Florida State gets another quick turnaround this week, and the next test comes on the road against Pittsburgh on Friday night in Week 11.
The Seminoles finally found some traction last week, rallying past Boston College 31-24 to stop a three-game skid and give the Rick Stockstill era a win in its opening game. That victory also snapped a yearslong road losing streak.
FSU improved to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the ACC behind a ground game that carried the load: 202 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Ashton Daniels scored once, freshman Amari Thomas punched in two, and kicker Gabe Panikowski even got in on the fun with a trick-play touchdown.
Thomas was the standout, handling a team-high 19 carries for 98 yards.
Pitt is coming in with momentum of its own after ending a three-game slide with a 34-11 win over Georgia Tech. The Panthers are 6-3 overall and 3-3 in league play, and the performance came in their first victory since quarterback Mason Heintschel was ruled out for the year with a torn ACL. Damon Ferguson Jr. powered the offense with 185 yards and two touchdowns, and Pitt piled up 281 rushing yards on 55 carries.
The game is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh and will air on ESPN. Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Tickets were still available as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, with prices starting at $18. Lower-bowl seats were listed for $28.
On paper, the matchup sets up as a strength-on-strength test in the run game. Pitt is seventh in the ACC at 31.9 points per game, just ahead of Florida State at 30.7.
On the ground, the Seminoles rank fifth in the conference at 169.8 yards per game, while the Panthers sit sixth at 167.7. FSU has held that spot despite the season-ending injury to Ousmane Kromah and the prolonged absence of Samuel Singleton, and Thomas’ emergence alongside Daniels and Texas transfer Tre Wisner has kept the run game central to what the Seminoles do.
The problem for Florida State is that Pitt’s run defense has been elite. The Panthers are No. 2 in the ACC and No. 2 nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 68.3 yards per game.
Their overall numbers have ticked up over the last three games, but they still lead the nation by giving up only 2.24 yards per carry. That kind of front could make life difficult for Daniels and company, especially after Boston College’s Mason McKenzie - the ACC’s sixth-leading rusher - was limited to 7 yards on eight carries, with two of those losses coming on sacks.
The passing game may decide whether FSU can keep pace. Both teams have struggled against the pass, with Florida State 13th in the ACC and Pitt 14th.
That opens the door for Macahi Danzy, Jayvan Boggs and Jasen Lopez to attack the Panthers’ secondary. Daniels can make throws, but he also threw his nation-leading 12th interception last week.
Pitt has a downfield threat of its own in Cataurus “Blue” Hicks, and Holden Geriner has connected with him for a touchdown in three straight games. With both teams leaning on the run and both defenses vulnerable through the air, this one has the feel of a game that could turn on which offense handles the pressure better.
Prediction: Pitt 28, FSU 20
In Other News...
FSU Heads To Pitt With Bowl Hopes And A Growing Availability Problem
Florida State heads to Pittsburgh for its second straight road game carrying more than just the usual late-season pressure. The Seminoles are still trying to keep their bowl hopes alive, and the latest ACC availability report adds another layer to the challenge, with several players unavailable on both sides of the matchup. For Florida State, the backfield picture is especially important after Quintrevion Wisner was ruled out, leaving more of the workload to Amari Thomas.
It is the kind of spot where depth matters as much as momentum, and the Seminoles will need to sort through a thinner rotation while trying to handle a Panthers team dealing with its own absences. Pittsburgh listed eight players as unavailable, so both staffs are working around missing pieces as the game approaches. For Florida State, the bigger question is how well it can absorb the losses and still stay on track in a game with plenty riding on it. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Heads Into Pitt With One New Roster Concern
Florida States latest injury report added another layer of uncertainty as the Seminoles get ready for Pitt, with several players landing in various categories and running back Tre Wisner ruled out. Linebacker Blake Nichelson was listed as probable, giving the defense at least one encouraging note as the team works through the usual late-week roster sorting before a conference road game.
The off-field news was busy, too, with Jeff Purinton introduced as the schools new athletic director and weighing in on the football coaching search. Around the program, the mens basketball team dropped its game against Florida, while the womens team was preparing to host West Florida in a Military Appreciation game, keeping Florida States athletic department in the spotlight on multiple fronts. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Let A Rival Opportunity Slip Away Again
Florida State had another chance to make a statement against a rival and left the floor with the same familiar frustration. Florida pulled away for an 81-72 win, leaning on Thomas Haughs 21 points and 10 rebounds while Sebastian Rancik did his part for the Seminoles with 23 points in a game that still tilted away from them in the most basic areas.
The rebounding margin told the story as much as anything, with Florida controlling the glass 41-29 and using that edge to keep Florida State from turning its scoring into enough second chances. The Gators also defended the perimeter well enough to make the Seminoles work for every clean look, and for Florida State, it was another rivalry game that offered a path to a meaningful win before slipping out of reach. [Read more 🡒]