Florida State left Pittsburgh with more than just a 16-10 win on Friday night. It left with something the program hadn’t had in a long time under Mike Norvell: back-to-back ACC road victories.
That alone would have been notable. The way the Seminoles got it made it even more striking.
FSU’s defense gave up only a field goal across Pitt’s seven second-half possessions, and three of those drives ended with fourth-down stops. The Seminoles did it while short-handed, leaning on freshman Jasen Lopez as their top receiver with five catches for 72 yards and getting three field goals from Gabe Panikowski.
“I’m fired up about this team,” FSU interim head coach Rick Stockstill said. “I love the passion that we’re playing with.
I love the heart we’re playing with, the competitive spirit, the competitive character that we’re showing. I believe in them, and they’re starting to believe in themselves.”
FSU is now 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC, and a win over NC State at home on Saturday would make the Seminoles bowl-eligible.
The night also strengthened the case for keeping Stockstill and interim defensive coordinator Ernie Sims Jr. around in some capacity. Administrators are still expected to pursue a bigger-name head coach, but Stockstill’s role could extend into December if FSU reaches a bowl.
In that scenario, he would guide the team while a new coach assembles a staff and gets ready for the January transfer portal. The possibility also exists that FSU could retain Stockstill on the 2027 staff in a different role, perhaps as quarterbacks coach or associate head coach.
Stockstill is 2-0 at FSU and now has 115 wins, including 113 at Middle Tennessee. Sims Jr. could return as linebackers coach and possibly a co-defensive coordinator.
The biggest edge for Florida State came in the trenches and on the money downs. Pittsburgh finished 5 of 15 on third down, and several of those conversions came late because of penalties.
On third-and-short situations of one to four yards, the Panthers had six chances and converted only twice. On fourth down, FSU slammed the door, holding Pitt to 1 of 4.
The Panthers had entered the game with a respectable 8-for-19 mark on fourth downs. The Seminoles’ most important stops came in the final 10 minutes, after linebacker Chris Jones was flagged for targeting and had to watch from the sideline.
Florida State also brought a level of disruption it hadn’t shown often, outside of an early October home win over Virginia. The Seminoles finished with two sacks, seven tackles for loss and six pass breakups.
Defensive lineman Deamontae Diggs, who grew up 12 miles away in McKeesport, Pa., was all over the field with two tackles for loss and the pass breakup that turned into Rylan Kennedy’s interception. That takeaway set up FSU’s only touchdown, Amari Thomas’ 1-yard run, with a short field to work with.
Jalen Anderson was credited with three quarterback hurries, while Charles Lester added two pass breakups. Omar Graham Jr. also chipped in with a hurry and a pass breakup.
The win came with a catch, though, and it could matter a lot. Thomas carried 13 times for 30 yards and the touchdown before getting hurt in the third quarter.
There was no postgame update on his status. Parks added nine carries for 27 yards, but the running back room is thin enough that the Seminoles may have to get creative if Thomas can’t go.
Even with Ashton Daniels providing mobility at quarterback, the options are limited. FSU could even move linebacker Blake Nichelson to running back; he was listed pregame as probable after missing most of the year with injury.
Nichelson’s high school résumé was eye-catching, with 4,078 rushing yards and 65 touchdowns over his last three seasons.
Panikowski, meanwhile, kept doing exactly what Florida State needed. He drilled kicks from 47 yards, 27 yards and 37 yards, with the 47-yarder serving as a season long.
He is now 11 for 11 on field goals in 2026 and 26 for 26 in his career when including his 15 for 15 at Idaho State in 2024. That 26-kick run is the longest active streak in the FBS.
He also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run off a fake field goal in the win at Boston College.
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 🡒]