Florida State won its second straight ACC championship game, and it did so in resounding fashion, thumping Duke 45-7 on Saturday to secure a bid to the Vizio BCS National Championship Game.
Florida State QB Jameis Winston: It’s a credit to how good Winston has been this season that Saturday was perhaps one of his worst performances, and yet he still took home the game’s MVP honors. Winston completed 19-of-32 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns, adding another 59 yards and a touchdown on the ground. In the process, he set the FBS record for touchdown passes and passing yards for a freshman. His two interceptions were uncharacteristic, but Duke was unable to translate either into points. It was the seventh 300-yard game of the season for the Heisman Trophy favorite.
Florida State LB Telvin Smith: There was plenty of credit to go around on the defense, but Smith was one of the night’s biggest star. He finished with eight tackles, including two for a loss, one sack and an interception. FSU’s defense held Duke scoreless until the final drive with the backups on the field. Aside from a 15-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a missed field goal in the first quarter, Duke’s other 12 drives against Smith and the first-team D ended with nine punts and three turnovers.
Duke CB Breon Borders: It may not have been a particularly close game, but it was as physical a matchup as Florida State has played all season, and while Winston still earned an MVP, Duke’s secondary didn’t make it easy. Borders was the star, picking off two of Winston’s passes, while racking up four tackles. The two interceptions were an ACC championship game record, and Borders set the Duke freshman record with four INTs on the year.
