Doak Campbell Stadium feels subdued as Florida State, still reeling from an uninspiring loss to Clemson, faces a troubled Virginia Tech team that has already parted ways with its head coach. Senior Night brings emotion, and the Noles will aim to finish strong at home.
Both teams have motivation to prove themselves, with Virginia Tech's interim staff holding a 3-3 record, including wins over NC State and Cal. Did Florida State lose heart last week at Clemson? It seemed they just wanted it more, cliché as it sounds.
OPENING THOUGHTS
Anything that could go wrong went wrong last week for the Noles. Missed field goal? Check. Dropped passes? Check. Questionable play calling? Check. But not only is it Senior Night, there is a burning question lingering. Does FSU even care about making a bowl game? History shows that a considerable number of players will not play in the bowl game, so is it a priority? Enter Kyron Drones.
The Hokie quarterback is a force with his legs from the quarterback position. While he only completes 58.5 percent of his passes, which is down from last year with a paltry 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, he has added 499 yards on the ground and 8 touchdowns. This is a typical cut off the head of the snake moment.
With that being said, Earl Little Jr.'s presence will be critical if he is 100 percent. Last season, Tommy Castellanos started two career games against Tech (at Boston College) and completed 27 of his 46 passes with three touchdowns and two interceptions, losing both games by a combined score of 90-43. But that was with Boston College.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Florida State should be able to establish the run and force the Hokies into third-and-longs. Daring Drones to beat them with his arm would be more concerning if Tech still had Bhayshul Tuten in the backfield, but he’s in Jacksonville these days, leaving the Hokies with the 90th-ranked offense in the nation, per ncaa.com.
FSU has to win third down, as on the season, they are a hair below 51% on offensive conversions; conversely, the Hokies convert at a 41% rate. The key will be maximizing possessions and wearing the Hokie defense down in the second half. Tackling will be critical as Marcellous Hawkins is a gamebreaker.
Virginia Tech’s injury report reads like a grocery list, and defensive line/secondary depth could be their downfall. Simply, they have no answer for Duce Robinson, but how healthy is Castellanos? I imagine Duce will draw Thomas Williams, but the Hokie corners are outmatched physically.
In the last few games, he looks off and hesitant, a far cry from the guy who proclaimed victory over Alabama and then walked the walk. Most signs point to Florida State, which is scary within itself since believing in them this year has led to massive disappointment.
THE FINAL SPEAR
The Noles should be able to cut through the inconsistent Hokie defense of a team that is more interested in evaluating talent for next season. If Tech hangs around, FSU could slip into “we’ve been here before” mode, which raises concerns about their ability to handle adversity.
Both teams’ seasons are essentially over, which suggests a closer game than expected. FSU lacks discipline and losing has become routine; they even lost to Stanford. But if FSU protects the ball, then they could win comfortably.
For more College Football Analysis Michael can be found on the Sports Reports as Ordered Podcast on YouTube, X, TikTok, and all DSPs.