Kendall Smith News

The top-ranked Florida Gators seek a flawless regular season, as they close things out this weekend in Gainesville with their annual showdown with Sunshine State rival Florida State.

In Saturday's home finale, Florida State will recognize the outstanding contributions of defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews , who will retire after 26 seasons with the Seminoles at the end of the season.

With college football's longest active bowl-game streak on the line and their redshirt junior quarterback relegated to the sideline with a season-ending injury, the Florida State football team turned to a rookie Saturday afternoon at Wake Forest.

This looked like a return to yesteryear. Florida State steamrolled Wake Forest 41-28 on Saturday afternoon in Atlantic Coast Conference football at BB&T Field, snapping a three-game losing streak in the series.

Jermaine Thomas rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown, E.J. Manuel was effective in his first career start, and Florida State kept its bowl hopes alive with a 41-28 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday.

Florida State is now out of the picture for winning the ACC Atlantic Division, playing in the ACC Championship game and being in an BCS bowl.

TALLAHASSEE - The quarterback couldn't save them this time. Florida State junior QB Christian Ponder, who was having one of the finest seasons in school history, threw four interceptions - two crucial ones in the fourth quarter - as the Seminoles were dominated in the final 15 minutes of a 40-21 loss at Clemson on Saturday night.

9:47 -- How's this for a stat? Ponder in the first half was 11-of-13, with both incompletions as INTs 9:48 -- FSU can't convert on third and Powell punts deep into the end zone.

Kendall Smith said his team-leading 57 tackles come with the territory of playing middle linebacker.

TALLAHASSEE -- The expected announcement came without a news conference or much hoopla.

North Carolina field goal kicker Casey Barth celebrates with a teammate their win over Virginia Tech on Thursday in Blacksburg, Va.

Since 2001, three of four Florida State losses to the North Carolina State Wolfpack have been mirror reflections of one another.

It's not how you start. It's how you finish. For a Florida State football team looking for its first conference win of the year Thursday night at North Carolina, that old adage proved especially true.

Florida State at North Carolina The Sports Network DATE & TIME: Thursday, October 22nd, 8:00 p.m. FACTS & STATS: Site: Kenan Memorial Stadium -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Submitted by Gene Frenette on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 00:55. Quarterback Christian Ponder did everything possible Saturday night to give maligned Florida State coaching legend Bobby Bowden a lift after a miserable week, but the Seminoles have no defense for the pathetic state of their program.

An outstanding individual game by Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder was lost in a third consecutive loss on Saturday night.

Can FSU win this game in the fourth quarter? 12:04 a.m. Big third down coming up for FSU D. 12:05 Nesbitt complete to a wide open Thomas for a first down.

Put the 2-3 Florida State start to the season aside for a minute and notice that Seminole quarterback Christian Ponder is leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense at 305.80 yards per game, good enough for 10th on the national level as well.

Firsts for Smith, Harris FSU made two interceptions against South Florida but did not force a fumble.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Alumni Stadium -- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Television: ABC.