By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

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Winston’s sharpness was on display as he completed 13 straight passes in the second half.

Florida State can breathe a big sigh of relief because for a few seconds the majority of the 82,341 fans inside Doak Campbell Stadium were in utter disbelief.

FSU’s first loss in 23 games? That wasn’t the case as Notre Dame’s (6-1) shocking game-winning touchdown was called off due to an offensive pass interference call. Instead, the Seminoles (7-0) remained undefeated after Everett Golson’s desperation heave sailed out of the end zone with six seconds left.

No. 2 Florida State survived another nail-biter this season, holding off the Fighting Irish 31-27.

Here are the thoughts on the game:

1. Seminoles bend but don’t break

Florida State, despite being pushed around all night stayed the course. The Seminoles knew what they were getting into in facing a top-five Notre Dame team. But FSU didn’t allow this game to get away from them even after trailing five times. For every Irish score, Florida State had a response, and when it didn’t, the Seminoles didn’t allow Notre Dame to lead by more than a touchdown.

2. In Jameis they trust

Jameis Winston didn’t have the best first-half performance. But once FSU took the field in the third quarter, Winston’s sharpness was on display for everybody to see. The Heisman winner completed 13 consecutive passes to start the second half, and completed 15 of 16 passes for 181 yards in the final 30 minutes to lead the Seminoles to victory. Florida State outscored Notre Dame 21-10 in the second half.

3. Notre Dame offensive as good as advertised

The Irish came into this game with an explosive offense, and the game plan was executed with little shortcomings as Notre Dame attacked the FSU defense at will. Everett Golson threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns, while Tarean Folston gained 120 rushing yards. Corey Robinson had eight receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns. The offense picked up nearly 500 yards. Unfortunately for the Irish, a couple of plays proved to make the different against them. Notre Dame’s winning touchdown with 13 seconds left in the game was disallowed, and a sack against Golson on a third-down play early in the fourth quarter forced the Irish to settle for a field goal on a 10-play drive. The Irish’s 27-24 lead wasn’t safe as the Seminoles proceeded to score the winning touchdown on a Karlos Williams one-yard score on the following drive.

4. FSU hard to stop

If you plan to beat FSU and the nation’s longest winning streak, you’ll need to find a way to stop the Seminoles on offense. After a slow first half Florida State took advantage of Notre Dame’s inability to force them off the field. The Seminoles won time of possession in the third quarter, holding onto the ball for over 10 minutes, and also outscored the Irish 21-10 in the second half after only scoring 10 points in the first 30 minutes. Notre Dame succeeded in holding FSU to 50 rushing yards, but with the game always close Winston was able to strike and keep the chains moving.

5. Is the remaining schedule enough?

Beating a top five team was a satisfying feeling for FSU. It’s a statement win for sure, and the Seminoles are hopeful the College Football Playoff committee keeps that win fresh in mind because Florida State is unlikely to face another ranked or high profile opponent for the remainder of the regular season. Unlike teams in the hunt in the SEC that still have prominent games left on the schedule, The Seminoles by comparison, do not. The combined record of Florida State’s remaining opponents is 21-14, which includes Miami (4-3) and Florida (3-3). FSU will be on upset alert when it makes a trip to Louisville for a Thursday night game in two weeks. The Cardinals, who defeated NC State this past Saturdayare 6-2. The Seminoles have no room for error, and certainly no room for a loss.