Opposing coach's take: Sizing up Florida State before the Rose Bowl

A coach whose team played Florida State this year assesses the Seminoles' strengths and weaknesses. The biggest thing is, you have to get to Jameis Winston. Try

A coach whose team played Florida State this year assesses the Seminoles' strengths and weaknesses.

The biggest thing is, you have to get to Jameis Winston. Try to disrupt him. If you do that, he might try to force soem things and make a bad decision. If he can stand back and read the coverage, he'll pick you apart. They start slow. He may be pressing early. But  I think they do a really good job of critiquing themselves and making adjustments.

Dalvin Cook has gotten better every game. He's a good one-cut runner, putting his foot in the ground, getting through the tackle. He has had some turnover issues, putting the ball on the ground a little bit, but that's what freshmen do. In two or three years he'll be even more dynamic than he has been this year.

• RICKMAN: Freshman RB Cook ready to lead Florida State

The best thing is to put them on a long field. You have to force them to drive 80 and 90 yards when you don't score a touchdown. You can't be three and out. You can't go for a kill shot. Because if you try to shoot it out with them, they've shown that they can outshoot anybody. You have to keep Winston off the field at the end of the game with a chance to win it. Because he has shown that time and again he's gonna do that.

Opposing coach's take: Sizing up Oregon before the Rose Bowl

The deal for defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. is to keep him guessing. Don't let him get comfortable. We tried to cut him, to read him, to double-team him. You can't let him get in the flow of a game. And [6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive tackle] Eddie Goldman, you can't move him. He's as stout as they come. You can't run right at him because he's gonna stuff up the middle.

You have to give their defense a lot of different looks -- mess with them formationally. With any defense, even a really good one with good players, you've got to unsettle them. You can get over the top of those guys with some play-action. Vertical routes and seam shots -- they can be vulnerable up the middle. We had a couple of play-actions where we got the safeties out of the mix and put the corners on islands.

They just find ways to win. They're comfortable being uncomfortable. And once they withstand the first onslaught, they get back into their groove and just handle their business.

Florida State's Road to the College Football Playoff

Florida State 37, Oklahoma State 31 (Aug. 30)

Greg Nelson/SI

In the first of what would be a season full of tight victories, the Seminoles capitalized on a fourth-quarter fumble by Cowboys quarterback J.W. Walsh to pull away for the win. Rashad Greene shines with 203 yards receiving.

Florida State 37, Citadel 12 (Sept. 6)

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

The Seminoles raced to a 34-0 margin by the end of the third quarter in a comfortable nonconference victory. Quarterback Jameis Winston efficiently dissected the Bulldogs, completing 22-of-27 passes for 256 yards with two touchdowns.

Florida State 23, Clemson 17 OT (Sept. 20)

Bill Frakes/SI

While Winston watched from the sideline as a suspension for yelling an obscene phrase on campus, the Seminoles survived to overtime by forcing a C.J. Davidson fumble at the 14-yard line with under two minutes remaining. Florida State's defense came up clutch again in overtime, stuffing Clemson on fourth-and-one before Karlos Williams sealed the win with a 12-yard touchdown run.

Florida State 56, NC State 41 (Sept. 27)

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

After spotting the Wolfpack a 17-point lead in the first quarter and a 38-28 advantage in the third quarter, Winston and the Seminoles offense rallied for four touchdowns in the final 20:06 to come back and pull away. Karlos Williams picked up 126 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Florida State 43, Wake Forest 3 (Oct. 4)

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

The Seminoles defense posted its first truly dominant performance, holding the Demon Deacons to 126 yards of offense and forcing three turnovers. Linebacker Reggie Northrup outscored Wake Forest by returning a fumble 31 yards for a touchdown.

Florida State 38, Syracuse 20 (Oct. 11)

Mike Groll/AP

Winston contributed one of his best outings of the season, completing 30-of-36 passes for 317 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The nearly flawless performance helped the Seminoles jump out to a 31-6 lead by midway through the third quarter.

Florida State 31, Notre Dame 27 (Oct. 18)

Jason Parkhurst/SI

The Seminoles' undefeated streak seemed to be over, but an offensive pass interference penalty negated the Fighting Irish's game-winning touchdown pass. After trailing 17-10 at halftime, Winston kicked into high gear in the second half, completing 15-of-16 passes for 181 yards with a touchdown.

Florida State 42, Louisville 31 (Oct. 30)

Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire

The Seminoles embarrassed the Cardinals' highly touted defense with 35 second-half points to erase a 24-7 deficit. Winston rebounded from a horrid three-interception start to pass for 401 yards and three touchdowns while redshirt freshman Dalvin Cook added 110 rushing yards on nine carries with two scores, including the go-ahead touchdowns with 3:46 left. Florida State's defense also chipped in, holding Louisville for 1-of-11 on third downs.

Florida State 34, Virginia 20 (Nov. 8)

Jeff Gammons/Getty Images

After falling behind at the end of the first quarter, the Seminoles used three second-quarter touchdowns to jump out to a comfortable lead they never relinquished. Greene hauled in 13 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown to lead the offense.

Florida State 30, Miami 26 (Nov. 15)

Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire

Needing a late touchdown to pull the upset, the Hurricanes drove to the Florida State 43, but Jalen Ramsey intercepted Brad Kaaya's deep heave to lock up another win. The Seminoles overcame a 16-0 deficit thanks to Cook, who jumpstarted the offense with a 44-yard touchdown run and finished with 92 yards on seven carries with two scores.

Florida State 20, Boston College 17 (Nov. 22)

Mark Wallheiser/AP

The Eagles wasted their chance to grab a late lead when Alex Howell's 42-yard field goal drifted wide right. Winston methodically drove the Seminoles 66 yards to set up a game-winning 26-yard boot from Roberto Aguayo.

Florida State 24, Florida 19 (Nov. 29)

Bill Frakes/SI

Despite four interceptions from Winston, the Seminoles hung on to beat their rivals. Florida kicker Austin Hardin missed two go-ahead field goals in the second half, and quarterback Treon Harris failed to lead the Gators to a game-winning touchdown on their final drive.

Florida State 37, Georgia Tech 35 (Dec. 6)

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Winston rebounded from his dismal outing against Florida to throw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, and the Seminoles claimed the ACC title. Georgia Tech's triple-option attack churned up 331 yards on the ground but couldn't keep pace with an in-sync Florida State offense.