Florida State Beats Miami to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

Once again, quarterback Jameis Winston has led the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles to another comeback victory, this time over their instate rival, the Miami Hurricanes. We’ve all grown accustomed to witnessing the 10-0 champs flex their will to win during the latter part of the game, as the Seminoles have proven time after time to display an incredible solace in the face of adversity.

A lot can be said about the team’s resilience and refusal to give in. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher doesn’t seem surprised at all about the outcome. He attributes it to the team’s poise and camaraderie that has allowed them to come out on top again and again, despite their early point deficits.

Have you ever considered why Winston and the Seminoles play the way the do – all the way down to the wire, leaving it all on the field? Maybe it’s because the team is forced to play every game as if their playoff hopes are riding on it. Maybe it really is.

The latest College Football Playoff rankings released every Tuesday could prove to be their worst enemy, should they stumble and lose one game. Many spectators suggest that one loss will send the champions on a free-fall from No. 3 to No. 10 or worse. You may be asking yourself, how is that possible?

Well apparently, strength of schedule (SOS) is a key factor of analysis by the committee. And it is suggested that the Seminoles’ strength of schedule isn’t strong enough in comparison to others. Their best bet is to win all of their games. Anything short of this could potentially drop them out of playoff reach.

Mark Boone is a NCAAF/Pac-12 writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkBoone99, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.