FSU’s anemic red-zone touchdown percentage must improve vs. stingy Miami defense

The recent concerns regarding the annual Miami-Florida State grudge match have been all about starting. With a storm brewing to the south, could there be a change in when we get started on Saturday? While we finally have an answer to that question, the issue now becomes finishing, especially as it pertains to the Seminole offense in the red zone.

Touchdowns, not field goals, win big games like Saturday’s between the ’Noles and Hurricanes. And that could be a problem for the garnet and gold, as no power-five conference team in the country has converted a lower percentage of their red-zone opportunities into TDs than the Seminoles. In 12 red-zone possessions so far this season, FSU has come away with a just three touchdowns, a TD-success rate of just 25%. The only FBS teams in the country with a lower rate: Georgia Southern and Kent State.

And that inability to finish red-zone possessions in the end zone may be further compounded by a Miami defense that features a tough front— just like the other teams that have given FSU fits and resulted in that terrible TD-success rate. How good has the Miami defense been at preventing opponents’ red-zone TDs? Only the best in the FBS, to date, allowing a scant three scores on 11 RZ-possessions (27.27%).