Chattanooga @ Florida State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2008 ) Chattanooga 7, Florida State 46

Before a much-anticipated matchup with in-state rival Florida two days after Thanksgiving, Florida State will have one final tune-up against FCS foe Chattanooga on Saturday. While taking a break from the rigors of their FBS slate, the Seminoles are also prepared to turn a page at quarterback, as head coach Jimbo Fisher has formally named Sean Maguire his starter.

"Sean is our starting quarterback as of right now for what we're doing," Fisher said in his weekly press conference. "Hopefully he'll continue to play well and we won't have to relive [the debate]." Maguire started in place of Everett Golson earlier this season when the latter was out with a consussion and he came off the bench to replace an ineffective Golson in last Saturday's 34-17 win over North Carolina State. The junior has completed 64 percent of his passes with six touchdowns for the Seminoles, who moved up to No. 14 in this week's College Football Playoff rankings. The Mocs, ranked ninth in the FCS Coaches Poll, topped The Citadel 31-23 last weekend to win the Southern Conference crown and gain an automatic bid in the upcoming FCS playoffs.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, RSN

ABOUT CHATTANOOGA (8-2): The Mocs held The Citadel scoreless in the first half last week, have allowed an average of 13.3 points in their last seven games and have a defensive leader who is looking forward to the big-time atmosphere in Tallahassee. "That's always kind of relaxing, going in front of a big stadium, a big crowd," linebacker Nakevion Leslie - who had a career-high 15 tackles last week - told reporters. "It's pretty exciting. You're not uptight like in conference games. It's more relaxing because you don't know what to expect." Two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year Jacob Huesman - son of head coach, Russ Huesman - is a dual threat quarterback who needs three rushing yards to top 1,000 for the second straight season and one touchdown for 100 total in his career.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (8-2): The quarterback shuffle is getting most of the attention, but the Seminoles' attack still goes through running back Dalvin Cook, who had 138 yards and two touchdowns against N.C. State. The sophomore leads all power conference rushers with 8.1 yards per carry and 17 runs of 20 yards or more. Despite missing all of one game and most of another due to injuries, Cook has 1,571 all-purpose yards, just 34 shy of Greg Allen's school record set in 1982.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Mocs RB Derrick Craine (966 rushing yards) leads the 12th-ranked rushing offense in FCS play (238.7).

2. The Seminoles won both prior meetings by a combined score of 83-7.

3. Florida State owns the nation's longest home winning streak at 20 games.

PREDICTION: Florida State 42, Chattanooga 17