Ashton Daniels turned Saturday into his own scoring showcase, and Florida State made sure Virginia never found its footing.
Daniels rushed for five touchdowns, a record for a Florida State quarterback, and the Seminoles rolled to a 38-7 win in Tallahassee. He carried 17 times for 136 yards and also went 12 of 19 passing for 183 yards with an interception as Florida State earned its first win over a Power Four team in 2026.
The Seminoles’ defense was just as punishing. Florida State piled up 10 sacks, a sharp jump from the seven it had recorded over its first four games, and held Virginia to 37 yards on 40 rushing attempts. Virginia came in averaging 192.8 rushing yards, but the Cavaliers spent most of the afternoon getting shoved backward.
Rylan Kennedy and Chris Jones were the biggest disruptors up front. Kennedy finished with two sacks, while Jones added 1.5.
Virginia’s only touchdown came in the first quarter, when Da’Shawn Martin caught a 13-yard scoring pass from Beau Pribula. After that, the Cavaliers never got comfortable. Pribula was under pressure throughout and completed 14 of 32 passes for 168 yards.
Florida State needed a few snaps to settle in after opening with three straight punts, but once the Seminoles got rolling, the game tilted hard. They finished with 464 total yards and have now scored at least 30 points in four of five games.
Ousmane Kromah also kept the Seminoles moving on the ground, finishing with 17 carries for 80 yards. He has topped 80 rushing yards in every Florida State game this season.
Virginia’s offense had a rough day from start to finish. The Cavaliers punted seven times, went 0 for 4 on fourth down and finished with just 205 total yards in what was easily their worst offensive performance of 2026.
Florida State is now 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Virginia fell to 3-2 and 1-1.
Virginia hosts Syracuse on Saturday, and Florida State heads to Louisville on Friday.
In Other News...
Florida State Just Delivered The Statement Win Seminoles Fans Needed
After a rocky stretch, Florida State finally got the kind of performance that can settle a restless fan base, and it came in emphatic fashion at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Seminoles rolled past Virginia 38-7, piling up 38 unanswered points and looking far more like a team with some direction on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Ashton Daniels was at the center of it, using his legs to put together a night that will stand out in school history.
Daniels set Florida State and stadium records with five rushing touchdowns and 136 rushing yards, while the defense overwhelmed Virginia from start to finish. The Seminoles finished with 10 sacks and limited the Cavaliers to 205 total yards, the kind of full-game control this program has been searching for. It was the sort of statement win that does more than improve a record, since it hints at what Florida State can look like when everything clicks. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvell Bought Some Time But Florida State's Real Test Starts Now
Mike Norvell got the kind of result Florida State badly needed in Week 5, as the Seminoles turned in a dominant win over Virginia and showed clear signs of progress after a difficult stretch to begin the 2026 season. It was the sort of performance that can quiet a restless fan base for a week and give a coach a little breathing room, especially after the way the last two seasons have gone.
But one convincing afternoon is not enough to settle anything for long. Norvell and his staff still have to stack wins and prove the improvement is real against the better opponents still ahead, because the next run of games will go a long way toward determining whether this surge is a turning point or just a temporary pause in the pressure surrounding his future. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Made An Early Statement The ACC Can't Ignore
Florida States narrow win over Virginia gave the Seminoles a needed early boost, and it came in the kind of game that can say a lot about a teams temperament. The defense helped set the tone with pressure, while the offense kept moving the chains at key moments on third down, enough to survive a tight finish and keep momentum rolling as the season settles in.
In a league already trying to sort out its pecking order, Miamis emphatic win over Clemson has only sharpened the focus on every contender around it. The Hurricanes looked dominant on both sides of the ball, while Florida State will be watching closely to see how much room there is to build on a win like this before the schedule starts asking harder questions. [Read more 🡒]