Florida State heads into Week 10 in the middle of a major reset, and the timing gives the Seminoles a real chance to shake off the Clemson loss when Boston College comes to Tallahassee.
Rick Stockstill is now running the show on an interim basis after the Mike Norvell era came to an end. Stockstill, who had been working as an offensive analyst, now steps into a much bigger spotlight with decades of coaching experience behind him, including nearly 20 years as Middle Tennessee’s head coach. On offense, he is turning the play-calling over to coordinator Tim Harris Jr.
The changes did not stop there. With defensive coordinator Tony White out, linebackers coach Ernie Sims will handle the defensive playcalls. Florida State also added another experienced voice to the staff, bringing in former UConn and Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni as a defensive analyst.
That hire matters because Sims is still relatively new to calling plays, and Pasqualoni’s background could help steady things on that side of the ball. He was coaching in the NFL while Sims was still playing, which gives Florida State a veteran presence in the room. Because of his family connection to Boston College - his son and daughter are on the staff - Pasqualoni will not begin helping the Seminoles until after the game against the Eagles.
From a betting angle, the number has settled with Florida State as the favorite, and the total sits at 52.5, with the over listed at -106 and the under at -114.
The bigger question is whether the upheaval can actually spark the Seminoles. There are only four games left in the season, and Stockstill’s stint could end up functioning like an audition. If Florida State plays well, he could position himself for a more lucrative job or a different role once this season wraps.
There is also the human side of the move. Norvell may not have been universally popular late in his tenure, but plenty of players clearly backed him. That kind of sudden midseason firing can leave a team with extra edge, and Florida State may carry that into this matchup.
On paper, the Seminoles still look like the better team, even with a pile of injuries. Boston College comes in with the ACC’s second-worst passing attack at 187.3 yards per game, and last week’s 47-2 loss to Duke was ugly across the board. The Eagles averaged just five yards per completion and 2.4 yards per carry in that game.
Duke has one of the conference’s best defenses, but Boston College has also been held under 20 points four times this season. Even with its full group, the offense has not done much, and the backups did not offer much help against the Blue Devils.
That gives Florida State a path to control the game, especially if it can get pressure and collect a few sacks.
The one area that could complicate things is Ashton Daniels. Boston College has shown a knack for interceptions, and Daniels comes in after throwing three picks against Clemson.
With Florida State’s run game further banged up this week, the Seminoles may need Daniels to carry more of the load through the air. He cannot afford mistakes if the Eagles’ secondary gets chances to jump routes.
In Other News...
Brian Kelly Just Added Intrigue To Florida States Coaching Search
Florida States coaching search has already carried plenty of weight because of where the program has been and how often the chair has turned over since 2017. Now Brian Kelly has put his name into the conversation, saying during a radio interview that he has interest in the job and pointing to the Seminoles history and tradition as part of the appeal.
Kelly arrives with a long rsum from Notre Dame and LSU, but also with the baggage that comes from his exit in Baton Rouge in October 2023. His track record makes him an obvious name to watch, yet the fit is not so simple, with questions already surfacing about whether his personality would mesh with what Florida State is looking for as it tries to steady the program. [Read more 🡒]
Florida States Coaching Search Faces One Question Fans Cant Ignore
Florida States coaching search is unfolding against a financial backdrop that has drawn plenty of attention, but university officials say the numbers are not nearly as alarming as some outside reports have suggested. Chief Financial Officer Kyle Clark said the school carries $306 million in debt, most of it tied to stadium renovations, and he pointed out that figure is lower than what has been circulating elsewhere. The athletic departments budget has also climbed sharply over the past decade, rising from $76 million in 2014 to a projected $265 million for fiscal year 2027.
For Seminoles fans, the bigger question is whether all of that translates into real flexibility as the school pursues its next football coach. Interim athletic director Bruce Warwick has said the finances should not stand in the way of landing a top-tier hire or giving that coach the resources needed to compete. In other words, the money conversation is not about whether Florida State can participate in the market, but how aggressively it can move when the right candidate emerges. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Heads To Boston College With A Roster Question They Can't Ignore
Florida State heads to Boston College this week with more than just a road game on its mind. The Seminoles are trying to snap the longest road losing streak in program history, and the trip comes with a different feel as well, since it will be their first game under an interim head coach. Both teams have already released injury reports, and there were no changes from the first report to the second, leaving the Seminoles to keep an eye on a few key names as they sort through the week.
Among the players Florida State is monitoring are running back Quintrevion Wisner and cornerback JaBril Rawls, two pieces whose availability could matter in a game that already carries plenty of pressure. With the injury picture holding steady for now, the focus shifts to how the Seminoles handle the setting, the new sideline leadership and the challenge of trying to break a streak that has hung over the program for too long. [Read more 🡒]