What Is 1968 Florida State Seminoles football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1968 Florida State Seminoles football team finished with a 7–4 record under head coach Bill Peterson, marking their 13th season under his leadership. They played as an independent team and scored 259 points, averaging 23.5 points per game.

Key Facts

The 1968 Florida State Seminoles football team had a 7–4 overall record
Head coach Bill Peterson led the team for the 13th consecutive season
The Seminoles scored 259 total points, averaging 23.5 points per game
They played as an independent team, not affiliated with a conference
FSU's season included a 31–10 loss to LSU in the 1968 Sun Bowl

Overview

The 1968 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Bill Peterson in his 13th and final season at the helm.

The Seminoles finished the season with a 7–4 record, showcasing a balanced offense and improved defense compared to previous years. Despite a promising start, the team fell short of a major bowl invitation until accepting a bid to the Sun Bowl.

Season record: The Seminoles finished with a 7–4 overall record, including five wins at home and two on the road, reflecting moderate consistency throughout the season.
Head coach:Bill Peterson completed his 13th season as head coach, marking the end of an era that saw FSU transition into a nationally recognized program.
Scoring output: Florida State scored 259 points over 11 games, averaging 23.5 points per game, one of the better offensive outputs in the program’s history to that point.
Defensive performance: The defense allowed 202 total points, averaging 18.4 points per game, indicating a slight improvement from the previous season’s defensive metrics.
Bowl appearance: The team played in the 1968 Sun Bowl on December 21, losing 31–10 to LSU, which capped Peterson’s tenure at Florida State.

Season Performance & Key Games

The 1968 campaign featured several notable performances, including a dominant 41–0 shutout over Duke and a close 17–16 win against rival South Carolina. The team started strong but faltered late in the season, losing three of their final five games.

September 21: Florida State defeated Duke 41–0 in Tallahassee, showcasing a dominant defense and explosive offense early in the season.
October 5: A hard-fought 17–16 victory over South Carolina kept FSU undefeated in non-conference play and boosted national rankings briefly.
October 26: The Seminoles lost 17–14 to No. 10 North Carolina State, their first ranked opponent defeat, which dented their postseason prospects.
November 16: A 31–14 loss to Miami (FL) damaged bowl hopes and contributed to Peterson’s eventual departure after the season.
Sun Bowl: Facing LSU in El Paso, Texas, FSU was overpowered in a 31–10 defeat, ending the season on a low note and concluding Peterson’s era.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 1968 season compares to the two surrounding years in terms of record, scoring, and coaching:

Season	Record	Points For	Points Against	Head Coach	Bowl Result
1966	8–3	244	168	Bill Peterson	Lost 14–13, Sun Bowl
1967	6–3–1	183	144	Bill Peterson	No bowl
1968	7–4	259	202	Bill Peterson	Lost 31–10, Sun Bowl
1969	6–4–1	182	173	Dalton Bell (interim)	No bowl
1970	7–4	206	188	Bill Peterson (through 1968), then new staff	No bowl

The 1968 season was transitional, maintaining a winning record but failing to surpass the success of 1966. Despite scoring more points than any previous FSU team at the time, defensive lapses and late-season losses prevented a stronger finish. The Sun Bowl appearance marked the second consecutive year in the postseason, but the lopsided loss to LSU signaled the need for change.

Why It Matters

The 1968 season was a pivotal moment in Florida State football history, representing both the culmination of Bill Peterson’s tenure and the beginning of a rebuilding phase. It highlighted the program’s growing national profile while exposing limitations in consistency and depth.

End of an era: Bill Peterson’s departure after 13 seasons marked the end of FSU’s foundational coaching period, paving the way for future success under new leadership.
Bowl consistency: Two consecutive Sun Bowl appearances (1966, 1968) demonstrated FSU’s emerging status as a program capable of postseason contention.
Offensive milestone: The 259 points scored were the most in school history to that point, reflecting the evolution of the Seminoles’ offensive strategy.
Recruiting impact: Strong performances in 1968 helped maintain momentum in recruiting, especially in the South, despite the coaching change.
Transition period: The 1968 season bridged the gap between Peterson’s era and the modernization of FSU football in the 1970s and 1980s.
Historical context: This season is remembered as a stepping stone toward the national prominence FSU would achieve under coaches like Bobby Bowden in later decades.

The 1968 Florida State Seminoles may not be remembered for championships, but they played a crucial role in the program’s long-term trajectory, setting the stage for future success through steady development and national exposure.