FACTS & STATS: Site:Carter-Finley Stadium (57,082) -- Raleigh, North Carolina. Television:ESPN. Home Record: FSU 2-1, NC State 2-2. Away Record: FSU 1-0, NC State 0-2. Neutral Record: FSU 1-0, NC State 0-0. Conference Record: FSU 1-1, NC State 0-2. Series Record: Florida Sate leads, 19-9.

GAME NOTES: The Florida State Seminoles set out in search of their third straight win away from home, as they square off against the NC State Wolfpack in an ACC affair at Carter-Finley Stadium this Thursday. Following three consecutive home games to kick off the season, FSU has hit the road for a three-game trip that has gotten off to a good start. The team got its current road swing underway with a 39-21 win over Colorado before outlasting instate foe Miami-Florida, 41-39, on October 4th. The wins pushed the Seminoles overall mark to 4-1 on the season and that includes an even 1-1 record versus ACC foes. As for NC State, it is in the midst of a four-game homestand that hasn't gone well thus far. The home stretch started with a 30-24 upset of then 15th-ranked East Carolina, but since that win, the program has dropped a pair of games to then 13th-ranked South Florida (41-10) and most recently Boston College (38-31) on October 4th. Losers of three of their last four games, the Wolfpack now sit at 2-4 overall. In terms of the all-time series, FSU holds a 19-9 advantage over NC State and that takes into account a 27-10 triumph in last season's meeting in Tallahassee.

FSU has been solid on the offensive side of the ball thus far and the team is producing a hardy 39.6 ppg behind 424.4 total ypg. The offense has displayed good balance, but has been especially effective on the ground, where it is averaging 231.6 total ypg. Antone Smith paces the ground game with 394 yards and nine scores and he is coming off a four-touchdown effort versus Miami. In that game, Smith toted 27 times for 92 yards, helping FSU rush for 310 yards in a 41-39 win over the Hurricanes. Quarterback Christian Ponder led the charge in the victory with 144 rushing yards, as he became the first FSU signal caller to rush for over a 100 yards in a game since Charlie Ward in 1992. Ponder also hit on 14-of-31 pass attempts for 159 yards and a touchdown, although he was picked off twice. In five games, Ponder has already been intercepted six times and he has completed just 49.1 percent of his tosses for the year. Still, he has been effective in moving the team and has thrown for 706 yards and seven touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 262 yards. His mobility has made the biggest impact for this FSU offense, which has overcome 14 turnovers to be productive.

On the defensive side of the ball the Seminoles have been every bit as sharp, as they are holding opponents to 15.8 ppg and a mere 230.0 total ypg. The unit has been especially tough against the run, permitting just 64.0 ypg and two touchdowns thus far. Getting into the backfield is another strength of FSU, which has notched 15 sacks already. In their most recent outing, the Seminoles held Miami to just 256 total yards, while picking off three passes. The defense spent under 20 minutes of the game on the field and held Miami to just a 2-of-15 effort on third down conversions. FSU did surrender 39 points in that game, but the defense was responsible for only three of those touchdowns and the unit was put in several bad spots due to turnovers by the offense. Tony Carter made a pair of interceptions in the win, while Derek Nicholson had six tackles and two TFLs. For the season, Nicholson leads the squad with 31 tackles and 7.5 TFls.

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