Florida State enters the final weekend in September still looking for its first win. That's not something many thought they'd say about the Seminoles leading into the season. Granted, that statement is misleading without context; Florida State missed two games against Miami (postponed) and ULM (canceled) due to Hurricane Irma. 

Still, FSU has some building to do after losing to NC State 27-21in Tallahassee, which puts Jimbo Fisher's team at 0-2 for the first time since 1989. A loss to Wake Forest in Week 3 would put FSU at 0-3 for the first time since 1976. 

Here's what we learned from both sides ... 

1. Florida State freshman Justin Blackman sure can throw: We found out this much about Blackman in his first start: he can spin it. Blackman's best throws on the day came on downfield attempts when he was dropping dimes to his big wideouts. What's more is that Blackman was usually doing it while either getting drilled or with a hand in his face. It takes a lot of confidence to take those chances and skill to actually place the ball where it needs to be in the face of such pressure. Blackman wasn't perfect by any means. He held the ball too long on some sacks and misread some throws, but for a true freshman making his first start against an excellent defensive front from NC State, you have to take the bad with the good. Blackman was 22-of-38 for 278 yards and a score, and with Fisher's coaching, should be just fine this season in relief of Deondre Francois. 

2. Ryan Finley is the best quarterback in the ACC no one talks about: Blackman wasn't the only quarterback who impressed. Finley is the best signal-caller in the ACC that doesn't get the same pub as Lamar Jackson or Kelly Bryant. The junior had 230 passing yards of his own along with two touchdowns. Finley is a veteran quarterback and it shows with his good, quick decisions, nice ball placement and awareness to bail out bad plays. He's not the single dynamic player as Jackson or Bryant, but with him, NC State always has a chance to score on offense. 

3. NC State's defensive front makes the Wolfpack a contender: Defensive end Bradley Cubb is the name along NC State's defensive line that everyone knows (Florida State fans now know it for different reasons.) He's earned that distinction and he was once again brilliant on Saturday. However, that senior laden front four is full of dudes capable of getting pressure. They brought it from the edges and from up the middle. There's good depth, too, along that front. That'll be important for later in the year with two big home games against Louisville and Clemson still looming. NC State has the pieces to at least make some noise in the ACC Atlantic.

4. Jimbo Fisher has his work cut out for him again: Fisher orchestrated his best coaching job in 2015 by getting the Noles to 10 wins and a New Year's Six bowl appearance when, frankly, they weren't a 10-win team. Fisher will have to work a little bit of coaching magic again this season. He's already building up a new starting quarterback because of Francois' injury and replacing his best offensive player (running back Dalvin Cook). Pass protection from the offensive line was decent against NC State all things considered -- not every sack was on them -- so that's already a positive sign. It's been rough sledding early, but don't be surprised if this is a much better team come November.