Duke 23, FSU 16: A Historic Loss for Florida State

Duke 23, FSU 16: A Historic Loss for Florida State

In a shocking turn of events, Florida State University (FSU) suffered its first-ever loss to Duke University, falling 23-16 in a game marked by turnovers and missed opportunities. 

The Seminoles, now 22-1 against the Blue Devils, struggled offensively, committing four turnovers that directly contributed to 17 of Duke’s points.

FSU’s defense performed admirably, holding Duke to just 3.7 yards per rush and limiting them to 180 total yards. However, the offense faltered under pressure from Duke's blitz-heavy defense, resulting in the Seminoles switching quarterbacks twice throughout the game. 

The offensive line had difficulty protecting its quarterbacks, and the wide receivers struggled with multiple drops, including a crucial miss that ended a promising drive.

The game began on a positive note for FSU, with Ryan Fitzgerald kicking an early field goal after the defense forced a three-and-out. But things quickly deteriorated as Duke's defense capitalized on FSU's mistakes. 

A series of turnovers, including three consecutive mistakes by quarterback Brock Glenn, allowed Duke to take a commanding lead.

After falling behind 14-3, FSU attempted to regroup with a fake punt executed by Kyle Morlock. Yet, momentum shifted back to Duke after another turnover from Glenn.

 With the team down 17-6 at halftime, FSU made a quarterback change, bringing in true freshman Luke Kromenhoek, who failed to complete a pass on his initial drive but managed to put the Seminoles in field goal range.

A bright spot came in the second half when Sam Singleton returned a kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown, narrowing the deficit.

 Despite this, the Seminoles could not capitalize on subsequent drives, with penalties and turnovers continuing to hinder their progress.

In the final minutes, FSU managed to regain possession with a chance to tie the game, but another series of negative plays put them back against the wall, culminating in a fourth-down sack that sealed their fate.

Ultimately, the Seminoles’ inability to protect the ball and capitalize on opportunities led to a painful defeat, marking their third consecutive loss this season. 

The game stats reflected their struggles, with FSU holding a significant advantage in total yards but falling short where it mattered most—turnovers.