Florida State Defense Falters in Shocking Upset Loss to Georgia Tech
Florida State football entered the 2024 season with high hopes, particularly for a defense that was expected to improve from last year’s performance. However, those aspirations were dealt a severe blow on Saturday as the No. 10 Seminoles suffered a 24-21 upset loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland.
The Seminoles’ defense, which was supposed to be a strength, gave up 336 yards of total offense, including 190 rushing yards. Georgia Tech capitalized on their opportunities, scoring three rushing touchdowns on all three trips inside the red zone.
“That rushing offense was No. 1 in the league a year ago, and they returned everybody, and they’ve got a lot of dynamic players,” said FSU head coach Mike Norvell, acknowledging the challenge Georgia Tech presented.
FSU’s defensive strategy, centered around physicality from the line to the secondary, failed to hold up against a determined Yellow Jackets team. Mobile quarterbacks have been a persistent issue for the Seminoles, and Georgia Tech’s Haynes King continued that trend. King completed 11 of 16 passes for 146 yards and added another 54 yards on the ground with 15 carries, effectively keeping the Seminoles off balance.
Georgia Tech’s success on the ground was largely due to their ability to run laterally, exploiting FSU’s failure to force the ball inside. The Seminoles struggled to contain King, and the starting defensive line, particularly on the right side, was overpowered by Georgia Tech’s offensive front. The Seminoles’ inside defenders combined for just six tackles, none for a loss.
Norvell identified setting the edge as a critical factor in the defensive breakdown. “Haynes is a really good quarterback,” he said. “He’s dynamic, and there were times we were in position, but he did a good job of getting to the edge.”
One of the most glaring issues for FSU was poor tackling, particularly in the open field. The Seminoles repeatedly failed to wrap up, allowing Georgia Tech to create big plays. Running back Jamal Haynes took full advantage, rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. In one key play during the fourth quarter, Haynes broke four tackles on a short pass, converting a crucial first down that helped seal the game. Georgia Tech went 3-for-3 in red zone opportunities.
The Seminoles now face a critical moment in their season. With plenty of time left, they must return to basics, focusing on fundamental tackling and maintaining defensive discipline.
Looking ahead, Florida State will have an opportunity to bounce back when they host Boston College on Sept. 2. The Eagles feature another dual-threat quarterback in Thomas Castellanos, who racked up 3,361 total yards of offense last year. Castellanos nearly led an upset over the Seminoles in 2023, and FSU will need to correct their mistakes to avoid an 0-2 start in ACC play.
Florida State 2024 Football Schedule
- Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) – Noon, ESPN
- Sept. 2 vs. Boston College – 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
- Sept. 21 vs. California
- Sept. 28 at SMU
- Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
- Oct. 18 at Duke
- Oct. 26 at Miami
- Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
- Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
- Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
- Nov. 30 vs. Florida
- Dec. 7 – ACC Championship
Feature Image Credit tallahassee.com
