When: Saturday, noon
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee
TV: ACC Network
Weather: 92 degrees, 20% rain chance
Coaches: Mike Norvell, sixth season at FSU, 34-27 (72-42 overall); Clint Dolezel, third season at East Texas A&M, 4-19 (4-19 overall).
Quick slant: The Seminoles had 230 rushing yards and four TDs last week against Alabama, and it was the first time they’ve done both vs. a ranked team since 2012 vs. Clemson. … East Texas A&M athletics director Jim Curry was FSU’s senior associate athletics director for about a decade.
About FSU (1-0): The Seminoles are back in the top 25 for the first time since a loss to Boston College (and QB Tommy Castellanos) on Sept. 2, 2024. FSU jumped back into the rankings on Tuesday, which was Sept. 2, with Castellanos as its QB. … FSU did not allow a sack for the first time since Sept. 16, 2023. … The Seminoles’ offensive line now has 155 career starts, the sixth most in the nation.
About East Texas A&M (0-1): East Texas A&M played at SMU in its opener, losing 42-13 … QB Ron Peace missed the game due to injury. He threw for 2,535 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as a junior in 2024, completing 56.3 percent of his passes.
Three things to watch
The fill-ins on offense: FSU will be without RB Roydell Williams and TE Randy Pittman due to injury. Who will start? The options are plentiful at running back with Gavin Sawchuk, Ousmane Kromah and Jaylin Lucas as well as Titusville’s Caziah Holmes and Kam Davis. FSU often used two tight ends on the same play vs. Alabama and will likely start Amaree Williams as well as use Markeston Douglas and Landen Thomas.
2. Does FSU get its money’s worth?: Fans don’t want to pay to watch an FCS team face FSU, but they do want to see freshmen and backup quarterbacks Brock Glenn and Kevin Sperry. Glenn and Sperry are listed as co-backups, and both could play on Saturday. Glenn is older and more experienced, but which quarterback has a better grasp of Gus Malzahn’s offense?
3. Mash the gas or hangover?: Norvell said he liked the energy of Tuesday’s practice but didn’t like parts of Wednesday’s practice. That’s the norm for teams, but the Seminoles coaches could be worried about taking an FCS team lightly after just knocking off Alabama by 14 points.
