Florida State at Stanford

Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, Calif.

When: 10:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Weather: 55 degrees, 10% rain chance

Line: FSU by 17.5 points.

Coaches: Mike Norvell is 36-30 at FSU,  74-45 overall; Frank Reich is 2-4 at Stanford, 2-4 overall.

Quick slant: This is FSU’s first regular-season game in California since a 14-7 win at Southern Cal in 1997, and it’s also the first FSU-Stanford matchup … FSU is seeking its first road ACC win since 2023 and first ACC victory since September 2024 (vs. California) … Reich was hired as interim head coach on March 31. He went 41-43-1 as an NFL head coach with Indianapolis and Carolina (2018-23).

About FSU (3-3, 0-3 ACC): The Seminoles are averaging 44.2 points (No. 5 in FBS) and 536.5 yards (No. 3 in FBS) at the midpoint. QB Tommy Castellanos has 6,767 career yards (5,054 passing) going into Saturday. FSU’s rush defense is ranked 38th in the FBS (116.3 yards), but the Seminoles are 62nd against the pass (216.7).

About Stanford (2-4, 1-2): QB Ben Gulbranson excels at home, completing 64.6 percent of his passes for 630 yards and three TDs in wins over Boston College and San Jose State. He threw  four interceptions in four road games, all losses. Stanford has allowed 32.3 points in its four games vs. Power 4 opponents. The Cardinal are 128th in rush offense (92.7 yards), averaging just 2.87 yards per carry.

3 things to watch

 Stanford struggles to run, and FSU defends the run well. The Cardinal are 134th among the 136 FBS teams in pass defense (303.7 yards). FSU’s defense be able to force Gulbranson to beat them through the air. But can FSU’s offense air it out? That will be influenced by the availability of tight end Randy Pittman (probable) and leading receiver Duce Robinson (questionable). Receivers Squirrel White (probable) and Jayvan Boggs (questionable) also fuel the passing game.

2.  Stanford receiver CJ Williams has 35 catches for 404 yards, surpassing in six games his totals in two years at Wisconsin (25 catches, 396 yards). With FSU’s top corner Ja’Bril Rawls ruled out, Kissimmee Osceola star Jerry Wilson must limit Williams’ production.

3. FSU has fumbled in three straight games, one each by Gavin Sawchuk, Ousmane Kromah and Cocoa’s Caziah Holmes. Against Pitt last week, Holmes’ fumble came in the fourth quarter near midfield and halted FSU’s momentum. While Castellanos didn’t have an interception against Pitt, the Seminoles can’t keep the fumbling trend going.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/10/17/game-time-fast-facts-odds-keys-to-florida-state-at-stanford/