Jameis Winston, Florida State do it again, rally to beat BC, 20-17

Quarterback Jameis Winston trotted onto the waterlogged field at Doak Campbell Stadium with aspirations of a second consecutive national championship on the line. The third-ranked Seminoles were in a dogfight, once again, and needed their Heisman Trophy winner to make a play.

He made several.

Winston led Florida State 66 yards to put Roberto Aguayo in position for a 26-yard field goal with three seconds remaining and the Seminoles remained perfect with a 20-17 victory over Boston College on Saturday.

The Seminoles, who have won a school-record 26 consecutive games, have already locked up a berth in the ACC championship game, but there are bigger goals remaining. Florida State hosts Florida in the regular-season finale with a second consecutive undefeated season on the line. The Seminoles have sat at No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings despite being the last undefeated team from a Power Five conference.

Florida State (11-0, 8-0 ACC) had been plagued by slow starts throughout the season and went into the fourth quarter tied 17-17 with the Eagles. But with less than five minutes left, Winston helped engineer another game-winning drive.

“The majority of the games we’ve played this year have been like this game,” Winston said. “So this isn’t anything new.

“We have confidence. So, I told them get ready to score.”

Florida State took over at its own 26-yard line after Boston College missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt with 4 minutes 37 seconds left, and the Seminoles drove to the Eagles’ eight. Rashad Greene, who had two big drops in the first half, caught back-to-back passes for 11 and 15 yards to move the Seminoles within field-goal range. The drive took 4:34 off the clock.

Greene set a school record for career receptions (254) and yards receiving (3,613). He also set the school record with a reception in his 40th consecutive game.

“It’s one of those things I don’t really dwell on right now because I’m so focused on teammates and this season and our goals,” Greene said. “I feel like it’ll hit me after everything is over and done with.

“I’m more proud of the win than my own accomplishment.”

Winston finished with 281 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. He has thrown at least one touchdown in 24 consecutive games.

Aguayo, who missed a 40-yarder in the third quarter, said it was the first game-winner of his life.

“Honestly, I didn’t feel the butterflies,” Aguayo said. “It was just kick whatever of my career, kick 100 and whatever.

“Yeah, it was to win the game but you can’t think of it like that because that’s when things will start going through your head, like, ‘Oh, this is a game winner I have to make it.’”