Miami puts playoff case on line against Florida State

01 · The NewsMiami-FSU Carries Two Cases

No. 3 Miami will host Florida State Saturday, Oct. 17, as a 21.5-point favorite, with a sixth straight win strengthening its playoff case and another loss increasing pressure on Seminoles coach Mike Norvell.

Miami is 5-0 and averaging 49 points and 554 yards per game. The Hurricanes have won each game by at least 13 points, including a 41-13 victory at Clemson on Oct. 3. Florida State is 3-3 after Friday’s 44-20 loss at Louisville, where the Seminoles allowed 397 rushing yards.

The clearest test for the Seminoles is whether their defense can finish against Miami. Florida State held a two-score lead in both of its road losses before giving up control, and now faces an offense ranked No. 1 nationally by Yahoo Sports.

Quarterback Darian Mensah leads the ACC with 15 touchdown passes and has thrown no interceptions. Receiver Malachi Toney has 39 catches for 604 yards and six touchdowns through five games. Florida State has allowed 244 passing yards per game, has three interceptions and has not picked off a pass in four weeks.

The Seminoles may not get much help from pressure. Miami has allowed only five sacks, while running backs Mark Fletcher and Javian Mallory have combined for 596 yards and eight touchdowns. That is a difficult matchup for a Florida State defense coming off a game with one sack and four tackles for loss.

Norvell now takes the job question into a game against college football’s No. 1 offense.

02 · The StakesThe Stakes

A win would move Miami to 6-0 and push it well beyond the No. 11 spot in Josh Pate’s preseason playoff bracket. For Florida State, another loss would intensify scrutiny around Norvell, who is in his seventh season after the Seminoles went 5-7 last year. Florida State has not said whether the result would prompt a coaching change.

03 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching