No. 4 FSU looks to make its closing playoff argument against No. 15 Louisville in ACC title game

No. 15 Louisville (10-2, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 14 CFP) vs. No. 4 Florida State (12-0, 8-0, No. 4), Saturday, 8 p.m. EST (ABC)

Line: FSU by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: FSU leads 17-6.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

The focus is on the Seminoles, who are positioned to return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since the inaugural edition for the 2014 season. Staying unbeaten and claiming their first ACC title since that same year is the final step in getting there. For the Cardinals, former program quarterback Jeff Brohm has the Cardinals playing in the ACC title game for the first time.

KEY MATCHUP

FSU QB Tate Rodemaker vs. Louisville’s defense. Rodemaker has been pressed into the starting job after the loss of star Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury. In his first start since taking over, Rodemaker threw for 134 yards while the Seminoles matched their season-low scoring output (24 points) in a win against Florida. The Seminoles will face a Louisville defense that gives up an average of 314.7 yards (19th in Bowl Subdivision) and 20.0 points (24th in FBS).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Louisville: RB Jawhar Jordan. He is the ACC’s No. 2 rusher at 89.7 yards per game, while he ranks among the national leaders with 13 rushing scores. Jordan has managed five 100-yards rushing performances.

FSU: WR Keon Coleman. The Michigan State transfer has been one of the nation’s top receiving threats. He ranks inside the top 10 nationally with 11 touchdown catches, including three multi-score games. But he had just one catch for 24 yards in the Florida win.

FACTS & FIGURES

This is the fourth time FSU has reached 12-0. … This is the Seminoles’ sixth appearance in the ACC title game. … Florida State has won 18 straight games dating to last season. … Louisville’s 7-1 record is its best since joining the ACC in 2014. … Brohm is the first coach in NCAA history to take different teams to league title games in back-to-back season going back to Purdue’s trip to the Big Ten title game last year. … Louisville has held 16 straight opponents without a score on its opening drive. … This is the seventh time that Louisville has won 10 games, most recently in 2013. The Cardinals’ last 11-win season came in 2012. … The Seminoles have won five of nine meetings in ACC play. … Florida State has held every opponent to fewer than 30 points. … FSU leads the ACC in scoring offense (38.8) and scoring defense (16.8). … Louisville has scored in 299 straight games since being shut out by FSU in 2000. … Florida State is 22-3 in the past two seasons. … The winner of the league title game has gone on to reach the playoff in eight of the last 10 seasons.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football