Charlotte, N.C. • Florida State has made its case to play for a second straight national championship.
Jameis Winston threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, and second-ranked Seminoles held off No. 12 Georgia Tech 37-35 Saturday night to win their third consecutive ACC championship.
The Seminoles (13-0, 9-0 ACC, No. 4 CFP) will find out Sunday if it's enough to earn them a berth in the first ever College Football Playoff. All four of the top-ranked teams in the playoff rankings were victorious over the weekend.
Rashad Greene had seven catches for 123 yards and two scores and freshman Dalvin Cook had 220 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in his first college start to help extend the Seminoles' winning streak to 29 games.
Nick O'Leary added three catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Synjyn Days ran for 67 yards and three touchdowns and Justin Thomas ran for 104 yards threw for a score for Georgia Tech (10-3, 6-3, No. 11 CFP), which rushed for 331 yards.
Winston, who threw four interceptions in a win over Florida last Saturday, was near perfect against the Yellow Jackets.
He completed 21 of 30 passes, didn't turn the ball over and seemed in total command throughout most of the game as Florida State scored on its final seven possessions.
The turning point came with 7:47 left in the game when Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson went for it on fourth and 5 near midfield.
The gamble failed when Thomas' pass to Darren Waller was underthrown. Until then, the Yellow Jackets had run the ball 58 times and thrown it just five.
Florida State quickly took advantage, moving into field goal range for Roberto Aguayo. He converted his third field goal the second half from 28 yards to make it a two-possession game at 37-28 with 4:28 left.
The Seminoles sealed the game when LaMarcus Brutus intercepted Thomas on a fourth down heave with 3:22 remaining.
Georgia Tech scored on a 25-yard TD strike from Thomas to Darren Waller to cut the lead to 37-35 with 1:47 left. The Yellow Jackets attempted an onside kick, but Florida State recovered and ran out the clock.
As they've done most of the season, the Seminoles dug themselves an early hole.
Georgia Tech's defense forced a three-and-out on the game's first possession when Winston threw behind an open Jesus Wilson on third down while under pressure. The Yellow Jackets immediately seized the momentum, moving 71 yards in eight plays — all on the ground —with Days scoring on a 1-yard run to take a 7-0 lead.
But the Seminoles wouldn't let this one get away from them.
Florida State scored on its next four possessions to take a 28-21 lead at halftime. Winston threw for 222 yards and three scores in the first half, including a 45-yarder to 46-yarder to O'Leary and a 44-yard strike to Greene, who became the ACC's all-time leader in yards receiving. One score came on a blown coverage and the other when a Georgia Tech defensive back fell down.
Florida State's Dalvin Cook (4) runs through Georgia Tech defensive lineman Adam Gotsis (96) for a touchdown during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Florida State's Dalvin Cook, left, stretches the ball just short of the goal line as Georgia Tech defensive back Jamal Golden, right, defends during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) raises his arms after a touchdown against Georgia Tech during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Florida State tight end Nick O'Leary (35) runs to the end zone for a touchdown after catching a pass after the game during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Florida State's Dalvin Cook, left, stretches the ball just short of the goal line as Georgia Tech defensive back Jamal Golden, right, defends during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Georgia Tech running back Synjyn Days (10) dives over the goal line for a touchdown against Florida State during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) throws a pass against Georgia Tech during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, left, talks to officials during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Florida State tight end Nick O'Leary (35) celebrates his touchdown against Georgia Tech with wide receiver Rashad Greene (80) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Georgia Tech defensive back Jamal Golden (4) runs past Florida State linebacker Reggie Northrup (5) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas (5) is tackled by Florida State defensive end DeMarcus Walker (44) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Georgia Tech running back Synjyn Days (10) celebrates his touchdown run against Florida State with offensive lineman Shaquille Mason, right, during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Georgia Tech running back Synjyn Days (10) runs past Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey (8) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to pass against Georgia Tech during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Georgia Tech running back Dennis Andrews (3) tries to break the tackle of Florida State defensive back Nate Andrews (29) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to hand off the ball against Georgia Tech during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Georgia Tech running back Synjyn Days (10) dives over the goal line for a touchdown against Florida State during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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