It started fast for Florida State after receiving the opening kickoff. Jordan Travis did “Jordan Travis things” on third down running for 16 yards to get Florida State to midfield.

On the next play Travis scanned the entire field before finding Johnny Wilson for 26 yards, moving FSU down to the OU 26. The big play streak continued with Treshaun Ward, who carried it for 22 inside the OU five. However, after two runs and an incomplete pass, FSU had to settle for a 22-yard field goal, 3-0 Florida State.

Oklahoma followed up the FSU scoring drive with a scoring drive of their own. 13 plays, 74 yards, and a Jalil Farooq 22-yard receiving touchdown on a perfect throw from Dillon Gabriel saw OU take the 7-3 lead.

FSU couldn’t get anything going on the following drive, and a questionable call by Mike Norvell on fourth and one saw FSU turn it over on downs at midfield. Oklahoma couldn’t take advantage, and had to punt.

However, as time was expiring in the first quarter, OU was driving again. The big plays on the drive came from the legs of Gabriel, running for 16 early in the drive, and capping the drive with a eight-yard touchdown on a perfect read by Gabriel.

The score gave Oklahoma a 14-3 lead, and marked the first time Florida State trailed by 10 or more points since the second quarter of the Clemson game on October 15th.

Following another turnover on downs by Florida State, a turning point in the game.

On third and 15, Gabriel hit Marvin Mims Jr. on a 46-yard pass on the FSU sideline, giving OU a first down on the FSU 16. After a hold on OU, an incomplete pass, and a two yard run, Jared Verse blew up an OU run, pushing them back to fourth and 22 from the FSU 28. Oklahoma kicker Zach Schmit missed the 45 yard attempt, keeping the game 14-3.

On the drive following, Florida State went six plays, 72 yards, in 2:29 capped off by a dime from Jordan Travis to Ontaria Wilson for the touchdown. On the drive, Travis was three of three for 53 yards. Mike Norvell opted to go for two, and converted when Wyatt Rector (yes the tight end) completed a pass to Brian Courtney to make it 14-11.

Oklahoma added a field goal before the end of the half, making it 17-11 going into the locker room.

FSU forced a punt on the first drive on the second half, and started on their own five. After FSU moved the chains for the first time, Travis located Johnny Wilson wide open in the middle of the field. However, Wilson couldn’t hold on, and dropped what would have been six points for the Seminoles.

Even with the drop, FSU kept the drive alive, and Travis went right back to Johnny Wilson when he needed a play. Travis and Wilson hooked up for 13 yards on third and eight, to move the chains.

On second and goal from the OU one, Treshaun Ward punched it in for Florida State, Ryan Fitzgerald added the PAT, and FSU took a 18-17 lead with 5:33 left in the third quarter.

In total, 15 plays on the drive for 94 yards in just under five minutes of gametime. FSU converted on third and 10 as well as third and eight on the drive.

On the following drive, the Seminoles forced Oklahoma to turn it over on downs on the FSU side of the field, and Jordan Travis went back to work. It was another clutch third-down conversion from Travis to Johnny Wilson, this time for 18 yards to move the chains.

However, Travis tried to go back to Johnny Wilson on fourth and three just a few plays later, and was intercepted by Billy Bowman.

Oklahoma took advantage of the turnover, going on a 70-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a Marvin Mims Jr. 31-yard reception. Gavin Sawchuk ended the drive with a 15 yard score, and OU added two with Gabriel finding senior tight end Brayden Willis, giving the Sooners a 25-18 lead with 13:22 to play.

If you were wondering, this is the moment in the game it started to feel like a true Big 12 game. Six plays, 75 yards, and second score for Treshaun Ward tied the game at 25 for Florida State with 11:05 to play.

Oklahoma got the football back, and went back to running the football, but the Seminoles defense finally made a play. Omarion Cooper forced Gavin Sawchuk to fumble the football on the FSU 32, and Jammie Robinson recovered for the Semionles with 9:41 to play.

On the first play of the drive, Trey Benson took a short pass from Jordan Travis 33 yards that included a cut that made people throughout the stadium sick (because it was nasty) to the OU 35.

Five plays later, your prototypical slot receiver Markeston Douglas (6-4, 270 lbs) scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Travis. After a PAT, FSU retook the lead 32-25 with 7:22 to play.

Oklahoma kept with the theme after getting the ball back, going right back down the field. Dillon Gabriel ran for 23, Jalil Farooq went for 29, and on third and 10  from the FSU 11, Jovantae Barnes scored to tie the game at 32 with 3:37 left in the game. Which set the stage for Jordan Travis and the Florida State offense.

After a Trey Benson two-yard rush, Jordan Travis uncorked the throw of the season. 58 yards down the Oklahoma sideline and dropped into the hand (not hands) of none other than Johnny Wilson. With 2:40 to play, Florida State was looking at first and 10 from the OU 15.

After making Oklahoma burn through their timeouts, Ryan Fitzgerald nailed a 32-yard field goal with under a minute to play, making it 35-32 FSU.

A couple of costly penalties and a Dennis Briggs Jr. sack later, Florida State finished off a 10-win season for the first time since 2016.

In 2022, Florida State averaged nearly 10 more points per game than they did in 2021. Jumping from 27.6 in 2021 to 36.2 in 2022. They needed just about all of those points to get their first Bowl win since the 2017 Independence Bowl.

Florida State finished with an incredible 587 total yards. Jordan Travis finished 27-38 for 418 yards and two touchdowns, winning the Cheez-It Bowl MVP.

Johnny Wilson finished with eight catches for 202 yards. Treshaun Ward led the Seminoles in carries and yards, going 10 for 81 with two touchdowns.

What a way to finish the season for Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles.