I agree that the rivalry aspect (and it being *at* a likely undefeated, top 5-10 FSU team) should give us pause.
But I really think that the game results the past decade have come down to line matchups (heroics by Dalvin Cook in 2015 & 2016 are the exceptions here).
The 2022 team was a mess. I don't think we had the advantage up front, never mind a significant one.
The 2023 UM OL had an advantage over their DL- even with two first-rounders in Verse and Fiske. Which is why Emory Williams was able to move the ball on a team that ended up 13-1.
Last year the mismatch was bigger and it showed. They never had a chance in that game- it was an old-fashioned ***-kicking.
This year I think the advantage will be strongly to UM. FSU has racked up gaudy amounts of points this year with a combination of cheeky, but slow-developing runs and deep balls. Yes, this offense can catch teams napping- which is one of the many reasons why I'm so glad Hetherman is the DC now.
Also- Gus offenses put their QBs into a meat grinder. It will be on the DL to win up front and allow the killers in the back seven (Toure, Thomas, etc.) to take free hits on Tommy. The kid has heart, and we may well see it burst out of his ribcage on 10/4.