Florida State eager for prime-time game vs. Pitt, and to see freshman QB Jameis Winston make debut

Murray State. Louisiana-Monroe. Samford.

The list of season-opening opponents for Florida State since Jimbo Fisher took over as head coach three years ago has hardly had college football fans flipping the dial to see if the Seminoles were playing in prime time.

So when the Atlantic Coast Conference asked 11th-ranked FSU to return to a stage it has occupied many times before — Labor Day night to play ACC newcomer Pittsburgh at Heinz Field — the Seminoles decided a step up in competition in early September would be helpful.

“It’s Florida State. This is why you come here, to play those big-time games,” senior cornerback Lamarcus Joyner said. “We need those kinds of games. … It’s a great challenge.”

But is it a challenge FSU needed this season? The atmosphere for the 8 p.m. kickoff should be electric as the Panthers start a new era in their history — which includes Dan Marino as well as the 1976 national title — by joining the ACC.

While the Seminoles are used to playing in prime time — this is their sixth Labor Day game since 2004 — the Panthers aren’t accustomed to the spotlight in recent years, especially coming off consecutive 6-7 seasons.

“It’s a big deal,” said second-year coach Paul Chryst, whose first season was Pittsburgh’s last in the Big East. “It’s a great way for us to start our season. We’re going to find out a lot about who we are.”

Florida State opens defense of its first ACC title since 2005, and it will look to find out a lot about one player in particular.

The Seminoles are secure about a defense that was second nationally overall and No. 1 in defending the pass a year ago. And on offense, FSU has a group of talented skill players in the backfield and at receiver plus a veteran line.

But nobody knows how Jameis Winston will react when he becomes the first freshman to start the season as the No. 1 quarterback since 2005.

Winston was a heralded dual-threat recruit out of Hueytown, Ala., when he signed with FSU. He apprenticed behind first-round pick EJ Manuel while redshirting a year ago and survived a competition with sophomore Jacob Coker that started in the spring and lasted through most of camp.

“Jameis is a rare kid, that natural ability to be a leader,” Joyner said. “I saw it last year on the scout team, just making throws. I’ve been here four years and have seen guys like Christian Ponder and EJ Manuel, (and) this kid is going to be special.”

Fisher has won 31 games in three years relying on veteran quarterbacks Ponder and Manuel, who took over as a starter in 2011 but had three years in the program with a handful of starts.

Winston enters the season having yet to take a snap, but some analysts are saying he has an outside chance to contend for the Heisman Trophy.

Fisher isn’t worried about Winston, who is outgoing and embraces the attention, being affected by the hype.

This is how Winston answered a question about pressure.

“Look at everyone around me,” he said. “We have a veteran offensive line, we have veteran wide receivers, we he have two, three, great backs. So there is absolutely no pressure.