Notre Dame beats Florida State in overtime: Wrapping up a wild opener
Michael Wanbaugh
The ninth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish defated the Florida State Seminoles, 41-38 in overtime on Sunday at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. in the 2021 college football season opener for both teams. ND Insider beat writers @EHansenNDI, @TJamesNDI and @tnoieNDI covered the game and will have complete postgame coverage, along with South Bend Tribune photographer @TheRobFranklin. Below is a recap of how the game unfolded.
► Instant observations: Defense struggles as Notre Dame survives Seminoles in OT
► Noie column:It never should've gone to overtime, but No. 9 Notre Dame survives
►Full scoring summary:Irish hold off Seminoles in OT
11:33 p.m. — Final: Notre Dame 41, Florida State 38 OT
Jonathan Doerer wins it for Notre Dame with a 41-yard field goal in first overtime
11:29 p.m. — Florida State misses 37-yard field goal attempt in first OT possession
Notre Dame now gets its chance from the 25-yard line.
11:15 p.m. End of regulation: Florida State 38, Notre Dame 38
This one's going overtime in Tallahassee.
FOURTH QUARTER
► Notre Dame 38, Florida State 28
Score: Andrew Parchment 8-yard pass from Travis at 13:42
Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, elapsed time 5:55 following Notre Dame kickoff
Key plays: 19-yard run by Treshaun Ward. 4-yard run by Corbin on fourth and 2 from ND 28.
► Notre Dame 38, Florida State 35
Score: Treshaun Ward 2-yard run at 5:36
Drive: 12 plays, 88 yards, elapsed time 4:43 after Notre Dame punt
Key plays: Jordan scrambles for 25 yards before leaving game after his helmet comes off. QB McKenzie Milton enter the game and goes 4-for-4 for 36 yards.
► Florida State 38, Notre Dame 38
Score: Fitzgerald 43-yard field goal at 0:40
Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, elapsed time 3:35
Key plays: Milton 12-yard shovel pass to Darion Williamson on third and 2. Ward 12-yard run.
11:08 p.m. — Florida State 38, Notre Dame 38, 0:40 4thQ
Ryan Fitzgerald ties the game with a 43-yard field goal.
10:53 p.m. — Notre Dame 38, Florida State 35, 5:30 4Q
QB McKenzie Milton, who hasn't played in two years after an horrific knee injury, leads the Seminoles to the end zone, capped by a 2-yard run by Treshaun Ward. Milton went 4-for-4 on the drive for 36 yards.
Kyle Hamilton showing why he's an All-American
► More:Notre Dame football: Kyle Hamilton gets 2 interceptions against Florida State
10:29 p.m. Notre Dame 38, Florida State 28
The Seminoles aren't done yet. Andrew Parchment an 8-yard pass from Travis on third and goal followed by two-point conversion. Caps a 75-yard drive.
10:23 p.m. Notre Dame 38, Florida State 20, End of 3Q
THIRD QUARTER
► Florida State 20, Notre Dame 17
Score:Ja'Khi Douglas 60-yard pass from Travis at 13:36
Drive: Three plays, 63 yards, elapsed time 1:07 following Notre Dame kickoff
► Notre Dame 24, Florida State 20
Score: Avery Davis 37-yard pass from Coan at 11:52 (Doerer kick)
Drive: Four plays, 75 yards, elapsed time 1:44
Key plays:
► Notre Dame 31, Florida State 20
Score: Kyren Williams 6-yard pass from Coan at 7:05
Drive: Seven plays, 69 yards, elapsed time 4:17 following Hamilton interception
Key plays: 55-yard screen pass to Williams from Coan on third and 17.
► Notre Dame 38, Florida State 20
Score: Chris Tyree 1-yard run at
Drive: Three plays, 32 yards, elapsed time 0:58 after FSU turnover on downs
Key plays: Florida State failed on converting a fourth-down conversion at its own 32-yard line, giving the ball back to Notre Dame. 24-yard pass from Coan to Lenzy.
10:14 p.m. — Notre Dame 38, Florida State 20
Florida State turns ball over on downs at its own 32. Three plays later RB Chris Tyree plunges in from 1 yard.
10:03 p.m. — Notre Dame 31, Florida State 20, 7:05 3Q
Another Kyle Hamilton interception leads to a Notre Dame TD drive capped by a 6-yard pass from Coan to RB Kyren Williams. Key play on drive was 55-yard screen pass to Williams on third and 17.
► More:Mirror, mirror: Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams reflects, builds on a profound turning point
9:55 p.m. — Notre Dame 24, Florida State 20
Notre Dame answers quickly with 37-yard touchdown strike from Coan to WR Kevin Austin.
► More:Chance to transcend status as practice legend arrives for Notre Dame WR Kevin Austin Jr.
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9:44 p.m. — Florida State 20, Notre Dame 17
Ja'Khi Douglas hauls in a 60-yard bomb from Travis to give the Seminoles a quick-strike lead. The extra-point attempt failed.
9:38 p.m. — Second half is underway
Review of potential Florida State fumble on kickoff give ball back to Seminoles.
9:19 p.m. — Halftime: Notre Dame 17, Florida State 14
SECOND QUARTER
► Florida State 14, Notre Dame 7
Score: Jordan Travis 2-yard run (Fitzgerald kick) at 10:05
Drive: Four plays, 45 yards, elapsed time 1:39 p.m. following Notre Dame punt.
