What we learned in Louisville's loss to FSU
Here's what we learned during the University of Louisville's 42-31 loss to No. 2 Florida State on Thursday night:
THE CARDINALS ARE NOT QUITE AT FLORIDA STATE'S LEVEL, BUT THE GAP ISN'T MASSIVE: UofL sprinted to a 21-0 lead and the fans here were going bananas. It seemed like an upset was imminent. But then Jameis Winston happened. The Cardinals were outscored 42-10 over the game's final 25 minutes. There's a reason Florida State is a defending national champion with a 24-game winning streak.
BOBBY PETRINO LIKES MAKING A SPLASH: On the first play of the game, the offensive guru dialed up a deep ball, and it worked. Will Gardner fired a 71-yard bomb to DeVante Parker, and you could feel PJCS shake.
BUT MAYBE THAT GAMBLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR PETRINO ON THAT DRIVE: The Cardinals were stuffed on three plays and faced a fourth-and-2, and rather than kicking a field goal and taking an early lead, the Cardinals went for it and Gardner's pass fell incomplete.
DEVANTE PARKER IS FULLY HEALTHY: Parker returned from his foot injury for the North Carolina State game nearly two weeks ago and was dazzling, but he was still getting into game shape. A bye week took care of that, and it was clear Parker was fully back to his old, spectacular self. He finished with 8 catches for 214 yards. And the pressbox was loaded with NFL scouts and front-office personnel.
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JAMES QUICK MIGHT BE DONE AS A PUNT RETURNER FOR A WHILE: Punt returns have been a bit of an adventure for the talented sophomore this year, as he entered Thursday's game having fumbled three punts this season. His struggles continued in this game. First, he signaled for a fair catch and let the ball hit the turf, then decided to field it, which you're not allowed to do. He was whistled for a delay of game and also nearly fumbled the ball off of his shoulder. Then on the next punt, he did fumble, but he fell on the ball before Florida State could. On the next punt, he had been replaced by Eli Rogers.
MICHAEL DYER IS A BOWLING BALL: UofL's running back situation has been bizarre this year, with Dominique Brown being replaced by Brandon Radcliff, who has now been replaced by Dyer. Finally healthy, the senior is showing flashes of Auburn form. In this game he finished with 134 yards and three touchdowns.
LORENZO MAULDIN'S HAMSTRING INJURY IS A CONCERN: The linebacker injured his hamstring in the N.C. State game and appeared to reinjure it in the first half on Thursday. He left the game during the second quarter and at one point headed to the locker room. He did return, however.
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FLORIDA STATE'S NICK O'LEARY COULD BE A WRESTLER, AND A FUMBLE RECOVERER: After James Burgess' second-quarter interception for Louisville, O'Leary tracked him down and had trouble bringing him down. So finally he lifted Burgess in the air and essentially body-slammed him. Then, in the final minute of the first half, O'Leary pounced on a fumbled handoff in the end zone to score the Seminoles' lone first-half touchdown.
OPPOSING QUARTERBACKS SHOULD NOT THROW THE BALL ANYWHERE NEAR GEROD HOLLIMAN: The junior gathered his ninth and tenth interceptions of the season. That number is tops in the nation and it ties a school record. The 10th will not go down as one of Holliman's favorite, however, as he fumbled the ball away on the return.
HE HAD TO MISS SOMETIME: Florida State kicker Robert Aguayo entered the game having made 14 of 14 field goal attempts this season and 35 of 36 in his career. But his 41-yard attempt that would have tied the game in the fourth quarter sailed wide right.
IT'S TOUGH ENOUGH TO DEFEAT FLORIDA STATE WHEN YOUR DEFENDERS AREN'T RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER: With 12:48 left in the fourth quarter, Florida State trailed by three points and faced a critical 3rd-and-10. Winston fired a deep ball that appeared headed toward a cluster of UofL players, but two of them collided with each other, seemingly allowing the ball to get past them and into the hands of Ermon Lane, who zipped into the end zone for a touchdown.
ACC FOOTBALL IS GOING TO BE FUN TO WATCH: This felt a lot different than the American Athletic Conference, didn't it? PJCS was buzzing, both teams were bullying, and a national television audience got quite a show. And the nice thing for UofL fans is that games like this will be the new normal.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach