The Florida State Seminoles head into their fifth game of the 2026 season with a lot hanging over this one. At .500, they’re staring at a matchup with the Virginia Cavaliers that could send their season in very different directions depending on how it plays out.
That’s especially true with conference play already in the picture. An 0-2 start would leave Florida State heading toward a brutal run that includes Louisville, Miami, and Clemson, and the Seminoles know they need a clean, steady performance to avoid that kind of slide.
Virginia is no pushover, but Florida State does get one clear advantage: Doak Campbell Stadium. The Cavaliers are walking into hostile territory for the first time this fall, and the Seminoles will be counting on the home crowd to help set the tone.
A few hours before kickoff, Florida State made its latest depth chart public. The program has stuck to Mike Norvell’s approach in 2026 by only releasing those charts on game days.
There are a handful of changes worth watching. At cornerback, Nehemiah Chandler is listed as a co-starter at both spots after starting in the win over Central Arkansas. That leaves the rotation at the position unclear between Chandler, Ja’ Bril Rawls, and Quindarrius Jones.
The defensive backfield also saw a change at safety. K.J. Kirkland is now the top backup to CJ Richard Jr., while Antonio Cromartie Jr. has been removed from the depth chart and will not play this weekend because of an injury.
On the other side of the ball, sophomore receiver Tae’Shaun Gelsey is back on the two-deep for the first time in several weeks. Working back from injury, he’s listed as Jayvan Boggs’ backup. EJ White, meanwhile, is no longer on the depth chart.
In Other News...
Mike Norvell's Soft ACC Finish Feels Like A Defining FSU Stretch
Florida State still has six games left, and the schedule has turned the season into a late test of whether Mike Norvell can steer the program back to respectability in a conference that has offered little resistance. A winning record remains within reach, and for a team that entered the year needing proof more than promises, these final weeks carry real weight far beyond the standings.
The stakes extend well past the field, with university leadership weighing not just results but the financial and organizational ripple effects around the program. Norvells buyout, possible staff changes and a restless fan base are all part of the backdrop now, which means this stretch in a soft ACC could end up shaping more than a final record. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Miami Upset Hopes May Ride On One Breakthrough
Florida States trip to Miami arrives with the kind of built-in tension that usually makes rivalry weekends feel bigger than the records attached to them. The Hurricanes are unbeaten and bring one of the nations most productive offenses along with a rushing defense that has been stingy all season, so the Seminoles know they will need something unusual to tilt the field. For Florida State, that means getting the most out of its ground game and, more specifically, finding room for Ousmane Kromah to make an impact.
Kromah has become the runner Miami cannot ignore, leading the nation in forced missed tackles while also sitting near the top of the ACC in rushing. How well the Hurricanes handle him, with linebacker Mohamed Toure part of that front-line challenge, may say plenty about Florida States chances of hanging around in the fourth quarter. Mike Norvell and his staff will have to sort out a plan that keeps Miami from dictating the terms, because if Kromah can crack that defense early, the Seminoles have a real path to making this game uncomfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Cut Ties With A Freshman Defender Under Troubling Circumstances
Florida State moved quickly this week to part ways with freshman cornerback Chuck Kennon after his arrest on charges that included false imprisonment and aggravated fleeing to elude. Head coach Mike Norvell confirmed the dismissal, and the university said the decision was based on conduct detrimental to the team. Kennons exit comes just as a young defensive back was trying to settle into the program, only for the situation to veer sharply off course.
Kennon appeared in court, where bonds were set and restrictions were imposed, after the incident that led to his arrest. He was involved in a police pursuit and fled on foot before later turning himself in, leaving Florida State to move on without one of its freshmen defenders under circumstances that carry both immediate football implications and a much larger off-field concern. [Read more 🡒]