Key plays: Lawrance Toafili 20 yard run to the ND 2. Jordan 21-yard pass to Malik McClain to ND 24.
► Florida State 14, Notre Dame 10
Score: Doerer 48-yard field goal at 5:02 following FSU kickoff
Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, elapsed time 5:03
Key plays: 15-yard catch and run by Kyren Williams
► Notre Dame 17, Florida State 14
Score: Joe Wilkins Jr. 23-yard pass from Coan at 2:21 (Doerer kick)
Drive: Five plays, 48 yards, elapsed time 1:24 following Kyle Hamilton interception
Key plays: Mayer 15-yard pass from Coan
9:03 p.m. — Notre Dame 17, Florida State 14
WR Joe Wilkins Jr. with 23-yard touchdown catch from Jack Coan. 48-yard drive set up by Kyle Hamilton interception.
More:Noie: Time is now for new and improved and focused Notre Dame WR Joe Wilkins Jr.
► More:Notre Dame wide receivers breakdown
► Kyle Hamilton:Notre Dame safety's 'annoying' talents extend beyond the football field
8:53 p.m. — Florida State 14, Notre Dame 10, 2nd Q (5:02)
Notre Dame's Jonathan Doerer boots 48-yard field goal.
8:42 p.m. — Florida State 14, Notre Dame 7, 2nd Q
Jordan Travis a 2-yard touchdown run.
8:39 p.m. Michael Mayer an offensive bright spot early for Notre Dame
► More:Michael Mayer gets Notre Dame football off to a strong start
8:26 p.m. — End of first quarter in Tallahassee
FIRST QUARTER
► Notre Dame 7, Florida State 0
Score: Jack Coan 41-yard pass to Michael Mayer on fourth and 1 (Jonathan Doerer kick).
Drive: Five plays, 75 yards. Two first downs, 2:09 elapsed time following opening kickoff.
Key plays: 25-yard pass to Mayer on first play from scrimmage. 15-yard pass to Branden Lenzy on second and 17.
► Notre Dame 7, Florida State 7
Score: 89-yard run by Jashaun Corbin (Ryan Fitzgerald kick).
Drive: Two plays, 89 yards, :20 elapsed time
8:15 p.m. — Notre Dame 7, Florida State 7
Florida State running Back Jashaun Corbin, slips through the Notre Dame defensive front, slides to the sideline and takes it 89 yards for a Florida State touchdown.
7:48 p.m. — Jack Coan connects with TE Michael Mayer on fourth and 1 for a 41-yard touchdown. 7-0, Notre Dame.
7:45 p.m. — Notre Dame receives opening kickoff ... a touchback
7:37 p.m. (EDT) — Florida State going with Jordan Travis at quarterback
7:34 p.m. (EDT) — It's Jack Coan time at quarterback for Notre Dame football
► More:Grad transfer QB Jack Coan about to start his first game for ND. Here's what you should know
Team ND Insider ready to go
7:23 p.m. (EDT) — Three Notre Dame players listed as unavailable vs. Florida State
► Botelho, Flemister, Diggs unavailable for Notre Dame football against Florida State
6:54 p.m. EDT — Weather in Tallahassee looking good
Tallahassee, FL Today, Tonight & Tomorrow's Weather Forecast | AccuWeather
► More:Previewing No. 9 Notre Dame at Florida State Sunday
► Noie:Been there, done that as Irish prepare for 2021 opener
► Keys to the game:How does Notre Dame beat Florida State?
Notre Dame-Florida State series history
Sunday night will mark the 11th meeting between Notre Dame and Florida State in a series that began in 1981. The 20th-ranked Seminoles won that first contest, 19-13, dropping first-year ND coach Gerry Faust's Irish to 2-3 on the season.
'GAME OF THE CENTURY'
The second time these teams met was the most famous. No. 1 FSU came to South Bend to battle No. 2 Notre Dame on Nov. 13, 1993, in what was deemed at the time as "The Game of the Century." Both teams were undefeated and the Seminoles were led by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward.
The Irish, led by head coach Lou Holtz, dominated the game and secured the 31-24 upset when CB Shawn Wooden knocked down a Ward pass to the end zone as time expired.
Notre Dame moved to No. 1, but it was short lived as it lost at home the next week to Boston College. Florida State would end up winning the national title with the Irish finishing No. 2.
Here's a look at the rest of the series:
♦ Nov. 12, 1994 (at Orlando) — No. 8 Florida State 23, Notre Dame 16
♦ Jan. 1, 1996 (Orange Bowl at Miami) — No. 8 Florida State 31, No. 6 Notre Dame 26
♦ Oct. 26, 2002 (at Tallahassee) — No. 6 Notre Dame 34, No. 11 Florida State 24: The win improved the Irish to 8-0 for first-year coach Tyrone Willingham. But in a repeat of 1993, Notre Dame turned around the next week and was upset at home by Boston College.
♦ Nov. 1, 2003 (at South Bend) — No. 5 Florida State 37, Notre Dame 0
♦ Dec. 29, 2011 (Champs Sports Bowl at Orlando) — No. 25 Florida State 18, Notre Dame 14
♦ Oct. 18, 2014 (at Tallahassee) — No. 2 Florida State 31, No. 5 Notre Dame 27: The Irish appeared to take the lead in the closing moments against the defending national champions, but a pass interference call in the end zone nullified the score.
