Florida State vs. Virginia Tech
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee
When: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ACC Network
Weather: 50 degrees, 10% rain chance
Favorite: Florida State by 13.5 points.
Coaches: Mike Norvell 37-32 at FSU, 75-47 overall; Philip Montgomery, 3-3 as interim coach at Virginia Tech, 46-56 overall
Quick slant: A matchup of two struggling teams as FSU has dropped four of five games, while VT has lost three of four games. FSU has a combined third- and fourth-down efficiency rate of 61.3 percent, which leads the ACC. The Seminoles won the last meeting vs. VT in Tallahassee in 2023 (39-17) and hold a 24-13-1 series lead.
About FSU (4-5, 1-5 ACC): The Seminoles will honor 18 seniors, including all five starting offensive linemen. Tommy Castellanos is being honored, although Norvell and administrators are discussing options in appealing to the NCAA for his return in 2026. WR Duce Robinson has four 100-yard receiving games, including a 148-yard night vs. Wake and a 124-yard game at Clemson. FSU has allowed just 21 points per game, which ranks 33rd in the FBS. Last year, the Seminoles gave up 28 points per game (87th).
About Virginia Tech (3-6, 2-3): RB Marcellous Hawkins has 98 carries for 576 yards and a touchdown. He has 18 runs of 10 yards or more. VT has allowed 31.7 points in its past four games. DT Kemari Copeland has been disruptive, recording 4.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss this fall.
Three things to watch
1. Don’t take the helmet lightly: FSU has been overconfident or taken opponents lightly in three losses (not counting Miami and Clemson). After falling at Virginia and Stanford, as well as a home game to Pittsburgh, will the Seminoles jump out to a quicker start? Will they play focused? FSU hasn’t scored in the first quarter of its past three games and needs to reverse that trend.
2. Stop VT on third and fourth: Virginia Tech is average nationally in third-down conversion rate (41 percent, 64th in FBS) and struggled on fourth down (just 6 of 14, 43 percent and 111th in FBS). But with Drones and VT’s run game, any third-and-2 or fourth-and-1 becomes an opportunity for the Hokies to convert, extend drives and try to pull off an upset.
3. Finish drives: FSU has played far better at home in 2025. However, the Seminoles’ high-scoring offense has slid to 36.7 points per game (17th in FBS) after managing just 13 points at Stanford and 10 points at Clemson. This is more than just a red-zone issue as FSU is too often falling short when crossing the opponent’s 50, scoring on just three of eight instances at Stanford and two of five at Clemson.
