Aerial view of Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State University (FSU) – Courtesy: Shutterstock- Image by Felix Mizioznikov
Against a depleted Oklahoma team, Florida State was expected to have an easier time securing its tenth victory. The Seminoles showed out to be far from resilient in the first half before stepping up with a 17-point fourth quarter and a crucial turnover.
On Thursday night in the Cheez-It Bowl, Jordan Travis made a one-handed, 58-yard reception from Johnny Wilson to set up Ryan Fitzgerald’s 32-yard field goal try with 55 seconds remaining. The Seminoles won 35-32.
Travis passed for a career-high 418 yards, connecting eight times for 202 yards with Johnny Wilson. Travis, a redshirt junior, has now accumulated the 12th 3,000-yard season in FSU history after completing 27 of 38 throws. He was named the MVP of the bowl and became the first Seminole since Deondre Francois in 2016 to reach 3,000 passing yards (3,350 yards).
Wilson finished with 897 yards through the air. FSU recorded their most receiving yards in a bowl game on Thursday with 202 in total.
FSU (10-3) finished 2022 with a sixth straight victory to clinch the season and achieved a 10-win season for the first time since 2016. Additionally, the Seminoles scored 30 or more points for the sixth game in a row.
Despite being shorthanded and without four starting offensive linemen, Oklahoma was significantly more tenacious than anticipated and led 17-11 at the break. However, FSU had more offense (and just enough defense) in the second half of a game that frequently had elements of a Big 12 contest.
With 9:41 remaining, Omarion Cooper forced a turnover that Jammie Robinson recovered. A touchdown drive put together by Travis and company ended with a 17-yard pass to Markeston Douglas.
Going 0 for 3 on fourth downs, FSU handed Oklahoma short fields. But despite the short fields, the Sooners only managed one touchdown.
Treshaun Ward amassed 81 yards on 10 attempts, scored twice, and added a 38-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of FSU’s 17-point victory.
Ontaria Wilson also made a few pretty sideline grabs while catching five catches for a total of 85 yards (one of which was a 16-yard touchdown). Brian Courtney, a different tight end, was the recipient of a two-point conversion pass from Wyatt Rector.
While Dillon Gabriel completed 14 of 24 throws for 243 yards and a touchdown to Jalil Farooq, OU freshman Jovantae Barnes ran 27 times for 108 yards.
But Jared Verse and Dennis Briggs Jr. sacked Gabriel on the game’s last play. Verse recorded 1.5 of the Seminoles’ six sacks, and the team had a season-high 11 tackles for loss.
About 61,520 supporters filled Camping World Stadium, and because FSU hadn’t defeated Notre Dame since 2011, it attracted the biggest crowd ever.
And on that night, FSU won games over Miami, Florida, LSU, and Oklahoma to cap off a successful season.
FSU’s record in bowl games is now 30-17-2 overall. FSU defeated Oklahoma for the first time since a 36-19 victory in the Gator Bowl on the January 2, 1965, Cheez-It Bowl.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.