The last couple of years haven’t been kind to Florida State. Once a dominant force in the ACC and college football, the Seminoles haven’t had a winning season since 2017 and have stumbled out to a 1-3 start this year with losses to Georgia Tech, Miami and Notre Dame. But none of that means anything to the 5th ranked Tar Heels – who travel to Tallahassee to this Saturday. They’re not sleeping on a Florida State team they say is better than their record reflects.
“They’re a really good team,” Sam Howell said. “Their record doesn’t really show how good they are. They’re very talented. I think this is the most talented team we’ve played so far. It’s a great matchup for us and we’ve got to be prepared.”
Saturday marks the third successive meeting between the two schools in Tallahassee, Fla. The previous two outcomes have been identical 37-35 Tar Heel victories in 2010 and most recently in 2016.
Game Notes:
- Carolina and Florida State meet for the 20th occasion on the football field this Saturday for a primetime 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC.
- Carolina’s offense was unstoppable in a 56-45 victory over No. 19 Virginia Tech last week. The 101 total points were the most ever scored between two ACC schools ranked in the AP poll. The 56 points were the most UNC has ever scored against an AP ranked opponent.
- Florida State fell on the road at No. 5 Notre Dame by a 42-26 margin.
- FSU has been ranked in all but two of the previous 19 meetings.
- Carolina is ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press poll this week. It’s the highest ranking for the program since November 1997. The Tar Heels sit at No. 6 in the Amway Coaches Poll.
- The last time Carolina played as the No. 5 team in the nation, the Tar Heels lost 20-3 to No. 3 Florida State in Chapel Hill on Nov. 8, 1997.
- Mack Brown has never beaten his alma mater in nine previous meetings with Florida State. He lost three matchups at Tulane between 1985-87 and was 0-6 during his fi rst sti nt in Chapel Hill.