Florida State Crushes East Texas A&M in Lopsided First Half
It was one of those Saturdays in college football where the scoreboard felt almost unbelievable. By halftime alone, the numbers told the story—59-0, 49-0, and 48-0. Those were the leads held by Minnesota, Florida State, and Texas Tech, respectively. Florida State’s blowout over East Texas A&M stood out, with the Seminoles dominating 49-0 before the teams even headed to the locker room.
The action in Tallahassee showed how mismatched these early-season games can be. Florida State wide receiver Duce Robinson made headlines with a spectacular touchdown catch right in front of East Texas A&M defensive back Javon Gillespie. Plays like that summed up the first half—one team loaded with speed, talent, and depth, while the other simply tried to keep pace. By the time the whistle blew for halftime, the outcome was already decided.
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Interestingly, this wasn’t just a one-off. According to Stats LLC, this was the first time since 2016 that three major programs had led by 48 points or more at halftime on the same day. That kind of dominance underscores the huge divide between powerhouse programs and smaller schools willing to take on these games.
And there’s a reason why these matchups keep happening: money. Florida State paid East Texas A&M $450,000 just to come and play. Minnesota’s opponent, Northwestern State, collected $500,000, while Kent State, who trailed Texas Tech 48-0 at the break, earned a much bigger $1.5 million paycheck. Grambling State, facing No. 1 Ohio State on the same day, was guaranteed $1 million. For smaller schools, these payouts go a long way toward funding their athletic departments, even if the scoreboard looks ugly.
It’s a long-standing college football tradition. The bigger program gets what’s essentially a tune-up game, often played at home in front of a roaring crowd, while the smaller program gets critical financial support. As Grambling State’s coach Mickey Joseph said earlier in the week, everyone understands what’s going to happen in terms of competition. Scholarships, facilities, and resources aren’t equal—but the payoff makes it worthwhile for the underdog.
Of course, big checks don’t always guarantee blowouts. Just last season, Notre Dame paid Northern Illinois $1.4 million for a game and ended up on the losing side. Penn State also found itself in a tighter contest on Saturday, leading FIU only 10-0 at halftime, despite writing a $1.6 million check.
But for East Texas A&M against Florida State, there was no upset brewing. The Seminoles dominated from the opening kickoff, putting the game out of reach almost immediately. By the end of the first half, fans could already sense it was going down as one of those unforgettable lopsided scores that make college football Saturdays so unpredictable—and yet, somehow, totally expected.
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