In one of the most bizarre college football games you will ever witness, but probably did not, the Florida State Seminoles defeated the Savannah State Tigers 55-0.
The game made headlines before the ball was even kicked off, as the Seminoles were installed by the bookmakers as the largest favorite in college football history. The 1-AA Tigers were a replacement for West Virginia, who backed out of the game with the Seminoles in the wake of the school's move to the Big XII and the conference's new nine-game schedule.
Florida State pulled its starters during the first quarter in which the Seminoles led 35-0.
And it got stranger from there. The game featured two rain delays, a 10-minute halftime, and two proposed 15-minute quarters that featured a running clock. Yes, a running clock in a college football game.
That was, until ESPN announced on its television broadcast that the game was final with 8:59 left in the third quarter.
At that point, FSU led 55-0, and had a yardage edge of 413 to 28.
Media was not told that the game had been cancelled, but a source told Tomahawk Nation that as of 9:25, the players were already showered and dressed. At 9:25, the emergency personnel had pulled out and the band was leaving.
The hangup seemed to be the need to make the game "official," as opposed to "cancelled." A small detail, but very important considering the payout due to Savannah State and the statistics. Legalese, if you will, within the bounds of contract law and NCAA rules.
At 9:35, Florida State announced that the game was indeed over. The stats will count and Savannah State will be paid its appearance fee. The game is not a forfeit.
According to Vegas rules, wagers on the game will not be graded as it did not last the standard 55-minute minimum.
Up Next: Florida State plays Wake Forest in Tallahassee.