. Florida State defense. The dual-threat sophomore has vaulted into the national spotlight with 1,015 yards from scrimmage and a nation's-best 13 touchdowns (seven passing) in lopsided wins over Charlotte and Syracuse. Jackson faces significantly tougher competition against the Seminoles, who have nine sacks in two games. DE DeMarcus Walker leads the nation with 4.5 sacks. Florida State is without DB Derwin James for five-to-seven weeks after having left knee surgery on Monday. His versatility playing safety, corner in nickel situations and edge rusher was considered crucial to containing Jackson.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Florida State: RB Dalvin Cook. The junior has 174 yards rushing and just two TDs so far but has saved his best for last in two games against Louisville with two second-half TD runs in each contest. He rushed for 163 yards and two third-quarter scores against the Cardinals last year in Tallahassee, and his two TD runs after halftime helped FSU rally from a 21-0 deficit for a 42-31 road win in 2014.
Louisville: LB James Hearns. The junior leads the Cardinals with 2ˆ½ sacks, including 1ˆ½ last week against Syracuse. Louisville has recorded four sacks each of its games.
FACTS & FIGURES
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher is 5-1 in ACC openers. ... Redshirt freshman QB Deondre Francois has passed for 681 yards and five TDs through two games, including 419 with two TDs in the 45-34 comeback win over Mississippi on Labor Day. ... Since losing 45-34 at Pittsburgh last season, Louisville has averaged 49.3 points per game including 70 in the opener against Charlotte. ... The Cardinals have 12 plays of 30-plus yards, with six culminating in TDs.
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AP college football website: collegefootball.ap.org