Florida State heads into one of its toughest road settings of the season Friday night, heading to Acrisure Stadium for an ACC matchup with Pittsburgh.
It has all the makings of a grind-it-out game. The weather is expected to be in the upper 30s, with rain also possible, and Pittsburgh comes in as a 3.5-point favorite. FSU’s last road win as an underdog in near-freezing temperatures came in 2019, when the Seminoles beat Boston College 38-31.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Around the program, there’s plenty else going on. Congratulations are due to this week’s Academic All-Stars, and there’s also been discussion around the challenge of keeping elite athletes healthy in a collision sport like football.
On the scheduling front, Andy made the case that there’s no reason to keep arranging out-of-conference games in a “cowardly manner,” and he pointed that criticism at his alma mater.
In coaching news, Jake Dickert is no longer on the hot board after signing an extension with Wake Forest.
There’s also been a strong reaction from college football media and talking heads to FSU’s official hiring of Jeff Purinton, with the response described as almost universally positive.
On the hardwood, FSU men’s basketball is trying to rebound from its 9-point loss to No. 1 Florida and will face Texas A&M Corpus Christi tonight at 5 p.m.
The women’s team is still unbeaten at 4-0 and will host Florida, which is 3-0, on Sunday at 2 p.m. on the ACC Network Xtra. ESPN’s FPI gives Florida State a 79.7% chance to move to 5-0.
In Other News...
Florida State Coaching Search Just Took A Dramatic New Turn
Florida States coaching search has a fresh layer of intrigue after the school hired Jeff Purinton as its new athletic director, a move that could shape how the next head coach is chosen. Purintons arrival matters because he is expected to have a significant voice in the process, and that immediately shifts the focus from speculation to who he trusts to lead the Seminoles forward.
One name that has gained traction is Glenn Schumann, Georgias defensive coordinator, whose connection to Purinton gives him a built-in familiarity as the search unfolds. Schumanns background under Kirby Smart only adds to his profile, while another previously linked option, Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert, appears to be off the board for now after signing an extension with the Demon Deacons. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Coaching Search Just Got Clearer After One Early Candidate's Move
Florida States coaching search is moving into a more defined phase, with the school still working to replace Mike Norvell and new athletic director Jeff Purinton now in the middle of the vetting process. The list of names tied to the job has included Wake Forests Dave Clawson, Dukes Manny Diaz and Georgias Glenn Schumann, a mix that underscores how broad the search has been as the Seminoles weigh both recruiting chops and on-field results.
One early candidates move has helped narrow the picture a bit, even if nothing official has been decided yet. For Florida State, that matters because the next hire is being judged on more than just rsum appeal - Purinton is clearly looking for someone who can stabilize the program quickly and keep the Seminoles competitive in the recruiting battles that shape the ACC race. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A Bad Matchup Problem At The Worst Time
Florida State heads into its meeting with Pittsburgh dealing with a thinner offensive backfield than it would like, with three running backs sidelined and true freshman Amari Thomas expected to get the start after a strong showing in the previous game. It is not the kind of setup the Seminoles wanted heading into a matchup like this, especially with Duce Robinson also set to miss his second straight game.
The timing is rough because Pittsburgh brings one of the nations best run defenses into the matchup, ranking second nationally against the run. For Florida State, the challenge is not just replacing bodies, but finding enough balance to keep the offense from becoming predictable against a front built to take away the ground game. [Read more 🡒]