BOB FERRANTE
FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2018, file photo, Florida State's James Blackman (1) looks to pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. Blackman is back under center for Florida State's opener against Boise State after not winning the quarterback competition in 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)
Boise State looks to knock off another Power 5 foe vs FSU

By Bob Ferrante Aug. 30, 2019 12:16 PM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Home, road or on neutral turf, Boise State has shown a

Map shows Hurricane Dorian's projected path; 3c x 3 inches; 146 mm x 76 mm;
Hurricane Dorian prompts move of Boise State-FSU game

By Bob Ferrante Aug. 29, 2019 11:44 AM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The college football season opener for Boise State and

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2018, file photo, Florida State's James Blackman (1) looks to pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. Blackman is back under center for Florida State's opener against Boise State after not winning the quarterback competition in 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)
Blackman gets another chance as Florida State's starting QB

By Bob Ferrante Aug. 26, 2019 06:11 PM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — James Blackman had to deal with the pain of not winning a

Florida State names Blackman starting QB

By Bob Ferrante Aug. 25, 2019 10:36 PM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — James Blackman was the front-runner all along and now the

Florida State head coach Willie Taggart, left, talks to tight end Tré McKitty (6) during an NCAA college football preseason practice Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
Coach Willie Taggart believes Florida State will in year 2

By Bob Ferrante Aug. 13, 2019 11:23 AM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Coach Willie Taggart arrived at Florida State and ramped up

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 file photo, Florida State head coach Willie Taggart confers on his headset during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. James Blackman has the confidence of a starting quarterback and with good reason, he was Florida State’s starter in 2017. But Blackman acknowledges he’s in an open QB competition with Wisconsin transfer Alex Hornibrook and others. "We’re going to grade these guys every day on what we ask them to do and see if these guys can take information from the meeting room to the field, and who can run our offense and do it efficiently and do it to where we’re not being careless with the football,” Taggart said. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)
Blackman the frontrunner in Florida State quarterback battle

By Bob Ferrante Aug. 03, 2019 02:53 AM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — James Blackman is in the driver's seat in the quarterback

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2018, file photo, Florida State head coach Willie Taggart disagrees with the referee in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, in Tallahassee, Fla. A month after coach Willie Taggart dismissed two-year starter Deondre Francois, the Seminoles’ No. 1 quarterback is clearly Blackman. When he was dismissed from the team, Taggart said Francois was not living up to the “high expectations” and “standards of conduct” expected of student-athletes. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File)
Blackman unquestioned No. 1 QB as Florida State opens spring

By Bob Ferrante Mar. 04, 2019 01:28 PM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — James Blackman insists nothing has changed. But nearly

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois (12) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Miami, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Florida State head football coach Willie Taggart announced Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, that Francois has been dismissed from the team after allegations of domestic abuse surfaced. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Francois' uncle says QB has entered name in transfer portal

By Bob Ferrante Feb. 05, 2019 06:14 PM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Deondre Francois' uncle said the former Florida State

Florida State hires Houston's Kendal Briles as coordinator

By Bob Ferrante Dec. 23, 2018 02:50 PM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has hired former Houston assistant Kendal

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks, right, talks with Florida State wide receiver Keith Gavin (89) after an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Franks helps Florida win 41-14, end skid vs Florida State

By Bob Ferrante Nov. 24, 2018 03:50 PM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The quarterback who grew up just a few minutes down the road

Boston College quarterback Anthony Brown throws near the Florida State end zone but gets picked off in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Francois, Terry connect to lead Florida State past No. 22 BC

By Bob Ferrante Nov. 17, 2018 07:29 PM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has its first victory over a ranked team in

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 file photo, Florida State head coach Willie Taggart confers on his headset during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. Florida State is battling recent history as it looks to extend one of its most cherished streaks. The Seminoles (4-6, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) must knock off No. 22 Boston College (7-3, 4-2) on Saturday and then No. 15 Florida (7-3) to extend their bowl streak, which dates to 1982. While Florida State has dug quite the hole for itself, the roadblocks ahead are daunting _ the Seminoles are 0-7 against ranked teams since the start of the 2017 season. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)
Florida State's beleaguered rush defense faces BC's Dillon

By Bob Ferrante Nov. 16, 2018 11:57 AM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A.J. Dillon is among the top running backs in the country

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 file photo, Florida State head coach Willie Taggart confers on his headset during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. Florida State is battling recent history as it looks to extend one of its most cherished streaks. The Seminoles (4-6, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) must knock off No. 22 Boston College (7-3, 4-2) on Saturday and then No. 15 Florida (7-3) to extend their bowl streak, which dates to 1982. While Florida State has dug quite the hole for itself, the roadblocks ahead are daunting _ the Seminoles are 0-7 against ranked teams since the start of the 2017 season. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)
Florida State's bowl streak in jeopardy _ BC, Florida next

By Bob Ferrante Nov. 15, 2018 06:27 PM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State is battling recent history as it looks to

Florida State head coach Willie Taggart directs his players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Taggart hands Florida State play-calling duties to assistant

By Bob Ferrante Nov. 05, 2018 03:26 PM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State needed to shake things up so Willie Taggart

Florida State head coach Willie Taggart disagrees with the referee in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Mistakes, punches, quitting: A difficult year for Seminoles

By Bob Ferrante Oct. 30, 2018 01:04 PM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has suffered many self-inflicted wounds during

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, left, and Florida State head coach Willie Taggart talk at midfield prior to an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Oct.27, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Clemson hands Florida State worst home loss

By Bob Ferrante Oct. 27, 2018 04:08 PM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — No Atlantic Coast Conference team had ever knocked off

FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2018, file photo, Virginia Tech Virginia Tech linebacker Rayshard Ashby (23) upends Florida State running back Jacques Patrick (9) during an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State (1-2) has allowed 10 sacks and generated only 156 rushing yards in its FBS losses, managing just a field goal and a touchdown in lopsided losses to Virginia Tech and at Syracuse. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File)
Florida State's offense stagnant behind struggling line

By Bob Ferrante Sep. 18, 2018 04:39 PM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has tried three starting lineups on the