South Florida @ Florida State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2012 ) Florida State 30, South Florida 17

Eighth-ranked Florida State appears to be a different team defensively as it prepares to host USF on Saturday morning and the improved unit could be the key to the Seminoles returning to the College Football Playoffs. Florida State allowed 25.6 points per game in 2014 - a season that ended with a 59-20 loss to Oregon in the national semifinals, but last week's 59-16 victory over Texas State revealed a more team-oriented unit with a noticeable improvement in chemistry.

“There’s nine guys in the picture every single play,” preseason All-American junior defensive back Jalen Ramsey told reporters. “There’s nine guys around the ball and the two guys who aren’t around the ball are taking pursuit angles to get to the ball. They’re guarding their man, they’re doing the right thing. It’s just nice." It also seems the Seminoles might not skip a beat on offense as senior quarterback Everett Golson took the keys from departed No. 1 NFL draft pick Jameis Winston and was 19-of-25 for 302 yards and four touchdowns in his Florida State debut. “You saw it (last week), Everett throwing the ball around, the run is going to open it up and Everett is going to sling it around,” running back Dalvin Cook told reporters. “It’s going to be a 50-50 (run-pass) offense. Everett is that type of guy.” The Bulls opened their season with a 51-3 victory over FCS member Florida A&M - a possibly misleading output since they averaged only 17.2 points in 2014.

TV: 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Florida State -27.5

ABOUT USF (1-0): The Bulls will try to challenge the Seminoles with a spread offense led by sophomore quarterback Quinton Flowers (12-of-16, 141 yards, two touchdowns; 63 yards rushing, TD last week) and sophomore running Marlon Mack (131 yards, TD). Defensive coordinator Tom Allen expects big things out of his 4-2-5 unit, which held Florida A&M to 182 total yards but faces a much sterner challenge in Florida State. “The kids will rise up,” Allen told reporters. “They’ll have an awesome experience, but you’ve got to compete for 60 minutes.”

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (1-0): The Seminoles' offense featured 32 passes and 41 running plays versus Texas State with sophomore star Cook (19 rushes, 156 yards, two touchdowns) and junior Mario Pender (14, 92, one) carrying the load. When it comes to the defense, coach Jimbo Fisher didn't mince words when describing how he wants to discourage Mack and Flowers from getting comfortable. "When they run it, you've got to make them feel it,” Fisher told reporters. “You've got to hit him, and you got to make him understand.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Seminoles have won 15 straight at home and own the nation's longest streak of consecutive winning seasons with 38.

2. Florida State is 11-1 versus in-state competition in four-plus seasons under Fisher - the only blemish was a 37-26 setback to Florida in 2012.

3. The teams have split two meetings with Florida State prevailing 30-17 in 2012 in the last encounter at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

PREDICTION: Florida State 42, USF 10