Nole Survivors! Florida State's fourth quarter turns the Tide; FSU wins National Championship, 40-20

With about thirteen and a half minutes left in regulation, as Alabama tied the National Championship game on a field goal at 20-20, it seemed like the experienced SEC Crimson Tide was about to roll to another championship.  But the ACC's Florida State responded with three unanswered touchdowns, to take the national title, 40-20.


But what a difference a year, and a freshman Heisman winner QB, makes!  Last season, yes, the much maligned ACC did show signs of life as seventh seeded Florida State beat Wisconsin, 21-14 to earn a spot in the Sugar Bowl.  But second seed Alabama beat last season's edition of the Seminoles easily 42-17.


This year, with a national championship on the line, it was the senior QB from Alabama to make a key mistake early.  After a three and out drive by Florida State to start the game, Bama's AJ McCarron threw an interception to give the Noles great field position.  Florida State scored on a five yard TD pass from Jameis Winston to Kelvin Benjamin to take the lead. 


Both teams seemed to struggle early under the Pasadena pressure, until FSU's Karlos Williams ran it in from the two near the end of the first frame, and the Seminoles lead 14-0.


Alabama was game though, with McCarron throwing two TD passes to tie score in the second quarter.  FSU took the halftime lead on a Roberto Aguayo field goal, 20-17.  Each team kicked a field goal in the third, and Cade Foster's Bama field goal early in the fourth knotted things at 20-20.


Would Winston and Florida State fold in the big spotlight?  Nope.  First FSU running back Devonta Freeman ran it in from the 31.  Soon WR Benjamin passed it to QB Winston for a 34-20 lead.  Lastly, another Freeman run made it 40-20. The PAT missed, but it made no difference.  Florida State took home the title, 40-20.


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Updated tournament results:

FIRST ROUND:

In Cleveland:
7 Ohio State 35
9 South Carolina 40

In Tampa:
8 Missouri 41
10 Central Florida 40 

BCS BOWLS (Quarterfinals):

Orange: 
1 Florida State 34
8 Missouri 22

Rose: 
4 Michigan State 24
5 Stanford 20

Sugar:
2 Auburn 31
9 South Carolina 22

Fiesta: 
3 Alabama 45
6 Baylor 41

SEMI-FINALS in Indianapolis (January 11th):

1 Florida State 38
4 Michigan State 14

2 Auburn 13
3 Alabama 21

BCS Championship in Pasadena (January 25th):

1 Florida State 40
3 Alabama 20