The outcome was never in doubt. Bethune Cookman is a very good 1-AA team, but a 1-AA team nonetheless. The Seminoles overwhelmed them through the ground, the air and on defense on a rainy, wet night in Tallahassee, winning 54-6.
The first score actually came from the defense, as senior linebacker Telvin Smith jumped in front of a Bethune Cookman pass and raced 68 yards for the score. Florida State then added a field goal by Roberto Aguayo after a seven play, 58-yard drive to push the margin to 10-0. Bethune Cookman was then hit for a safety via a holding call in the end zone, and Florida State followed with an incredible pass play from Jameis Winston to Kelvin Benjamin for 11 yards and the score, to cap a four-play, 46-yard drive.
Florida State then marched 82 yards on 12 plays for a 26-0 lead, and followed it up with an eight-play, 66-yard drive for a 33-0 lead at the half.
Through two quarters, Florida State had amassed 259 yards on 37 plays, an average of seven yards/play. Each offensive unit had some highlight plays and some misfires. Quarterback Jameis Winston was wild on a few throws, but his receivers also dropped two perfect touchdown passes, and running back James Wilder, Jr. had a fumble right as Florida State was going in to score. Bethune Cookman was very aggressive, and for the most part, Florida State picked up the blitz well.
Defensively, FSU allowed only 115 yards on 43 plays, which is an excellent average of 2.7 yards/play. Tackling was an issue at times in the first half, but with Bethune Cookman losing its quarterback
Winston would play one series with the offense coming out of the half, a four-play, 69-yard march to the end zone and a 40-0 lead. Winston finished 10-19 for 148 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions.
Bethune Cookman did march for a touchdown in the third quarter, a drive of 12 plays and 75 yards, cutting the score to 40-6 after missing the extra point.
Jacob Coker looked quite good, going 3-6 for 78 yards. The trio of Karlos Williams, Devonta Freeman and James Wilder, Jr. combined to rush for 251 yards on 27 carries.