Jameis Winston returns to lead Florida State past N.C. State, 56-41

RALEIGH, N.C. —  — Jameis Winston threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns in his return from a suspension, helping No. 1 Florida State rally from 17 down to beat North Carolina State, 56-41, on Saturday night.

The Heisman Trophy winner directed four straight second-half touchdown drives to help the reigning national champions fight through and extend the nation’s longest active winning streak to a program-record 20 games.

Rashad Greene hauled in 11 passes for 125 yards and the go-ahead score for the Seminoles (4-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), while Karlos Williams ran for three scores — the last with 2:07 left to seal it.

Winston was suspended for making an obscene public comment on campus last week, then watched backup Sean Maguire lead Florida State to an overtime home win against Clemson.

He shook off a third-quarter interception to keep the Seminoles pushing forward against the Wolfpack (4-1, 0-1) and quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett, a Florida transfer who was on the sideline for the Gators during Florida State’s last loss in November 2012, threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns while putting up a couple of highlight-reel plays to keep momentum for the Wolfpack in the program’s first-ever home game against the nation’s No. 1-ranked team.

North Carolina State led, 24-7, after the first quarter and 38-28 midway through the third quarter after Shadrach Thornton’s 10-yard scoring run.

But Winston directed a quick 71-yard drive that ended with his 15-yard scoring toss to Jesus Wilson, then capitalized on Brissett’s fumble by zipping the ball to Greene — and just past the outstretched arm of Jack Tocho — for a 42-38 lead with 3:24 left in the third.

Williams’ one-yard scoring run pushed that lead to 49-38 early in the fourth, a cushion that ultimately held up.

Winston also came through with two key third-down conversions in the final minutes after the Wolfpack kicked a field goal to make it a one-possession game — the last being a 20-yard run on third-and-11 with about 3 1/2 minutes left.

Williams capped that drive with his 12-yard score, giving him 126 yards rushing for the day.

Florida State has now won 17 straight games against ACC opponents, a run that began after a loss here in October 2012.

It was a frustrating finish for North Carolina State considering its promising start. Brissett connected with freshman Bo Hines for a 54-yard touchdown pass just 18 seconds into the game.

Brissett later came up with a jaw-dropping play, ducking under the grasp of a Seminoles defender in the pocket then staying on his feet to break away from another near the sideline to throw an 8-yard scoring pass to Johnathan Alston for a 24-7 lead with 2:06 left in the opening period.

It marked the first time in program history that Florida State had given up 24 points in the opening quarter.