Ashton Daniels Just Gave FSU Fans A New Reason To Believe

FSU quarterback Ashton Daniels shatters records with an explosive performance, earning him the prestigious ACC Player of the Week title.

Florida State got a big day from Ashton Daniels, and the ACC took notice.

The Seminoles quarterback was named Atlantic Coast Conference Quarterback of the Week after his performance against Virginia, while left guard Andre' Otto also earned weekly conference recognition for his work up front in the 38-7 win.

Daniels didn’t light it up purely as a passer, finishing 12-of-19 for 183 yards with one interception. His real damage came on the ground.

He carried the ball 17 times for a career-high 136 yards and a school-record five rushing touchdowns, including an 81-yard score that stood as Florida State’s longest play of the season and the second-longest run by a quarterback in school history. That run was the fourth of his five touchdowns against UVA.

The numbers around that outing are eye-catching. Daniels became the first FBS quarterback with five rushing touchdowns against a Power 4 opponent since 2023, and only the ninth since 1995. He was also the only player in that span to post at least 180 passing yards, 130 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the same game.

For the season, Daniels has 57 carries for 278 yards and a team-high nine rushing touchdowns, which is tied for the school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Through the air, he has completed 70 of 116 passes for 1,111 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. He has accounted for multiple touchdowns in every game this season.

Otto’s recognition came after Florida State piled up a season-high 281 rushing yards against Virginia. The senior left guard played 66 of 67 offensive snaps, missing only the kneel to close out the game, and helped open the way for Daniels’ 136-yard, five-touchdown day.

Otto finished with seven knockdown blocks and nine touchdown and/or first-down blocks. He has started every game this season for the Seminoles.

Florida State is 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC, and the Seminoles head to Louisville on Friday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Louisville enters at 2-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

The ACC’s weekly honors also included Syracuse running back Tylik Hill, Syracuse receiver Umari Hatcher, SMU defensive lineman Marques White, NC State linebacker Popo Aguirre, SMU defensive back Jarvis Lee, North Carolina specialist Jaden Jefferson and California rookie Taimane Purcell.

In Other News...

FSU Just Got The ACC Boost It Desperately Needed

Florida State finally got the ACC result it had been chasing, edging Clemson 2-1 in conference soccer to pick up its first league win of the season. Sam Erbach and Wrianna Hudson supplied the goals for the Seminoles, who needed a breakthrough like this to start climbing after an uneven opening stretch in ACC play.

The match had the kind of pressure and back-and-forth sequence Florida State has been looking for, with both goalkeepers called on for multiple saves and Clemson finding one answer in the game. Florida State was able to protect its lead to the end, and now the bigger question is whether this can serve as the kind of turning point the Seminoles have been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]

FSU Running Back Depth Just Took Another Hit At The Worst Time

Florida States backfield was already thinned out by injuries when another unexpected change landed on the roster update. Gemari Sands has been removed from the team and is no longer part of the Seminoles, a development that comes as the program is trying to sort through a running back group that has already taken damage.

Samuel Singleton Jr. is expected to miss a significant portion of the season because of a lower-body injury, and the Seminoles have already adjusted by moving sophomore tight end Gavin Markey over to running back on the updated roster. It leaves Florida State scrambling for answers at a position where depth was supposed to be a strength, and the timing could hardly be worse with the season moving along. [Read more 🡒]

Former FSU Kicker Could Help Miami Reach A Goal Fans Hate

Jake Weinbergs move from Florida State to Miami has turned into one of those small roster twists that can linger on both sides of the rivalry. The former Seminoles kicker has settled in well with the Hurricanes, hitting 5 of 6 field goals and making every extra point so far as Miami has surged through conference play with an unbeaten ACC mark and a roster that is humming on both sides of the ball.

For Florida State, the timing makes the subplot even more noticeable. The Seminoles moved on to Gabe Panikowski, and he has been perfect on field goals and extra points this season, so the position itself has not become a problem in Tallahassee. Still, Weinbergs success in Miami adds a little extra edge to a rivalry outcome Seminoles fans would rather not follow too closely if the Hurricanes keep pushing toward their goal. [Read more 🡒]