No. 8 Florida State at Virginia
Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Va.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Weather: 67 degrees, 50% rain chance
Favorite: FSU by 7 points
Coaches: Mike Norvell (36-27 at FSU, 74-42 overall), Tony Elliott (14-24 at Virginia, 14-24 overall)
Quick slant: FSU leads the series 15-4, but Virginia has won two of the past three games (including the most recent meeting in 2019). The Cavaliers have six wins vs. AP top-10 teams, including a stunning 1995 upset of then-No. 2 FSU on a Thursday night when Warrick Dunn was stopped on the goal line as time expired.
About No. 8 FSU (3-0): The Seminoles have the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense (58 points), the most plays of more than 40 yards (12), and they are second in the FBS in rush offense (363 yards). The offense has a 66% third-down conversion rate (second in FBS). The Seminoles are also 5 of 6 on fourth downs. After years of struggling to defend the run, FSU is 15th in the FBS (78.3 yards) in Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme.
About Virginia (3-1): The Cavaliers have started 3-1 for a second straight season. Last time they fell apart down the stretch with five double-digit losses to finish 5-7. Virginia leads the ACC in time of possession, third-down defense and fewest turnovers lost. The Cavaliers held Stanford to just 35 rushing yards last week, the fewest Virginia has allowed since 2020.
3 things to watch
Pressure on Cavs QB Chandler Morris: FSU has faced mobile quarterbacks, as well as those who have gotten rid of the ball quickly. The Seminoles haven eight sacks, but they’ve pressured quarterbacks well (51 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus). That should be a key storyline with Morris.
2. Run, run, run: FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said the Seminoles would run, and they have, picking up 1,089 rushing yards (already 10 yards more than in a 12-game 2024 season). But FSU has run on 154 plays and passed on 58 plays. Defenses know what’s coming — a run 72 percent of the time — and haven’t stopped it yet. This includes two guarantee-game wins over East Texas A&M and Kent State, but FSU isn’t going to stop against Virginia. The Cavaliers have allowed just 100 rushing yards on average this season.
3. Special teams improvement: Jake Weinberg hasn’t been needed much, making both of his field-goal attempts (45 and 25 yards). Mac Chiumento didn’t even need to punt in FSU’s last two games. If FSU has struggled in one spot, it’s punt returns. Jaylin Lucas muffed a punt against Alabama, let another sail over his head against Kent State and allowed others to bounce in front of him. FSU could change returners, turning to receiver Squirrel White, who is expected to return from injury, or receiver BJ Gibson (an outfielder on the baseball team).
