On paper, Saturday's game between the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Florida State will pit strength against strength between two 8-2 teams, with the Seminoles' balanced offense going against UTC's top-20 defense.
Of course, those accolades have been earned at different levels of Division I football - Florida State plays in the Bowl Subdivision, while the Mocs are a step below in the Championship Subdivision.
The challenge is still there.
Mocs glance
› UTC (8-2, No. 8 FCS) at Florida State (8-2, No. 14 College Football Playoff) › Doak Campbell Stadium › Saturday, 3 p.m. › ESPN3 and 96.1 FM
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher is 6-0 against FCS schools since taking over in 2009, and the Seminoles have won 20 straight games at Doak Campbell Stadium, the site of Saturday's matchup.
In a sense, both teams are ultimately looking for the same thing - to come out healthy. The Mocs learn their playoff fate Sunday morning (they're already in via their Southern Conference title and win over The Citadel but await the details), while the Seminoles have a big test against rival Florida the following week with the opportunity to play in a big-time bowl game still a possibility.
"It's going to be pretty exciting to go down there," said UTC linebacker Nakevion Leslie, who has a team-high 72 tackles, including 12.5 for loss. "Playing in big-time games is relaxing and joyful - going into a big stadium, a big crowd. We're not as uptight, because conference games are must-wins. This is a must-win, too."
Stopping the Seminoles is a challenge that begins with trying to limit the production of Heisman Trophy candidate Dalvin Cook, a sophomore running back who has 1,369 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns for the 16th-ranked Seminoles. With two regular-season games remaining, Cook's rushing total has already exceeded Warrick Dunn's single-season program record of 1,242 yards set 20 years ago.
"They've got a pretty good running back, from what I've heard," Leslie said. "I'm looking forward to meeting him in the hole once or twice. I don't look at it as a pride thing. They're just another team on the schedule, and we're going against another running back I've got to watch for and put on the ground when my time comes."
The Seminoles are more than just Cook, though he is the leader of an offense that has had quarterback issues throughout the season.
True freshman Jacques Patrick had 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his starting debut against Syracuse on Oct. 31, while Travis Rudolph is the team's leading receiver in touchdowns, yards per game, average yards per catch and total receiving yards. Fellow receiver Levonte "Kermit" Whitfield has 1,019 all-purpose yards.
"We have to try to figure out how to put our guys in the best position to make plays and make sure they understand what they're supposed to do," UTC defensive coordinator Adam Braithwaite said. "We have to get them playing hard with great effort, try to play physical and go strap it up. They run the ball and Cook is their feature back - he has a bunch of yards and is a great football player - but it's a team game, and we have to go defend not only him but the quarterbacks, the wide receivers. We have to get off blocks, run to the football and play hard."
UTC leads the SoCon in total defense (309.1) and passing yards allowed per game (153.9). The Mocs' 155.2 passing yards allowed per game are second-best in the conference.
"This will be another chance to get better, really," said Mocs linebacker A.J. Hampton, who has 70 tackles. "Whatever the game plan is the coaches put in, we have to focus on doing the best we can against a good offense."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.