FSU Seminoles

Florida State cruised past another ACC foe, closing out the division title and picking up its 10th win of the season -- the second time in three years that Jimbo Fisher's squad has won 10 games and made an ACC championship appearance.

While the game wasn't particularly close, there were some numbers that stood out. Here are five that told the story of FSU's 41-14 win over the Terrapins.

237. That's the rushing total for Florida State's ground game on Saturday, a vast improvement from the struggles against Virginia Tech a week earlier. Devonta Freeman led the way, averaging 9.3 yards per carry en route to a career-high 148 yards and two scores. The 237 yards represents a season high for FSU on the road -- its four previous road games had been its four worst rushing performances -- and no designed runs were stuffed in the backfield.

16. That's the number of sacks Florida State has allowed on the road this season, after EJ Manuel was dumped in the backfield three times by Maryland. That represents 76 percent of the Seminoles' season total. Fisher chalked up the struggles on the road to playing better defenses away from home, but FSU will get its chance to test that theory against Florida's stellar defense at Doak Campbell Stadium this week.

7. That's the number of passing plays of 25 yards or longer Florida State has allowed in the past two weeks. In the first nine games of the season, the Seminoles allowed just eight plays of 25 yards. While the big plays have been more common the past two weeks, opponents haven't found much overall success in the passing game. Virginia Tech and Maryland completed just 53 percent of their passes against FSU.

3. That’s the number of receptions for tight end Nick O'Leary on Saturday, including 10-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter. The three catches matches O'Leary's total from the past five games combined. After starting the season with 10 catches in his first four games, O'Leary had largely disappeared from the offense, but Saturday he was a focal point early. For the season, O'Leary has 13 catches for 206 yards -- topping his season total of 164 yards from 2011.

26. That’s the number of tackles for loss this year by Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine, who were both dominant against the Terrapins. Werner and Carradine combined for nine tackles, three sacks, 3.5 TFLs, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. The 20 combined sacks Carradine and Werner share this season is the most by any pair of teammates in the country.

Heather Dinich talks about FSU's berth in the ACC title game.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- This game went as many probably expected. Here's a quick look back at FSU's final and most important ACC win of the season:

It was over when: No. 10 Florida State walked into the stadium. In a matchup of the nation's No. 1 total defense against the nation's worst offense, the game played out on the field exactly as it looked on paper. FSU went 61 yards in 11 plays on the first drive of the game, which was capped by Devonta Freeman's 5-yard touchdown run. The Noles never looked back.

Game ball goes to: Freeman. He ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries for 9.3 yards per carry. Since taking over for injured starter Chris Thompson, Freeman has kept the Noles' ground game going. He finished the first half with 77 rushing yards. It's the fourth time in the past five games Freeman has had at least 70 rushing yards in a game.

Stat of the game: Florida State held Maryland to 27 yards (all through the air) in the first half, which was the fewest yards the defense has held an opposing offense to in the first half. Maryland did not gain a rushing yard on 12 carries in the first half, the second fewest in a half since FSU held Miami to minus-12 rushing yards in the second half earlier this season.

What it means: Florida State clinches at least a share of the Atlantic Division title and will play in the ACC title game in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 1. It will be Florida State's second appearance in the title game under coach Jimbo Fisher, as the Noles won the Atlantic Division in 2010.

Unsung hero of the game: Maryland linebacker Kenny Tate. He had three sacks for a total loss of 11 yards and finished with five tackles. He became the first Maryland player to have three sacks in a game since 2002, when Shawne Merriman did it against North Carolina. Merriman was at the game Saturday.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A win at Maryland is all that stands between Jimbo Fisher and his second ACC championship appearance in three years. Regardless of lofty preseason expectations, that alone represents an accomplishment.

"It’s important with what we want to do and it’s always on our goals at the beginning of the year, to be the ACC champion," Fisher said. "But to get there we need to focus on Maryland and play a great game against Maryland. That’s the only team in America right now."

It's the familiar refrain of Florida State's 2012 campaign, and it's a particularly resonant one this week.

Indeed, Maryland is all that stands in the way of the ACC championship game, and it would be easy for the Seminoles to take the 4-6 Terrapins lightly. After all, Maryland is down four quarterbacks already, and converted linebacker Shawn Petty will get his third start at QB on Saturday. Add a host of other injuries, including an ACL tear for top linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield, and Florida State will be a heavy favorite for good reason.

But the road hasn't been particularly kind to the Seminoles, and regardless of any offensive shortcomings, Maryland might be the best defense FSU has faced this season. So Fisher has been quick to remind his players once again that looking ahead opens the door to failure, even if the Terrapins appear to be an easy adversary just a week ahead of a top-10 matchup against rival Florida.

"We just have to go out and prepare for Maryland," EJ Manuel said. "They have a great defense. I know they have some injuries on offense but we can’t look down upon them just because of that, they want to win. They are going to have their home crowd just like Virginia Tech did. I’m sure it is going to be cold, and we just have to go out there and be ready to play.”

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