TALLAHASSEE — Virginia built its offense around transfer quarterback Chandler Morris and landed four transfer offensive linemen with 101 combined college starts.
Florida State built its offense around transfer quarterback Tommy Castellanos and landed four transfer offensive linemen with 105 combined college starts.
Virginia’s offensive depth chart lists 11 seniors/graduate students. FSU’s offensive depth chart lists 10 seniors and true freshman receiver Jayvan Boggs of Cocoa.
When No. 8 FSU (3-0) and Virginia (3-1) face off on Friday at 7 p.m. (ESPN), there are no shortage of similarities — favoring experienced transfers with game experience — between two programs enjoying hot starts in what they hope are bounce-back seasons. It’s also an early litmus test to see who could be in contention in what’s now a wide-open Atlantic Coast Conference, since Clemson has already suffered two league losses.
All of the experience has resulted in some impressive numbers. FSU and Virginia are among the top 15 in the FBS in scoring offense, total offense, rushing offense and third-down conversion rate. A year ago? Virginia had the 107th scoring offense (22.7 points) and FSU was 131st (15.4).
The Cavaliers’ turnaround was sparked by the line as well as Morris, who bounced from Oklahoma to TCU to North Texas before landing at Virginia. Morris passed for 3,774 yards, 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions at North Texas in 2024. A precise passer from the pocket and on the run, he’s completing 70.8 percent of his passes for 1,050 yards, eight touchdowns and an interception this fall.
“Even in times when people have gotten to him, he’s been able to escape,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said. “Keeps his eyes down the field. He is a threat as a runner. They’re doing a really good job offensively of being so multiple in the ways that they’re attacking – formations, tempo, him as a run threat, the vertical passing game.”
If that sounds familiar, Norvell could have easily said similar things about Castellanos. The Boston College transfer hasn’t had to throw all that often, but he’s completed 27 of 38 passes for 594 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while also picking up 139 rushing yards and three touchdowns behind FSU’s veteran line.
Castellanos rolled his ankle in FSU’s rout of Kent State last week but said he feels good. Although he’s listed as probable on FSU’s injury report, Norvell expects Castellanos to play.
Virginia has seen plenty of Castellanos, including a 2023 game in which he led BC to a 27-24 win over the Cavaliers. Castellanos had two interceptions but passed for 183 yards and two touchdowns while running for 78 yards. Castellanos struggled in the 2024 matchup that Virginia won 24-14 as he threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns but also tossed two interceptions and was sacked three times.
“Very dynamic player. We learned that firsthand a couple years ago up at BC when we got a lead at the half, and he just takes over in the second half,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said. “What you’re seeing is a lot of confidence. He looks very decisive. … When he’s in space he just looks like he’s playing a video game.”
