Game recap: Florida State Seminoles defeat Oklahoma Sooners with late field goal
After almost a month of waiting, the Cheez-It Bowl is finally here.
Florida State (9-3) will square off against Oklahoma (6-6) in the 5:30 p.m. game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando (TV: ESPN).
Not since 2019 have the Seminoles played in a bowl game. They are looking to capture their first 10-win season since finishing 10-3 in 2016. FSU enters this game as a 10-point betting favorites, per Bet Online.
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Under first-year coach and former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, the Sooners have struggled. They have dropped four one-score games this season. With another loss, Oklahoma would end the season below .500 for the first time since finishing 5-6 in 1998.
The Sooners have defeated the Seminoles in six straight meetings, leading the all-time series 6-1. They captured their most recent national title after defeating FSU, 13-2, in the 2000 BCS National Championship Game.
Follow along for live updates and coverage from the game.
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What channel is the Cheez-It Bowl on? How to watch Florida State Seminoles vs. Oklahoma Sooners on TV, streaming
9:06 p.m. | Florida State uses late field goal to defeat Oklahoma in Cheez-It Bowl
FSU has won the Cheez-It Bowl.
The No. 13 Seminoles (10-3) used a 32-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Fitzgerald with 55 seconds left to defeat the Sooners (6-7), 35-32, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Thursday.
With the victory, FSU now has its first 10-win season since 2016.
Quarterback Jordan Travis went 27 of 38 for a career-high 418 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Wide receiver Johnny Wilson recorded a career-high 202 receiving yards on eight catches.
8:46 p.m. | FSU vs. Oklahoma tied once again
It wouldn’t be a FSU primetime game this season if there was not an absurd amount of drama.
This game is tied again, now at 32-32, after Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes ran for a 12-yard touchdown with 3:37 left in the fourth quarter.
The Sooners went on a 9-play, 75 yard touchdown drive.
8:35 p.m. | Seminoles reclaim the lead over the Seminoles
It started with a fumble recovery from FSU safety Jammie Robinson.
And it ended with a 17-yard touchdown catch from tight end Markeston Douglas.
Following that sequence, the Seminoles are now up 32-25 with 7:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.
FSU went on a six-play, 68-yard touchdown drive after recovering a fumble from Oklahoma running back Gavin Sawchuk. Quarterback Jordan Travis started the drive with a 33-yard completion to running back Trey Benson. He also helped the Seminoles convert a third-and-3 with a three-yard completion to receiver Mycah Pittman.
8:24 p.m. | FSU running back Treshaun Ward ties game vs. Oklahoma with TD
This game is tied.
FSU running back Treshaun Ward recorded a 38-yard rushing touchdown, evening the game at 25-25 with 11:05 left in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Jordan Travis completed a seven-yard pass to wide receiver Ontaria Wilson on a third-and-1 earlier in that drive, which lasted six plays for 75 yards. Travis also found receiver Darion Williamson for a 20-yard completion.
8:16 p.m. | Oklahoma reclaims lead over FSU to begin fourth quarter
Oklahoma is now back ahead.
Running back Gavin Sawchuk found the end zone on a 15-yard run, giving the Sooners a 25-18 lead over the Seminoles with 13:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed a pass to tight end Brayden Willis to convert the two-point conversion.
FSU is in trouble with all of its injuries in the secondary. Cornerbacks Jarrian Jones and Renardo Green and safety Akeem Dent are now out of the game with apparent injuries. Safety Jammie Robinson briefly left the game with an apparent lower-leg injury, but he returned.
7:50 p.m. | Seminoles take lead over the Sooners
For the first time since early in the first quarter, FSU has the lead.
The Seminoles have a 18-17 advantage over the Sooners after running back Treshaun Ward recorded a one-yard rushing touchdown with 5:33 left in the third quarter.
FSU had a 15-play, 94-yard drive with six first downs and two third-down conversions. Quarterback Jordan Travis completed a 14-yard pass to wide receiver Malik McClain on third-and-10. He later found receiver Johnny Wilson for a 13-yard completion on third-and-8.
7:05 p.m. | Oklahoma extends lead over FSU before halftime
FSU heads into halftime trailing Oklahoma, 17-11.
With 19 seconds left in the first half, the Sooners extended their lead on a 51-yard field goal from kicker Zach Schmit. A 54-yard field goal from Seminole kicker Ryan Fitzgerald fell short as time expired.
Quarterback Jordan Travis completed 10 of 14 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He also leads FSU with 34 rushing yards on five carries. Wide receiver Johnny Wilson has a game-high 110 receiving yards on four catches.
OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel went 7 of 13 for 110 yards and a touchdown through the air while adding a nine-yard rushing score. Running back Jovantae Barnes leads all rushers with 70 yards on 15 carries.
6:40 p.m. | FSU cuts deficit vs. Oklahoma to three after Ontaria Wilson's TD catch
The Seminoles needed that.
