Florida State heads into Friday night’s trip to Pittsburgh with the injury picture getting even tighter.
The Seminoles are less than 48 hours from their final road game of the 2026 season, and after ending their road losing streak last weekend, they have a chance to stack another win away from home. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has been dealing with its own injury problems, especially at quarterback.
Since Mason Heintschel went down a few weeks ago, the Panthers have gone 1-3, with the only victory coming against Georgia Tech. During that stretch, they also lost on the road at Boston College.
Florida State has had success in this matchup lately, winning its last two games in Pittsburgh. That includes a 24-7 win in 2023, when the Seminoles played without Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman.
This time around, Florida State is again dealing with a shorthanded roster. The Seminoles are down to their fourth-string running back, are missing multiple defensive linemen, and have already lost star wide receiver Duce Robinson.
There are still a few more names being watched as kickoff gets closer.
Florida State and Pittsburgh released their first availability reports Tuesday night, and the two teams had a combined 19 players ruled out. On Thursday, they issued another update.
Florida State made a couple of changes on Wednesday. Defensive lineman Deante McCray and defensive back Jamari Howard were both downgraded from questionable to out. McCray will miss his second straight game after getting hurt against Clemson.
The Seminoles also got a small boost, with linebacker Caleb LaVallee and kicker Conor McAneney upgraded to probable.
In Other News...
Florida State Won Again But A Bigger Problem Is Already Emerging
Florida State kept rolling with an 84-60 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, moving to 3-1 under first-year coach Luke Loucks, but the box score did not exactly read like a clean offensive breakthrough. Sebastian Rancik led the Seminoles with 17 points and eight rebounds, giving them a steady presence inside while the rest of the attack worked through another uneven night.
The bigger concern was the perimeter game, where Florida State connected on just 2 of 21 three-point attempts. Loucks has already pointed to the need for sharper offense as the season moves forward, and while the Seminoles have the record they want for now, the shooting numbers suggest there is still plenty to sort out before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Suddenly Has Life Again Under Rick Stockstill
Florida State found a way to steady itself in a 16-10 win over Pittsburgh, and it did so with the kind of formula that can keep a season from slipping away. Ashton Daniels managed the offense for 163 passing yards, Gabe Panikowski supplied three field goals, and the defense did its part by making the game uncomfortable from start to finish, including a key interception by Rylan Kennedy.
For a team that needed a response, this was the sort of performance that can change the mood around a program, even if it did not come with much flair. Pittsburgh never got comfortable against Florida States defense, as Corey Dailey finished 16 of 34 for 157 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and the Seminoles walked away with a win that felt bigger than the scoreboard alone. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Has A Postgame Travel Concern Fans Will Want To Watch
Florida State made its trip to Pittsburgh a day early, and that timing may end up mattering more than usual. The Seminoles charter flight to get to the game was not affected by Fridays nationwide ground stop, which the FAA put in place after a communications failure hit Air Route Traffic Control Centers and halted departing flights until further notice.
The immediate concern now is the return leg after the game, with the team monitoring whether the travel disruption could spill into its postgame plans. For a program on the road for a conference matchup, even a delay on the back end can turn a routine trip into something worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]