Florida State and legal troubles
Janikowski played three seasons for the Seminoles, where he amassed a career scoring total of 324 points (3rd all-time for the school). While he excelled on the field, it was at Florida State that Janikowski's lifestyle started causing problems.

In August 1998, he got into a fight outside of a Tallahassee bar. Janikowski was charged with failure to leave the premises and pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor offense. Despite the incident, he was not punished by head coach Bobby Bowden. Janikowski had a breakout season in 1998, and the Seminoles were in contention for a national championship. The night after a season-ending win over rival Florida, Janikowski got into another fight at a local bar. This time he was charged with battery.

Janikowski stayed out of trouble for most of the 1999 season, which again found FSU in contention for a national title. Prior to the team's appearance in the national championship game (the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana), Janikowski declared his intentions to declare himself eligible for the 2000 NFL draft. On New Year's Eve he was caught breaking the team's curfew, but again was not disciplined by head coach Bowden.

Although Janikowski's skill as a kicker was unquestioned by NFL scouts, his off-the-field behavior was a great cause of concern. In January 2000, Janikowski was partying with a group of friends when his roommate was arrested at a nightclub. Janikowski approached the arresting officer and asked how much it would take to let his friend go. He reportedly dropped three $100 bills on the officer's lap. He was arrested for attempting to bribe an officer, a charge that carried a $5,000 fine, up to five years in prison, and possible deportation.[1].

Oakland Raiders and more legal troubles
Despite the threat of criminal charges and deportation, Janikowski was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft - only the fifth time a kicker had been taken in the first round in NFL history.

Janikowski was acquitted of his bribery charge in June 2000. He had testified on his own behalf, stating that he was simply trying to pay his friend's fine and not bribe the arresting officer. Just eight days after his acquittal, Janikowski and two friends were arrested in Tallahassee on suspicion of felony possession of the designer drug GHB, also known as the date rape drug.

Janikowski, who earned a reputation for partying at Florida State, was charged with DUI on October 2, 2002 and given three years' probation after pleading no contest. Less than a year later, he was arrested after a fight at a Walnut Creek, California restaurant.