Game Preview: No. 5 Florida State Seminoles vs. No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs In Capital One Orange Bowl

The Seminoles conclude their 2023 season in the Orange Bowl against Georgia.

It’s the bowl game no one wants to be at. Florida State should’ve been in the playoffs based on resume and actually winning all of their games. Georgia arguably should’ve been in the playoffs if we’re going strictly based on the “best teams” that the committee tries to get.

Instead, we’ve got 40+ players from both sides not playing in this game due to NFL opt-outs, transfers, and injuries. Neither team really wants to be here, but the game must be played. Or does it? I’m still holding out hope that Florida State opts out the morning of the game just to stick it to ESPN.

Either way, the Capital One Orange Bowl will be at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium South Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The game will be televised on ESPN.

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Seminole Headlines

Brock Glenn Back at Quarterback

Tate Rodemaker made headlines with the timing of his expected entering into the transfer portal, leaving Florida State with one scholarship QB for Saturday afternoon; Brock Glenn. He's done and said all of the right things this week, and having more time to prepare for this game should help him. It'll be a fine balance of letting him sling it and playing freely, while also recognizing he's the last available scholarship QB, and will need to be protected.

While it's not ideal that Glenn is playing again, he'll at least be throwing to guys and building rapport and timing with receivers who should be here when it's his turn to be the starter again; freshmen like Hykeem Williams, Destyn Hill, and Vandrevius Jacobs. Even handing the ball off to freshman running back Samuel Singleton in a game like situation will help in the seasons to come. This is a great opportunity for Glenn to get some more live-game reps that he can go back on film and learn from. 

Tribe24 Already Practicing

The best part about Early Signing Day and a late bowl game is some of the signees of Tribe24 can start practicing with the team. DBs Charles Lester and Cai Bates, WRs Camden Frier and BJ Gibson, and most importantly QB Luke Kromenhoek get to practice and gain valuable mental and physical reps heading into the spring. This is really just a glorified spring scrimmage after all. 

While they won't be eligible to play, which makes sense since they were just in high school less than a month ago and just signed with Florida State a little over a week ago, it's great to see these guys want to come in and compete. FSU and Coach Norvell could arguably use some of these guys Saturday just as injury insurance, but getting them used to the system this early can only be a good thing. 

Burning Questions

So Who’s Not Playing?

It may be easier to list who actually is playing, but we'll break this down a little bit. 

From Florida State, here are the players entering the NFL Draft and skipping the bowl game: WR Keon Coleman, WR Johnny Wilson, TE Jaheim Bell, RB Trey Benson, EDGE Jared Verse, DL Fabien Lovett, CB Jarrian Jones, CB Renardo Green, S Akeem Dent. 

Here are Florida State's transfer portal entries that are no longer listed on the depth chart: QB Tate Rodemaker, QB AJ Duffy, RB Rodney Hill, RB CJ Campbell, TE Markeston Douglas, OL Qae'Shon Sapp, OL Daughtry Richardson, OL Thomas Shrader, OL Bless Harris, DL Malcolm Ray, DL Ayobami Tifase, LB DJ Lundy, LB Dylan Brown-Turner. 

These are Florida State's players who are confirmed out with injury: QB Jordan Travis, RB Lawrance Toafili. There are a couple of other players we're keeping an eye on, like DL Joshua Farmer (hand surgery after the ACC Championship game), but they're listed on the depth chart released by Florida State this week, so I wouldn't be surprised to see more names. 

For Georgia, TE Brock Bowers and OT Amarius Mims didn't make the trip with injuries, but could also be opting out for their NFL futures. 

These Bulldogs have entered the portal: QB Brock Vandagriff, WR Zeed Haynes, WR Jackson Meeks, WR Mekhi Mews, OL Austin Blaske, OL Aliou Bah, OL Joshua Miller, DL Jonathan Jefferson, LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB Xavian Sorey Jr, LB Darris Smith, LB EJ Lightsey, EDGE CJ Madden, EDGE Marvin Jones Jr, DB Nyland Green, DB AJ Harris. 

It's certainly not the level of impact players that Florida State will be missing, but both sides are missing their fair share of talented players. I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams on Saturday have more players sitting than have been announced so far, and let the young guys eat and get experience. 

Can Florida State Maintain a Dominant Defense?

It's certainly going to be tough, especially without Jared Verse setting the edge and rushing the passer like he has. It goes without saying that it's a much different defense when Verse isn't on the field for the Seminoles, and it's going to be hard to replicate what he brought to the table. Having to also play without two of your top cornerbacks, Jarrian Jones and Renardo Green, is a tough ask as well.

This defense should still play pretty well, especially with a fresh and primed-up Darrell Jackson ready to get on the field and make plays, but I have a feeling we'll see some of the inexperienced guys rotate in more throughout the game to get them some valuable game experience against a really talented team. 

Game Forecast

Georgia is favored by 18.5 points, with an over/under of 44.5.

Despite some of the transfers from UGA’s side, they are still as talented as anyone in the country. Florida State struggled to move the ball against Louisville, it’s hard to imagine them doing it consistently against a much more talented UGA team unless they’re totally checked out. I don’t see a Kirby Smart team doing that; he always finds ways to motivate his team. It’s also an entirely different Florida State defense when Jared Verse isn’t on the field, it’s hard to expect them to be as dominant as they were against Louisville.

I’ll take the Dawgs 27-10.

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READ MORE: Mike Norvell Discusses Tate Rodemaker's Decision To Transfer From Florida State

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