College Football

No. 3 Florida St. routs depleted Charleston Southern, 52-8

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:17 p.m. ET

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Deondre Francois threw for three touchdowns and Dalvin Cook ran for two more as No. 3 Florida State cruised to a 52-8 victory over depleted Charleston Southern on Saturday.

Florida State (2-0) led 28-0 at the end of the first quarter as it scored on the first three drives and had a Bobo Wilson 89-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Francois completed 10 of his first 12 passes, including two for touchdowns to Travis Rudolph.

Francois, a redshirt freshman, was 25 of 32 for 262 yards and an interception. Rudolph, who was thrown to nine times, finished with seven receptions for 105 yards. It was the third 100-yard receiving game in the junior's career.

Cook had 83 yards on 11 carries, including a 37-yard touchdown in the third quarter that extended FSU's lead to 42-8.

Charleston Southern, the seventh-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision, was without 14 players who were serving a one-game suspension for violating NCAA rules by using financial aid meant for books to purchase other items. The suspensions featured 10 starters including its top two running backs, four offensive linemen and both safeties.

The Buccaneers (1-2) got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter on a 57-yard pass from Robert Mitchell to Kameron Brown. Mitchell, who was the fourth-string quarterback as recently as last week, took over from London Johnson during the first quarter and was 7 of 20 for 142 yards. Charleston Southern's first two quarterbacks were injured last week against Kentucky State.

THE TAKEAWAY

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: It is difficult enough for an FCS team to compete with a top 25 program with an intact roster, but without nearly half of their starters, the Buccaneers at least can say they averted a shutout.

FLORIDA STATE: Playing their second game in six days, the Seminoles were able to get out of the game without any major injuries, along with getting some younger players extended playing time in the second half.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Florida State was only three points behind Clemson for second in last week's poll . With the Tigers struggling against Troy State on Saturday, the voters might decide to move the Seminoles up a spot when the latest rankings are released on Monday.

UP NEXT

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: The Buccaneers, who were the preseason pick to win the Big South, open conference play on Sept. 24 at Monmouth.

FLORIDA STATE: A tough road test against No. 13 Louisville, which had 845 yards of total offense in its 62-28 win at Syracuse on Friday.

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Online: AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org

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