Pregame in Louisville brought a few notable updates for Florida State before kickoff against the Cardinals, starting with the uniforms: FSU is in all-white while Louisville is wearing black at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.
The Seminoles were already on site for the game, and Jon Noli is serving as the head referee tonight. The stadium also figures to have plenty of outside eyes on it, with scouts expected from the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks. Bowl representatives from The Gator Bowl and the PopTarts Bowl are also expected.
Florida State’s updated depth chart brought several changes from last week’s flipcard. The biggest shift up front is that the top line no longer lists right guard or right tackle as shared spots. Paul Bowling is now the starting right guard, and Nate Pabst is the starting right tackle.
There was also movement along the defensive line. Darryll Desir is back on the depth chart and has replaced his brother as a starting defensive end.
At defensive tackle, the spots were reshuffled: Daniel Lyons and Kevin Wynn are listed as co-starters at one position, with Jordan Sanders behind them. Wynn and Sanders had been the second defensive tackle pairing last week, but that role has now changed, with Mandrell Desir moving from defensive end to start at the second defensive tackle spot and Deante McCray listed as his backup.
In the secondary, Nehemisha Chandler is no longer listed as a co-starter with Ja'Bril Rawls or Quindarrius Jones. Instead, he is the first backup at both cornerback spots on this week’s depth chart.
In Other News...
Florida State Has A Chance To Make A Real ACC Statement Tonight
Florida State gets a timely chance to say something real about itself tonight, with Louisville coming in for an ACC matchup that should tell a lot about where both teams stand. The Seminoles are looking for a win that would clean up the picture around their record, and the game sets up as a good test of whether their offense can keep pace against a Cardinals team built to make noise.
Ashton Daniels is a key part of that equation for Florida State, especially against a Louisville defense that will be trying to force the Seminoles into mistakes. On the other side, Louisville brings an explosive offense and there are injury factors in play for both sides, which only adds to the volatility. The expectation is a close, high-scoring game, and for Florida State, the bigger question is whether this is the night it can turn a solid opportunity into a meaningful ACC statement. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Gets A Late Break Before Urgent Louisville Road Test
Florida State is heading into a tricky league road test at Louisville with the availability picture shifting late in the week. The Seminoles and Cardinals are set for their third conference game of the 2026 season, and both sides enter with heavy absences, leaving coaches to sort through a long list of unavailable players before the 7 p.m. ET kickoff.
The good news for Florida State is that the final reports brought a little relief, with some players who had been listed out now expected to suit up. Louisville is still working around its own injury issues, though, and the biggest name on that side remains running back Keyjuan Brown, who will not play. In a game where depth already figures to matter, those late availability changes could end up shaping how this one unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces A Dangerous ACC Test With Momentum On The Line
Florida State heads into Friday nights ACC trip to Louisville with its momentum suddenly under a tougher spotlight. The Seminoles, led by Mike Norvell, have built up some early-season traction, and now they get a road test at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium against a Louisville team coached by Jeff Brohm that will be eager to make life uncomfortable in conference play.
It is the kind of matchup that can tell you plenty about where Florida State really stands before the schedule gets any friendlier. Between the records, the recent results and the broadcast setup, this one has all the feel of a measuring-stick game, with the Seminoles trying to protect what they have built while Louisville tries to knock them off balance in front of its home crowd. [Read more 🡒]