Duke S Walt Canty (4) can only watch as FSU punt returner Tyler Hunter goes 75 yards for the score. Credit: STEPHEN M. DOWELL, Orlando Sentinel

Duke (6-3, 3-2 in the ACC)

Lost to FSU 48-7

The epigraph: "I told our team it was not a product of their preparation. We have a very committed team. We practiced well. It was not a product of we’re bowl-eligible, now we’re going to shut down. That’s not the case. It is a product of playing a very good team. We didn’t respond to that very good team." —head coach David Cutcliffe

What worked: Big-picture wise, not much. But when coach David Cutcliffe went back and reviewed film, there were individual plays that Duke did win.

A few notable numbers: The Seminoles entered the game with seven fumbles on the entire season, but they put the ball on the ground four times against Duke, including three times in the third quarter. The Blue Devils did recover all four loose balls.

It was a tough day for the Duke offense, as neither quarterback Anthony Boone (7) nor injured starter Sean Renfree could generate any momentum. Credit: STEVE CANNON, AP

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Duke was held to a season-low in both total yards and passing yards. But one Blue Devil had the most productive day of his young career.

Entering the game, freshman wide receiver Max McCaffrey had zero catches. By the time the first half was over, he had two.

McCaffrey, the son of 13-year NFL veteran Ed McCaffrey, caught the two longest passes Sean Renfree threw. The first was a 13-yard completion on Duke’s opening drive, and the second was a drive-extending, 18-yard catch on third down on the Blue Devils’ lone scoring drive.

McCaffrey said he didn’t know ahead of time that he would play a bigger role in the offense.

Updated 8:20 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Throughout the one-sided history of the Duke and Florida State series, the Seminoles have topped 41 points in 16 of the 18 games. 

It's a matchup of ACC divisional leaders here in Tallahassee. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

TALLAHASSE, Fla.—On an unseasonably warm day in the Florida Panhandle, Duke and Florida State will soon take the field for warmups and then kick off what could be a  preview of the ACC Championship game in Charlotte. 

Seriously.

Key defenders like Jordon Byas will need to come up with big stops for Duke in Tallahassee. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

DURHAM—Make no mistake: Florida State is bigger, faster and stronger than Duke.

“Florida State has probably had the best recruiting classes the past few years,” cornerback Ross Cockrell said. “All we can do is continue to work hard and play hard. At the end of the day, athletic ability doesn’t determine who is going to win a football game.”

Now that it’s established that the Blue Devils are aware of the challenge that awaits them Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Tallahassee, the question becomes how do they overcome it?

Expect Brandon Connette to play versus Florida State. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

DURHAM—Duke coach David Cutcliffe announced the S Brandon Braxton was injured in Wednesday's practice when he met with the media Thursday morning. Consequently, Braxton is listed as doubtful for the game against Florida State.

Braxton missed the game against Virginia after injuring himself early in the game against Wake Forest.

WR Conner Vernon, who last week was part of a strange, pre-snap collision with UNC Shakeel Rashad that resulted in a suspension for Rashad and two officials, is not on the injury report. He did not practice Sunday after tweaking his knee on that play. 

Both Devonta Freeman and Ross Cockrell have taken on bigger roles for their team since last year's meeting between Duke and Florida State. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

Earlier this week, I traded questions with David Hale, who covers Florida State for ESPN. Here's a link to what I told him. Enjoy.

How significant is the loss of Chris Thompson?

David Hale: It's a major blow for Florida State's offense. Purely from a running game standpoint, it may not be a huge loss, as James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman have both run well when given the opportunity this year. In terms of all the other little things that a great running back provides though -- pass blocking, blitz pick-up, catching passes out of the backfield, leadership in the huddle -- there's going to be a lot of questions. Thompson was, in many ways, the heart and soul of the offense, and while Wilder and Freeman have the talent to step in and succeed, replacing Thompson is a very tall task.

What aspects of the game are the Noles looking to tighten up as the season enters its November stretch?

Mike Krzyzewski's radio show kicks off its eighth season tonight with a great anecdote from Louisville's Rick Pitino. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

A few programming notes for Duke sports fans:

*Wednesday (tonight) at 7 p.m., Mike Krzyzewski will kick off the eighth season of his "Basketball and Beyond" Sirius XM radio show. Like the title suggests, Krzyrewski talks about hoops and other topics that interest him. Tonight's guests include Louisville coach Rick Pitino and Orioles manager Buck Showalter. The hyperlinks on their names contain preview sound bites. Check it out. 

When asked about the Tennessee job, David Cutcliffe said he's only focused on Duke. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

Get used to this, Duke fans: there's talk in Tennessee of trying to lure David Cutcliffe to the Volunteers.

Earlier today, while Cutcliffe was on the weekly ACC football coaches conference call, I tweeted out a link to a column from Joe Biddle, who works for the ABC affiliate in Nashville. The title: Would David Cutcliffe be Tennessee's Answer?

Now that he's had success, Duke cornerback Ross Cockrell can laugh off memories of his struggles.

DURHAM—Two years ago, on a nearly every-week basis, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe told the media that Ross Cockrell was going to be a great football player.

And every time, the reporters would pause, put their hand to their mouth or reveal whatever was their personal tell that indicated disbelief.

But now, two years later, a question was posed to Cutcliffe: is Ross Cockrell the best cornerback in the ACC?