FSU’s best shot at competing might be on the defensive side

If the college teams of Florida are to be successful, this much is clear.

They will ride their defenses to do it.

So far, the offenses of the state schools are sputtering. Everett Golson, the quarterback of FSU, still has spans where he does not play well to keep the pressure off of Dalvin Cook. Will Grier cannot convince his own coach that the job should be his. And even Miami’s offense stopped scoring against Nebraska in its overtime win.

But defensively.

Ah, there, the state schools make a muscle.

FSU has the national’s eighth-ranked defense with Jalen Ramsey and Antonio Smith, giving up 256.3 yards per game. and it’s seventh in third downs. It’s sixth in scoring defense.

Florida, with Vernon Hargreaves and Jon Bullard, is ranked 22^nd, giving up 298.3. In scoring defense, it’s 30^th.

Miami is ranked 27^th. USF is 45^th. FIU is 50^th. UCF is 78^th. FAU is 84^th.