TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida is just 4-7 and has lost six straight games. The Gators are without 10 key players who are out for the season. And the offense may be led by a third-string quarterback.
But you won't find head coach Jimbo Fisher or Florida State's players treating the Gators as another inferior opponent in what has so far been a blowout-filled season for the Seminoles (11-0) heading into the regular-season finale on Saturday in Gainesville.
"They could lose every game, but when they play us they probably are going to play their best game against us," Florida State linebacker Telvin Smith said.
Florida hasn't played its best football in six weeks. After opening 3-0 in the SEC with wins over Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas, the Gators lost to LSU, Missouri, Georgia, Vanderbilt and South Carolina. Florida hasn't scored more than 20 points in a game since the win over Arkansas on Oct. 5.
Then came the topper: a 26-20 loss at home to Georgia Southern. And it was a game in which Florida paid Georgia Southern to make the trip to Gainesville, a guarantee game that normally is a guaranteed win.
Florida's latest loss has intensified the outcry against coach Will Muschamp, even after athletics director Jeremy Foley said he supports the third-year coach "1,000 percent."
Fisher knows Muschamp well. They coached together on Nick Saban's staff at LSU from 2001-04. Fisher said fans need to be patient with Muschamp.
"Will is a heck of a football coach and a good guy," Fisher said. "You have injuries and things that go on. You can't judge a guy on one season. ... Unfortunately, it's part of the business. We have no patience in this world anymore. Everything is what have you done for me lately. It's just the way things go."
Fisher was asked Monday if he thought any coach on the college or NFL level could overcome the quantity of injuries to so many players, and said he didn't think so.
"Sometimes they come in bunches, sometimes they don't," Fisher said. "Injuries change your football team. That's why I keep talking about our youth development. You have to keep developing those guys as much as you can when you get opportunities.
"When you have the number they've had, I can understand. It's been very difficult."
The injury-depleted Gators are the only team left that's standing in the way of a perfect regular season for Florida State, which also went unbeaten in the regular season in 1979, 1996 and 1999.
But the games this season haven't been close, as Florida State is second in the nation with a 55.2-point scoring average. The Seminoles have put up at least 40 points in every game, tying the Texas Longhorns' 2005 team for the most in Football Bowl Subdivision history. And Florida State's defense has been especially stingy, allowing just 11.4 points per game.
Florida State isn't taking Florida lightly -- and last season's result has been a perfect reminder. The Seminoles were 10-1 with just a one-point loss at NC State. But Florida State played flat early, then rallied to take a 20-13 lead in the third quarter. But the Gators scored three touchdowns and had a field goal in the fourth quarter as Florida took a 37-26 victory in Tallahassee.
The Seminoles didn't help themselves last year, as quarterback EJ Manuel tossed three interceptions and fumbled once. Florida State had five turnovers that day.
It would seem likely that for Florida to have any chance to win on Saturday that the Seminoles would have to make some mistakes. But in 11 games this season, Florida State has protected the ball well (three fumbles and 11 interceptions).
Florida State players aren't making this game about revenge at all. It's simply a reminder to keep their focus and not take the opponent for granted.
"Last year (the Gators) were kind of up and down a lot throughout the season," Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan said. "But they came here and beat us so we definitely remember that."
Contact Bob Ferrante at bobferrante17@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @bobferrante.
