Notre Dame
1st IA-INDEPENDENTS8-4
Florida State
5th ACC8-4
Notre Dame @ Florida State preview
Camping World Stadium
CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL STORYLINES
1. Two storied programs working to get back to national relevance square off in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. Both No. 25 Florida State and Notre Dame started the season ranked in the Top 20 and had dreams of competing for a national championship, but those dreams came crashing down as they finished with identical 8-4 records.
2. Florida State’s junior cornerback Avis Commack and freshman linebacker Arrington Jenkins were both arrested on charges of theft in December. Commack allegedly stole a female student’s iPad on Dec. 6, while Jenkins – who is redshirting this season – allegedly stole a motorcycle from a residence close to his. In addition, Jermaine Thomas, the team’s second-leading rusher, is also ineligible for the bowl after failing to pass a class in the fall semester.
3. A little more than 18 years ago, these two schools faced each other as the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams on Nov. 13, 1993. Notre Dame won the game 31-24, but was upset by Boston College a week later and went on to watch the Seminoles win the national championship over Nebraska.
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Line: Florida State -3
ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (8-4, 5-3 ACC): The Seminoles – who have appeared in a national-best 30 consecutive bowl games — led the ACC and were fourth nationally in allowing only 15.2 points per game, including 9.4 over the final five games of the season. Opponents averaged an FBS-low 2.3 yards per carry on the ground against Florida State, which could make things difficult for Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood.
ABOUT NOTRE DAME (8-4): The Fighting Irish made strides in their second year under coach Brian Kelly, but they turned in their share of stinkers as well. Impressive wins over Michigan State and Pittsburgh were overshadowed by double-digit losses to USC and Stanford and a heartbreaking last-second defeat at Michigan in the second week of the season. Quarterback Tommy Rees was benched in the 28-14 loss to the Cardinal, but he’s expected to be back with the first team for the bowl game.
PREDICTION: Florida State 21, Notre Dame 13. Despite the off-field distractions, the Seminoles’ attacking defense will be too much for the Irish to handle.
1. Two storied programs working to get back to national relevance square off in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. Both No. 25 Florida State and Notre Dame started the season ranked in the Top 20 and had dreams of competing for a national championship, but those dreams came crashing down as they finished with identical 8-4 records.
2. Florida State’s junior cornerback Avis Commack and freshman linebacker Arrington Jenkins were both arrested on charges of theft in December. Commack allegedly stole a female student’s iPad on Dec. 6, while Jenkins – who is redshirting this season – allegedly stole a motorcycle from a residence close to his. In addition, Jermaine Thomas, the team’s second-leading rusher, is also ineligible for the bowl after failing to pass a class in the fall semester.
3. A little more than 18 years ago, these two schools faced each other as the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams on Nov. 13, 1993. Notre Dame won the game 31-24, but was upset by Boston College a week later and went on to watch the Seminoles win the national championship over Nebraska.
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Line: Florida State -3
ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (8-4, 5-3 ACC): The Seminoles – who have appeared in a national-best 30 consecutive bowl games — led the ACC and were fourth nationally in allowing only 15.2 points per game, including 9.4 over the final five games of the season. Opponents averaged an FBS-low 2.3 yards per carry on the ground against Florida State, which could make things difficult for Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood.
ABOUT NOTRE DAME (8-4): The Fighting Irish made strides in their second year under coach Brian Kelly, but they turned in their share of stinkers as well. Impressive wins over Michigan State and Pittsburgh were overshadowed by double-digit losses to USC and Stanford and a heartbreaking last-second defeat at Michigan in the second week of the season. Quarterback Tommy Rees was benched in the 28-14 loss to the Cardinal, but he’s expected to be back with the first team for the bowl game.
PREDICTION: Florida State 21, Notre Dame 13. Despite the off-field distractions, the Seminoles’ attacking defense will be too much for the Irish to handle.