Florida State’s first month has been a mixed bag, and Ashton Daniels has fit the script almost perfectly.
The fifth-year quarterback has shown enough in stretches to keep the Seminoles moving, but the inconsistency has been hard to miss. Florida State put up 36 points on the road against Alabama, then couldn’t top that total in Tallahassee against New Mexico State or Central Arkansas, winning those games 34-17 and 34-7. That uneven production has followed Daniels, who has flashed real ability without ever quite settling in.
He’s completed 928 passing yards this season, and 601 of them have come against Alabama and Central Arkansas. The Alabama performance stood out most: 377 yards through the air in the loss to the Crimson Tide, the second-most of Daniels’ career.
He’s also thrown 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, and the ball placement has not always been clean. Daniels has tended to hold the ball too long, overthink his reads, and invite trouble with late throws or passes he tries to force.
Still, the connection with Duce Robinson, Micahi Danzy, and Jayvan Boggs has started to take shape. Robinson and Boggs have each posted a 100-yard game in recent weeks, giving Daniels more reliable targets as the offense tries to find its rhythm.
And while the passing game has been uneven, Daniels has added value on the ground with 4 rushing touchdowns. When he’s willing to use his legs, they matter.
That uneven but productive profile has not hurt him in ESPN’s latest P4 quarterback rankings. Bill Connelly updated his list earlier this week and placed Daniels at No. 34 among 68 quarterbacks, a rise from No. 38 in the spring. Connelly pointed to Florida State’s boom-or-bust offensive approach and Daniels’ role in it.
"FSU's offense is built around dam-busting -- the Seminoles are just 87th in success rate, but they've gained 20-plus yards on 10.6% of their snaps (fourth)," Connelly wrote. "Ousmane Kromah can break tackles and bust big run plays, but Daniels is also attempting high-risk, high-reward passes and averaging 16.0 yards per completion (with a low completion rate)."
"It's an exciting approach that guarantees inconsistency," Connelly added.
Daniels landed ahead of Wisconsin's Colton Joseph at No. 43 and Baylor's DJ Lagway at No. 52, while Nebraska's Anthony Colandrea checked in at No. 22.
Among Florida State’s upcoming opponents, five quarterbacks are ranked above Daniels: Miami's Darian Mensah at No. 1, Louisville's Lincoln Kienholz at No.
10, Florida's Aaron Philo at No. 12, Virginia's Beau Pribula at No. 24, and Pittsburgh's Mason Heintschel at No.
Heintschel was injured Friday night, and his status remains unclear.
Florida State faces Virginia on Saturday, October 3, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
In Other News...
Danny Kanell Just Put FSUs Mike Norvell Tension In Focus
Danny Kanell is not sounding like someone trying to calm the waters around Florida State football. The former Seminoles quarterback pointed to the uneasy mood surrounding the program and the pressure building on head coach Mike Norvell, with fan frustration clearly part of the backdrop. In Kanells view, an 8-4 season is a realistic possibility, but not one that would exactly settle anything after the expectations tied to this roster and this moment.
The bigger issue, as Kanell framed it, is the gap between what Florida State is spending and what it should be able to demand in return. He argued the budget ought to keep the Seminoles competitive in the ACC, and if the results fall short of that standard, the conversation could turn more serious. For a program that has spent plenty to chase big goals, the tension now sits in whether those goals still feel within reach. [Read more 🡒]
Florida States Latest Injury Report Could Change Everything Against Virginia
Florida State and Virginia both took another hit on the availability front ahead of their ACC meeting, with the latest report trimming some options while adding to the absences on both sides. The Seminoles are dealing with a lengthy injured list of their own, and the update included linebacker Noah LaVallee going out, even as several players were upgraded to probable and cleared from the report.
For Florida State, the bigger picture is less about who is returning and more about how much uncertainty still hangs over the matchup. Virginias side of the ledger shifted too, with running back Peyton Lewis and offensive lineman Grant Ellinger moved to out and defensive end Devon Baxter listed as doubtful, leaving both teams to sort through a combined wave of availability issues before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces A Road Test That Will Reveal A Lot
Virginia comes into this one looking like a program that has settled into a real rhythm under Tony Elliott, who is now in his fifth year guiding the Cavaliers. Last seasons 11-win run helped put that progress into sharper focus, and the profile from Streaking the Lawn paints a team that has earned its confidence the hard way, with an offense that has been efficient and a defense that has made life difficult on opponents.
Beau Pribula gives the Cavaliers a quarterback who can hurt defenses both through the air and on the ground, while an experienced offensive line has helped keep the operation steady. On the other side, Virginias defense has been especially stingy, allowing just 14 points per game, which is why this road test feels like more than just another ACC trip for Florida State. It is the kind of game that can tell you whether the Seminoles are ready for a tough fight or still searching for cleaner answers away from home. [Read more 🡒]