After Oklahoma kicker Zach Schmit missed a 45-yard field goal, FSU cut the deficit to 14-11 with a six-play, 72-yard touchdown drive.
Quarterback Jordan Travis found wide receiver Ontaria Wilson in the corner of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 7:18 left in the second quarter. The Seminoles then converted a two-point conversion on a pass from Wyatt Rector to fellow tight end Brian Courtney.
6:17 p.m. | QB Dillon Gabriel gives Oklahoma double-digit lead over Florida State
Oklahoma is now up 14-3.
Quarterback Dillan Gabriel found the end zone on a nine-yard touchdown run with 14:31 remaining in the second quarter, capping an eight-play, 49-yard drive.
A 23-yard punt return from wide receiver Marvin Mims gave the Sooners solid field position at the Seminole 49-yard line.
5:53 p.m. | Sooners take 7-3 advantage over Seminoles
As expected, this game looks like it will be a shootout.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel connected with wide receiver Jalil Farooq for a 22-yard touchdown pass, putting Oklahoma ahead of FSU 7-3 with 7:01 left in the first quarter.
The Sooners were picking on the Seminoles' cornerbacks on that drive. Receiver Marvin Mims would have scored a long touchdown – with cornerback Renardo Green in coverage – if Gabriel did not badly overthrow him. After cornerback Jarrian Jones left the game with an apparent injury, his replacement, Omarion Cooper, gave up the touchdown from Farooq.
5:42 p.m. | FSU takes early 3-0 lead over Oklahoma
FSU struck first.
Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal, giving the Seminoles a 3-0 lead over the Sooners with 11:26 left in the first quarter.
Quarterback Jordan Travis extended the drive with a 16-yard run on a third-and-4. FSU had a couple of other big plays, in a 22-yard run from running back Treshaun Ward and 26-yard reception from wide receiver Johnny Wilson.
5:35 p.m. | FSU vs. Oklahoma officially underway
Oklahoma won the opening coin toss, deferred and will kick off to FSU to start the game.
There is quite the atmosphere here in a packed Camping World Stadium. The kickoff conditions are 73 degrees with fair skies and easterly winds of eight miles per hour.
Below is a look at the Seminoles' entrance and the crowd.
Florida State takes the field. This atmosphere is awesome. pic.twitter.com/C3d5DAVGxF
— Carter is feelin’ the cheeziest (@CarterKarels) December 29, 2022
5 p.m. | Final availability update
FSU will be without a starter on defense against Oklahoma.
Defensive tackle Fabien Lovett, who missed five games with a lower-leg injury this season, is in street clothes during pregame warmups and will not be available.
Offensive linemen Bless Harris, Thomas Shrader and Julian Armella, wide receivers Winston Wright Jr. and Keyshawn Helton, athlete Joshua Burrell, tight end Jackson West, defensive linemen Ayobami Tifase and Aaron Hester and linebacker Stephen Dix Jr. are among other players who are not dressed out.
Two freshmen – offensive lineman Daughtry Richardson and defensive lineman Antavious Woody – were not observed on the field during pregame warmups.
Defensive back Travis Jay is dressed out for the first time this season.
The Sooners will be without four of their starting offensive linemen: left tackle Anton Harrison, center Andrew Raym, right guard Chris Murray and right tackle Wanya Morris.
3:30 p.m. | Pregame availability update
In an era of the transfer portal and opt-outs, FSU has about as complete of a roster as a college football team can have for a bowl game.
The Seminoles should not be without any significant players due to opt-out or transfer. And maybe the biggest contributor among that bunch, backup linebacker Amari Gainer, is expected to be available despite entering the portal earlier this month.
Whether any FSU players are out for the game with an injury will be worth monitoring.
Oklahoma will be without several key starters: running back Eric Gray (opt-out), left tackle Anton Harrison (opt-out), right tackle Wanya Morris (opt-out) and center Andrew Raym (injury). Backup running back Marcus Major also won’t be available with an injury.
Where and when will the Florida State Seminoles play Oklahoma Sooners?
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, December 29
How can I watch FSU vs. Oklahoma on TV, streaming?
TV: ESPN (Channel 206 on DirecTV, Channel 140 on Dish Network), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial), fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Live stream: WatchESPN (need cable provider), ESPN+ ($9.99 per month) and the ESPN app
How can I listen to FSU vs. OU on radio?
FSU radio: Seminoles Radio Network/WTNT 103.1 FM, Sirius XM Channel 193
FSU online radio: Seminoles.com, SiriusXM.com Channel 955
What's the latest betting line for FSU vs. Oklahoma?
Florida State is a 9.5-point favorite over Oklahoma, according to Tipico, the oddsmaker for USA TODAY. The over-under is 65.5 points.
Reach Carter Karels at ckarels@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @CarterKarels. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU vs. Oklahoma game score, live updates from Cheez-It Bowl