No. 7 Florida State vs. Kent State
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee
When: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ACC Network
Weather: 90 degrees, 10% rain chance
Favorite: FSU by 45.5 points
Coaches: Florida State’s Mike Norvell, 35-27 (73-42 overall); Kent State’s Mark Carney, 1-2 (1-2 overall).
Quick slant: Kent State will be paid a $1.2 million guarantee. FSU leads the ACC in scoring offense (54 points) and scoring defense (10 points). The Seminoles will honor their 2025 athletics Hall of Fame class, which includes Jameis Winston and Rashad Greene.
About No. 7 FSU (2-0): The Seminoles lead the nation, averaging 20.8 yards per completion. FSU has scored on 16 of its 20 drives in 2025. Norvell is 29-13 in games when he’s had eight or more days to prepare, including at Memphis (2016-19).
About Kent State (1-2): The Golden Flashes went 0-12 in 2024 and dismissed coach Kenni Burns in April. They snapped a 21-game skid with a victory over FCS Merrimack in the opener. QB Dru DeShields passed for 279 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 37 yards in a 31-28 loss to Buffalo last week.
Three things to watch
Build experience: Kent State should put up more of a fight than East Texas A&M did two weeks ago. The Seminoles were able to use 90 players against ETA&M, including 17 true freshmen. FSU needs to continue developing players through game experience.
2. Quarterback 2a and 2b: If this game gets out of hand in the third quarter, do the coaches turn to Kevin Sperry first or Brock Glenn? The depth chart says “or,” but this could be the last opportunity for them to gain extensive game experience to determine who would be up first if Tommy Castellanos is injured.
3. Which skill players will play?: Squirrel White has battled a hand/wrist injury, and Lawayne McCoy could make his 2025 debut after a preseason injury. Beyond the availability of the receivers, tight end Randy Pittman and running back Roydell Williams will be out. As FSU begins ACC play next week at Virginia, which tight ends will the coaches lean on if Pittman needs to miss more time?
