By Garin Turner
The No. 8 Florida State Seminoles (3-0) face their first road challenge in ACC play when they head to Charlottesville to take on the Virginia Cavaliers (3-1, 1-0) Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Seminoles so far
Florida State opened the season with a statement, knocking off then-No. 8 Alabama 31-17. Since then, the Seminoles have overpowered East Texas A&M 77-3 and Kent State 66-10.
Quarterback Tommy Castellanos has managed the offense efficiently, throwing for 594 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Micahi Danzy has provided a spark both in the backfield and out wide, leading the team in rushing yards with 173 on just five carries while also adding 126 receiving yards. Samuel Singleton Jr. has chipped in 168 rushing yards and three scores, while Gavin Sawchuk leads the team with five rushing touchdowns.
Through the air, Duce Robinson leads the receivers with eight catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Seminoles have shown balance. Earl Little Jr. tops the team with 15 tackles. Florida State has spread the pressure around, with multiple defenders recording sacks, including Darrell Jackson Jr., Tyeland Coleman, Elijah Herring, Daniel Lyons, Mandrell Desir, Deamontae Diggs, and Stefon Thompson. In the secondary, Jerry Wilson has picked off two passes.
Cavaliers outlook
Virginia comes in at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the ACC, looking for a marquee upset on its home field. The Cavaliers have leaned on quarterback Chandler Morris, who has thrown for over 1,000 yards through four games. Running back J’Mari Taylor anchors the ground attack, while wide receiver Trell Harris is the go-to target downfield.
Defensively, the Cavaliers are giving up just over 100 yards per game on the ground. They’ll be tested against a Florida State rushing attack averaging 363 yards per game.
What to watch
- Run dominance: Florida State has topped 700 yards of offense in back-to-back games. The question is whether the ground game can keep rolling against Virginia’s front.
- Quarterback efficiency: Castellanos hasn’t been asked to throw often, but he’s been steady. Morris will have to match that efficiency to keep the Cavaliers in it.
- Turnovers: Early mistakes could swing momentum in a hurry. Florida State’s defense has been opportunistic, while Virginia must avoid giving them extra chances.
Prediction
Virginia should provide more resistance than Florida State’s last two opponents, but the Seminoles’ firepower on the ground may be too much to handle.
Final Score: Florida State 31, Virginia 21
