At 5-6, Florida State has incurred plenty of losses this season, but none were more, er, creative than how they went down against N.C. State on Friday.
Down 14-11 in the fourth quarter, the Seminoles forced a fourth down with 3:53 remaining in the game, plenty of time to get the ball back and drive to tie or win the game. On fourth-and-17, N.C. State punter Caden Noonkester delivered a punt short enough that it was well out of reach of the return man.
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The punt instead landed on the helmet of a member of return team member K.J. Kirkland, then bounced back into N.C. State territory … and the arms of Noonkester.
Few things are more 2025 Florida State than a punter recovering his own punt for a first down.
As demoralizing as that must have been, the Florida State defense went back on the field and prevented N.C. State from getting another first down, setting up another punt with 2:28 left in the game and down by three.
Still plenty of time for that comeback drive, right? You already know where this is going.
Two straight muffed punts, off their players’ helmets. In this case, Noonkester’s punt bounced off the facemask of returner Squirrel White and into the hands of the Wolfpack, who retook possession at the FSU 16-yard line.
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Four plays later, N.C. State sealed the game with a touchdown from CJ Bailey to Justin Joly. Final score: 21-11.
Florida State outgained N.C. State 383-286. The Seminoles had more first downs, 21-20. They had more passing yards and more rushing yards. And yet, they also had more turnovers, with two interceptions and the two muffed punts. They were 5 of 12 on third down while N.C. State was 7 for 16, and the Wolfpack also converted two fourth-down attempts. And they committed eight penalties to the Wolfpack’s three.
The Seminoles’ season has been defined by losing winnable games, and Friday unfortunately fell into that category. Now, with ACC play over, they need a win over Florida just to become bowl-eligible.