Time: Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State has done a good job all season at blocking out the hype and pressure.
Coach Jimbo Fisher often groups this under what he frequently calls "clutter." And in the middle of a 9-0 season, with a No. 2 spot in the BCS, there can be plenty of distractions.
But the challenge this weekend is far different. Quarterback Jameis Winston has been linked to what the Tallahassee Police Department has called an "ongoing investigation" into allegations of sexual assault from a December 2012 incident.
Winston has shown poise and composure all season. But how will fans receive him when he takes the field on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium for the Seminoles' ACC finale against Syracuse? And will he be able to maintain his focus on the field after days of distractions?
Fisher said that Winston took all of the snaps with the first-team offense in practice this week and that he's handling the situation well.
"He's been great," Fisher said. "He went out and practiced well and played well, eliminated the clutter as far as distractions and practiced well."
Fisher declined to answer questions about the allegations against Winston, who has not been charged or arrested. But when asked if he still felt the same way about his freshman quarterback now than he did before, Fisher was quick to say, "Yes, sir. Most definitely."
One of the questions that Fisher didn’t answer is how long he had known about the allegations. But there is a very close bond between Fisher and Winston, so it's likely that quarterback and coach have had discussions about it.
Without going into specifics, Fisher said the team is mature and close, like a family. They have rallied each other this season, he says. And the clear inference is that they are doing that now again with Winston.
Florida State players realize fully what Winston is going through. But they know that when it comes time to practice and step on the field to play on Saturday, they will block out the distractions and think about only football.
"At the end of the day, it's just understanding what you want, understanding the bigger picture," Florida State wide receiver Rashad Greene said. "Once you stick to it, there’s nothing that really can get in your way. Just focus on football."
* All eyes will of course be on Winston. Fans will want to see if he's affected by the allegations that were brought to light on Wednesday. Winston may be 19 but he's as focused on game days as any veteran. His teammates and coaches will help him maintain his composure on Saturday.
* Florida State has a chance to go 8-0 in the ACC for the first time since 2000. It would be the eighth time the Seminoles have gone unbeaten since joining the ACC in 1992.
* It's really no secret: Syracuse loves to run (202.7 yards per game) and play defense. The Orange are 29th in the FBS in rush offense and 105th in pass offense (182.8 yards per game). Florida State struggled to stop the run against Boston College, but since that Sept. 28 game the Seminoles have been very good in this area. For example, Miami had just 83 rushing yards.
* Syracuse's defense has allowed just three points in three weeks -- shutouts of Georgia Tech and Wake Forest and just a field goal to Maryland. That's pretty impressive. But the Orange also allowed Northwestern to put up 48 points on Sept. 7 and Clemson had 49 points on Oct. 5. Florida State is a considerable challenge for Syracuse.
* Florida State's defense has been pretty impressive the past five games. The Seminoles have allowed just 48 points in the last five games. And three of those wins were over top-25 teams (Maryland, at Clemson and Miami).
* Rashad Greene has caught a pass in 24 straight games for Florida State. If he gets one in each of the team's remaining five games, Greene will tie the school record of 29 (set last year by Rodney Smith). And Greene could break it if he comes back in 2014 for his senior season.
* Behind an offensive line filled with juniors and seniors, Florida State has a dominating ground game. Devonta Freeman, Karlos Williams and James Wilder are all averaging 5.6 yards per carry or more. And they are unselfish in their willingness to split the carries.
* Timmy Jernigan's numbers don't show it, and that's because defensive tackles usually take on double-teams and let linebackers make the plays. But Jernigan is playing very well. He has 31 tackles and two sacks, but he's often the reason that passers have little time to drop back and throw. He's collapsing the pocket and forcing quarterbacks to make mistakes.
* Syracuse RB Jerome Smith has three 100-yard games this season. He also has 11 rushing touchdowns. That includes a 118-yard rushing game in the 20-3 win over Maryland last week.
* The Orange have been able to put pressure on the quarterback this season. Defensive tackle Jay Bromley has eight sacks, and linebacker Marquis Spruill has 11 tackles for loss. If Syracuse hopes to have any chance at an upset, the Orange need to put pressure on Winston.
"We struggled earlier this year against BC. We set a standard to never struggle like that again. Our front seven has been playing lights out. We have a front seven built to stop the run."
-- FSU corner Lamarcus Joyner about containing Syracuse’s rushing attack
"We're preparing for Syracuse. They have a good defense. They gave up three points the last three games. We're just coming in preparing and trying to do our job."
-- Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, on blocking out the distractions
"(Jerome Smith) ran extremely well against Clemson and everybody they played. They pound it in there and they stay true to what they do."
-- Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher on Syracuse’s running game
"We want to have success. I love it here. I said this before, I think we can be very successful here and continue to grow and right now I really love what we’re doing."
-- Fisher on Florida State’s program
"(Winston is) a very good player. And their offense is excellent. Their wide receivers are really good. You put that combination with a great scheme, well coached football team, you can see why everybody has struggled against them."
-- Syracuse coach Scott Shafer on Florida State’s offense
* In his first 50 games at Florida State, Jimbo Fisher is 40-10. And remember that he took over a program that went 7-6 in three of Bobby Bowden's final four seasons in Tallahassee.
* Florida State is second in scoring offense (52 points per game) and fourth in scoring defense (12 points per game). The Seminoles are the only team in the nation to be in the top 5 in both categories.
* The 2012 team scored a school record 550 points in 14 games. This season, Florida State already has 468 points. With three regular-season games and two postseason games left.
* Under Mark Stoops and Jeremy Pruitt, Florida State's defense has held opponents to just 2.9 rushing yards per carry. That will surely be tested by Syracuse on Saturday.
* Jameis Winston has 26 passing touchdowns this season, which is the most in ACC history. Philip Rivers of North Carolina State had 25 in 2000.
* Florida State has been faced with a third down on offense 99 times (lowest in the FBS). But when the Seminoles are in a third-down situation, they have converted 52 times (ninth best in the nation).
* The reason the Seminoles are so rarely facing third down? Florida State averages 7.58 yards per play, fourth best in the BCS. Only Baylor (8.62), Oregon (7.86) and Texas A&M (7.64) are better.
* And it's clearly not just Winston and the receivers. Florida State averages 5.2 yards per carry (18th best in FBS) and has 29 rushing touchdowns (tied for seventh best in FBS).
* Florida State has five defensive touchdowns this season, the most since the Seminoles also had five in 2007.
* While the sacks last season came mostly from defensive ends like Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine, who are both in the NFL, the 2013 team is getting sacks from everywhere. Thirteen Seminoles have at least one sack, and the team’s leader is cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (3.5).
This is the kind of game that a Florida State team in the past could and often would lose. It's a trap game.
Florida State is a 38-point favorite to win on homecoming. In a week full of distractions, a team lacking in leadership and maturity might fold.
It appears that Florida State has moved past their occasional ACC speedbumps. Look for the Seminoles to push forward, maintain their focus and finish the conference slate 8-0.
Contact Bob Ferrante at bobferrante17@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @bobferrante
