To Stay in BCS Title Race, FSU Must Keep Hammering Its Opponents

On Saturday night, under the bright lights of Doak Campbell Stadium, Jimbo Fisher unleashed his arsenal on the Eagles of Boston College.

It was complete domination.

Five-star, NFL-bound players were playing up to their potential, and Seminole Nation embraced the new offensive attack with open arms.

The Seminoles trucked the Eagles en route to a 51-7 victory that could have been much uglier.

In the coming weeks, Florida State—if it wants any chance to play in the BCS National Championship game—must continue that level of execution. Outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, there is not one team in the country that has as much talent as Florida State—it needs to be put on full display during the next month-and-a-half.

Fisher must hold nothing back. Because of an improbable loss to NC State, he cannot afford to hold anything back.

The BCS system—particularly its human polls—must be convinced that FSU’s loss to NC State was a fluke event and simply an aberration. The strength-of-schedule element will hurt FSU—everyone knew this coming into the season—but it is only 1/3 of the BCS equation. FSU must pass the “eye-ball test” in order to impress BCS voters.

Miami, Duke, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Florida must get beaten convincingly on national television. Victories alone will not be enough. FSU must show that it is in complete control of every game and must hang many style points in the process.

But will they do it? Will—or can—Florida State beat these teams convincingly enough to sway the BCS voters?

I have no idea—I thought FSU would crush the Wolfpack—but I do know that is the only way FSU, a team that no longer controls its destiny, has any chance in this title race.