Everett Golson Shows Flashes but Must Improve to Make Florida State ACC Favorite

Florida State quarterback Everett Golson played his fourth straight frustrating game on Saturday, showing flashes of competence in a 24-16 win at Wake Forest but struggling enough that the Noles needed all 60 minutes to escape Winston-Salem, North Carolina, undefeated.

Heisman candidate Dalvin Cook scored a 94-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game, but a hamstring injury knocked him out soon after. Head coach Jimbo Fisher entrusted Golson with more responsibility than usual, and at first, the former Notre Dame QB delivered.

Despite numerous drops by receivers—a problem that has lingered all season—Golson completed 20 of 31 passes for 201 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He made plays with his legs and looked generally in control with his arm. He led the Noles to 24 points in the first 40 minutes.

But after that, the offense stagnated. Golson missed open receivers and held the ball too long on sacks. He couldn't move the chains when the offense needed to ice things away.

Because of that, Wake Forest had the ball inside the red zone with a chance to tie the game in the final minute. Fortunately, defensive back Tyler Hunter preserved the win with an interception:

Prior to Saturday, Florida State ranked No. 21 in the country with a standard-down run rate of 68.4 percent, per Football Study Hall. On passing downs, it ranked No. 31 with a run rate of 41.5 percent. It leaned on Cook and limited how much Golson, a graduate transfer, had to do.

On Saturday, however, FSU let Golson loose. On its first five drives of the game, it passed three times for every run, per Bud Elliott of Tomahawk Nation:

Because of that increased passing volume, the most important thing Golson did Saturday was not turn the ball over.

His preseason scouting report read: huge upside, huge downside; can win you a game or throw you out of it. He was a boom-or-bust quarterback on a team that needed a game manager. That's why a sect of Noles fans clamored for backup Sean Maguire to win the job.

The most surprising development this season has been Golson's evolution as a game manger. He hasn't committed a turnover all year, and he's made enough plays to create and maintain leads.

That's an important point moving forward. Assuming Cook returns—he looked upbeat in street clothes on the sideline during the second half—Golson won't be asked to throw 31 times per game. He'll be asked to turn and hand the ball to Cook, to make just enough plays to win.

So far he's proved he can do that, even if he hasn't been spectacular, as Elliott explained to angry Noles fans who called the QB "terrible" on Saturday:

Wake Forest entered with the No. 23 pass defense in America, per Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings, and the weather was wet and soggy. Florida State could have easily scored fewer than 24 points. It could have easily committed multiple turnovers. It could have easily suffered a humiliating defeat.

Golson played a clean game and made things (mostly) painless. Wake Forest drove for the game-tying touchdown late, but that's misleading; it never really felt like the Demon Deacons could win. Florida State kept them at arm's length and rode the early lead to victory.

Beating an underrated defense on the road without a Heisman-caliber running back during a rainstorm is not the worst thing in the world. FSU fans will react as if this team is in serious danger, but it's not.

It is, however, in modest danger, which is what has made this season so frustrating. Miami, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Florida still loom on the schedule. In at least one and likely three or four of those games, Golson will have led this team to victory.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

He still hasn't proved he can do that, and until he does, it's hard to call the Noles ACC favorites. They're sitting firmly in the top tier, but they still can't separate from a lackluster conference. They still can't put opponents like Wake Forest away.

"Three quarters of offense [made me] happy," Fisher said after the game, per Corey Clark of the Tallahassee Democrat. "But then it's like we were hoping to win the game. Instead of winning it."

Florida State should, theoretically, feel like more of a College Football Playoff contender than it does. Golson has done a good job keeping it afloat, but at the same time, he's held it back. At once he's been the life raft and the anchor of FSU's season.

He's bought himself some time but must do more.