Florida State Football: Stock Report at Halfway Point of 2014 Season

The road has been bumpy, full of potholes and speed bumps. There were injuries and suspensions and plenty of close calls. But the Florida State football team is 6-0 at the season's halfway point, a team whose stock continues to rise with a 22-game winning streak.

FSU's road to repeating as national champions was nearly derailed a few times. In the Seminoles' first three games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, FSU was on the ropes and needed a late turnover (to beat Oklahoma State), defensive stops and overtime (to edge Clemson) and a comeback from a 17-point, first-half deficit (to put away North Carolina State).

Coach Jimbo Fisher has frequently said that fans and media need to stop comparing the dominant 2013 team to the 2014 squad. They may have similar faces, but the rosters are quite different. FSU lost 10 starters from 2013 to the NFL. While a number of sophomores and juniors who were backups a year ago have stepped into starting roles, the Seminoles have had to play more than a dozen true or redshirt freshmen.

While FSU hasn't looked "championship worthy" at points during the first six games, the bottom line is that the Seminoles are 6-0. That is something only five other FBS programs—Mississippi State, Mississippi, Baylor, Notre Dame and Marshall—can brag about. And all of the FBS unbeaten teams have had close calls.

No. 2 FSU takes on No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday night in a game that will have a tremendous impact on the national championship picture.

"I'm very happy with where we're at, very proud of our team," Fisher said. "I am looking forward to a great game against Notre Dame. It will be an excellent game this week. We're both undefeated and that's what college football is all about."

Let's take a look back at the first half of FSU's season, and then take a look at what is ahead for the Seminoles:

What Went Well

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FSU is averaging 39.4 points per game in its five contests against FBS teams. Putting points on the board hasn't been a problem.

Winston missed the Clemson game with a suspension, but he has been accurate, completing 70 percent of his passes for 1,605 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He's established a rhythm with the young receivers, and Bobo Wilson has benefited from the chemistry established with Winston.

Rashad Greene has been very consistent in the first half. Greene leads the team in catches (44) and receiving yards (683) and has three touchdowns. He has at least three catches in every game and has 215 career receptions, which moved him past Ron Sellers (212) for the most catches in school history.

Defenses focused on tight end Nick O'Leary, and he was held without a catch by N.C. State. But the senior now has the most receptions (90), yards (1,248) and TDs (13) by a tight end in school history.

Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman is enjoying a career season. FSU needed a lineman to make plays after Timmy Jernigan left for the NFL, and Goldman has been consistently good.

Roberto Aguayo quietly hasn't missed a kick in nearly a year. He has made 13 field-goal attempts and all 27 extra-point attempts in 2014 and hasn't missed a field-goal attempt since Nov. 9, 2013, at Wake Forest.

And one of the performances that should not be forgotten in the big scheme of things is what Sean Maguire did against Clemson. The backup quarterback started in place of Winston and (despite a shaky first half) threw for 304 yards to help FSU win.

What Didn't Go Well

The offensive line was supposed to be the strength of the team, but how the linemen blocked and how the running game struggled early in the season have been surprising. Left tackle Cameron Erving, the ACC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, was manhandled by Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley. Right tackle Bobby Hart has been inconsistent. The running game was flat against Oklahoma State and Clemson and a half at N.C. State.

FSU missed far too many tackles—"30-something" is what safety Tyler Hunter was told by coaches—in a rocky afternoon at N.C. State. (Missed tackles haven't really been an issue since.)

The defense has been inconsistent. And with Notre Dame ahead on Saturday and Louisville waiting on Oct. 30, that's concerning. If there's a theme to how the defense has played, it's that the Seminoles played well with their backs against the wall.

FSU needed P.J. Williams' forced fumble late against Oklahoma State and Goldman late versus Clemson. It needed all of the adjustments after a brutal first quarter at N.C. State (but allowed just 17 points in the final three quarters). The Wake game wasn't close, but the defense was quite good. And the red-zone stops were crucial against Syracuse.

The Road Ahead

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FSU's defense should be better in the second half. The Seminoles lost five key starters (and leaders) from the 2013 defense—Jernigan, Telvin Smith, Christian Jones, Lamarcus Joyner and Terrence Brooks.

The defense will have to get by without tackle Nile-Lawrence Stample (torn pectoral muscle), and there will be growing pains as true freshmen step in. But FSU will likely get linebacker Matthew Thomas back following a six-game absence, and he brings versatility and speed to the defense. And linebacker Ukeme Eligwe is on his way back from a foot injury. So reinforcements are on the way.

FSU's offensive line needs to improve run and pass blocking. Tailbacks Karlos Williams (ankle) and Mario Pender (concussion, ankle) have been battling injuries, but FSU also has Dalvin Cook, and Fisher seems to always have a tailback step up when needed.

After No. 5 Notre Dame, FSU faces five unranked teams. It would be misleading to say that the schedule is soft. Louisville (5-2), Virginia (4-2), Boston College (4-2) and Miami (4-3) await. And the regular-season finale, albeit against a Florida offense that is struggling, won't be easy.

Bob Ferrante is the Florida State Lead Writer for Bleacher Report, all quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Stats are courtesy of seminoles.com. Follow Bob on Twitter.