ACC & Big 12 Week 1 Preview: Hurricane Dorian Moves FSU Neutral-Site Opener Back Home
Boise State vs. Florida State – 12 p.m. on ESPN News
The looming threat of Hurricane Dorian led to the relocation of Florida State’s 2019 season opener against Boise State. Originally scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field, the Seminoles and Broncos will now play at noon at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.
Florida State is coming off a 5-7 season in its first year under head coach Willie Taggart but expect to unveil an improved offense under new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, offensive line coach Randy Clements and wide receivers coach Rob Dugans.
Earlier this week, Taggart announced that redshirt sophomore James Blackman would start at quarterback against the Broncos. Last season, Blackman completed 33 of 51 passes for 510 yards and five touchdowns last season. The offense will also lean on wide receiver Tamorrion Terry, who tied the Florida State freshman record with a pair of 100-yard receiving games in 2018, as well as junior running back Cam Akers, who led the Seminoles in rushing yards last season with 706 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Seminoles boast 2018 All-ACC selection Marvin Wilson. The junior defensive lineman appeared in all 12 games in 2018 and finished the season with 42 tackles, including four and a half tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, four quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and one forced fumble.
On the other sideline, Boise State is led by sixth-year head coach Bryan Harsin, a former Broncos quarterback and assistant coach. Harsin was the only coach from the Mountain West – and one of just two from the Group of Five – on the Dodd Trophy’s 2019 preseason watch list.
Last season, the Broncos posted their 16th 10-win campaign since joining the FBS in 1996. The team’s three 2018 losses came against Oklahoma State (44-21), San Diego State (19-13) and Fresno State (19-16).
True freshman Hank Bachmeier will start at quarterback against the Seminoles and is tasked with replacing Brett Rypien — the 2018 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, a four-time All-Mountain West selection and the Mountain West’s all-time passing leader. Bachmeier should be well-protected, as the Broncos are returning all five starting offensive linemen, making them one of only three schools in the country to do so.
On defense, Boise State boasts six players who were tabbed for preseason watchlists this summer, including redshirt junior Curtis Weaver, who had nine and a half sacks and 15.5 tackles-for-loss in 2018.
Here’s a look at other big matchups in the ACC and Big 12 this week:
Georgia Tech at No. 1 Clemson – 8 p.m. (Thursday) on ACCN
Duke vs. No. 2 Alabama – 3:30 p.m. on ABC
South Carolina vs. North Carolina – 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
Virginia Tech at Boston College – 4 p.m. on ACCN
Virginia at Pittsburgh – 7:30 p.m. on ACCN
No. 9 Notre Dame at Louisville – 8 p.m. on ESPN
Houston at No. 4 Oklahoma – 7:30 p.m. (Sunday) on ABC