GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley vs. the Florida State secondary. If the Seminoles thought Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was good, Finley might actually be better. He leads the ACC in passing, completions and completion percentage, and his offensive line is stout: They’ve given up just four sacks all season. So if the Florida State defensive line can’t get to Finley, the onus then falls on the secondary Saturday to shut down the vaunted Wolfpack passing attack and create turnovers. Florida State has eight interceptions through eight games so far this year.
DRAFT SLANT: Florida State’s highest-rated current player is 6-foot-5 defensive end Brian Burns, who NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler considers a potential first-rounder in the 2019 NFL Draft. Burns leads the team with nine sacks through seven games — seventh in the country. Brugler, whose mock draft predicts Burns could wind up with the Pittsburgh Steelers near the end of the first round, said of the lanky pass rusher: “Burns has first-round potential and length off the edge.”
ROSTER REPORT:
–Florida State leading receiver Nyqwan Murray and linebacker Zaquandre White were both suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game after throwing punches during a scuffle in Saturday’s loss to Clemson. Murray is the biggest blow: The speedy wideout leads the team with 40 catches — nearly twice that of second-place receiver Keith Gavin with 22 — for 536 yards and three touchdowns.
–Florida State quarterback Deondre Francoise (head) is being evaluated all week and will likely be a game-time decision on whether he plays Saturday against N.C. State
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