LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- In a game that ended just before the start of Halloween, the No. 2 team in the country got a major scare on the road.

But Florida State isn’t easily spooked -- and it’s even harder to kill. The Seminoles bounced back from a 21-point deficit at No. 25 Louisville to win 42-31 and keep their College Football Playoff hopes very much alive.

Here’s a quick look at how it went down:

How the game was won: After falling behind 21-0 in the first half and trailing 24-7 in the third quarter, the Seminoles' offense finally got going. But Florida State really showed its true championship mettle on the downs that mattered most. Louisville finished 1-for-11 on third downs, missing on its first 10, and was 0-for-2 on a pair of fourth downs -- the first on the FSU goal line during the game’s first series; the second on a dropped pass with the game on the line. Meanwhile, the Seminoles went 9-for-16 on third down, and those conversions included three long touchdowns.

Game ball goes to: While Florida State running back Karlos Williams was in the news all week for the wrong reasons, his backup -- true freshman Dalvin Cook -- made the headlines Thursday night. He gave the Seminoles a spark in the third quarter, catching balls out of the backfield and scoring on a 40-yard run. Then he provided the game-winning score on a 38-yard run down the right sideline, one play after Florida State forced a Louisville three-and-out. Cook finished with 110 rushing yards on just nine carries and added four receptions for 40 yards.

What it means: Florida State won its 24th straight game and further strengthened its playoff position. This looked like the Seminoles’ toughest remaining game, as they finish the regular season with Virginia, at Miami, Boston College and Florida before a likely ACC championship game appearance. It now will take a major upset to keep Jimbo Fisher’s team from going undefeated for a second straight season.

Playoff implication: Several teams from other conferences were pulling for Louisville, including those from the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12. But now the Seminoles have three quality wins (Clemson, Notre Dame and Louisville) and will be a heavy favorite to claim one of the four playoff spots.

Best play: While Florida State got plenty of big plays from true freshmen on Thursday, Cook's second touchdown run was the biggest. Right after the Seminoles forced Louisville into a three-and-out deep in Cardinals territory, the freshman running back sprinted off tackle to the right and streaked to the end zone to put FSU up for good with 3:46 left.

What's next: The Seminoles host Virginia next Saturday, while Louisville heads to Boston College.