There is one difference between Willie Taggart's debut at Florida State and the Seminoles' opener in his second season: Boise State might be the best team in the Group of Five while Virginia Tech, victors on Labor Day weekend last year, ended up in the middle of the pack in the ACC. That's not to say that this recent loss, 36-31 to the Broncos , is somehow better — or at least more understandable — than the ugly, sluggish defeat that kicked off last season . In fact, it's worse.

It's worse for coming in Taggart's second year, which Florida State entered as one of a handful of notable Power Five teams pegged to improve after a down 2018. It's worse for the nature of the loss itself: Boise ran 103 plays, gained 621 yards and trailed 31-13 with four minutes left in the first half. The Seminoles went three-and-out five times across their final nine drives, with seven punts, one fumble and a turnover on downs. In all, the offense gained four first downs across the game's last 34 minutes.