Florida State’s Ashton Daniels put together one of the most eye-popping performances in the ACC this season, and the league made it official Monday.
Daniels was named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 after his record-setting day in Florida State’s 38-7 win over Virginia on Saturday. That recognition also moved him onto the Davey O’Brien Award Midseason Watch List, since every member of the Great 8 is added automatically.
The fifth-year quarterback from Buford, Ga., did just about everything against Virginia. He completed 12 passes for 183 yards, added 136 rushing yards and scored a school-record five touchdowns on the ground. Along the way, he tied the FSU record for points in a game with 30, set a Doak Campbell Stadium rushing touchdown record and matched the ACC mark for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
Daniels also became the first player since at least 1995 to post 180 passing yards, 130 rushing yards and five total touchdowns in the same game.
Florida State needed a jolt after falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter, and Daniels supplied it. The Seminoles ripped off 38 straight points to finish the night, with Daniels scoring on runs of 1, 3, 4, 6 and 81 yards. That 81-yard burst was Florida State’s longest play of the season, the second-longest rushing play by a quarterback in program history, the seventh-longest run in FBS this season and the longest against a Power Four opponent.
His numbers this season keep stacking up, too. Daniels now ranks third nationally in rushing touchdowns with nine and third in yards per completion at 15.89. His nine scores on the ground also match the Florida State single-season record for a quarterback.
Daniels earned more than one honor from the conference for the performance. He was also selected as the ACC Quarterback of the Week.
Florida State right tackle Andre Otto joined him on the weekly honors list, earning ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after helping anchor an offensive line that opened up the run game for a season-high 281 rushing yards. According to FSU’s internal statistics, Otto posted a 99% effort grade and an 86% job grade, while logging seven knockdown blocks, nine blocks that led to a touchdown or first down and drawing one penalty on Virginia’s defensive line.
Daniels is now the fifth Seminole to win ACC Quarterback of the Week since the award began in 2018. He’s the first Florida State player to do it since Jordan Travis won it three times in 2023. Daniels also previously won the award as a junior at Stanford in 2024.
In Other News...
Kam Taylor Has A Huge Chance On Florida States New-Look Roster
Florida State heads into the 2026-27 season with a roster that looks almost nothing like the one before it, and that gives Kam Taylor a real opening to make an immediate impact. The transfer from UNC Asheville arrives in Tallahassee with a reputation for athleticism and playmaking, plus the sort of scoring rsum that suggests he can handle a major role right away.
With 12 newcomers set to make up much of the Seminoles new-look group, the early chemistry questions will be as important as any individual skill set. Taylor should be one of the most watched names when Florida State opens exhibition play against Mississippi State on Oct. 10, because the Seminoles will need to find out quickly who can help shape this roster into something cohesive. [Read more 🡒]
Micahi Danzy Just Framed Florida States Biggest Test After That Win
Florida States latest conference win did more than push the Seminoles above .500 in 2026. It also gave the locker room a reminder of what can happen when the team stays locked in and keeps the bigger picture in view, and Micahi Danzy was quick to point out that the challenge now is handling the moment without letting it get too big.
Danzys message fit the mood around the program: enjoy the result, stay grounded, and keep building confidence as the season moves forward. For a team trying to turn one good night into lasting momentum, the next stretch will be less about celebrating the breakthrough and more about proving it can carry over. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces A Short-Week Test As Friday Games Pile Up
Florida State is about to spend a lot of time under the Friday night lights this season, with three short-week games on the slate against Louisville, Pittsburgh and Florida. For Mike Norvell, that means a different kind of weekly rhythm, one that compresses preparation and puts a premium on how quickly the Seminoles can reset after a Saturday finish and move on to a Friday kickoff.
The timing comes at a pretty good moment for a team still gathering confidence, especially with Ashton Daniels coming off a big week of recognition. Daniels was named both ACC quarterback of the week and Davey OBrien quarterback of the week after setting a school record with five rushing touchdowns against Virginia, a performance that gave Florida State a notable spark heading into the stretch run and another challenge with the schedule tightening around it. [Read more 🡒]