Florida State Faces Virginia in Conference Opener Tonight

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — No. 8 Florida State kicks off its ACC conference play tonight against the Virginia Cavaliers at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Virginia enters the game with a record of 3-1 after securing a convincing 48-20 win over Stanford last week.

Florida State, boasting a strong start to the season, has scored on 26 of its 32 regulation drives thus far. The team aims to continue this momentum despite facing injuries. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos, tight end Randy Pittman Jr., running back Caziah Holmes, and offensive lineman Jonathan Daniels have been cleared to play after being listed as probable. Wide receiver Jayvan Boggs, linebacker Caleb LaVallee, and defensive lineman Kevin Wynn have been updated to game-time decisions.

On the other side, Virginia’s lineup is affected by the absence of starting center Brady Wilson and a questionable status for Ethan Sipe. Sipe’s ankle injury has him listed as a game-time decision.

Florida State holds a 15-4 all-time series advantage over Virginia, though the Seminoles lost the last meeting in 2019, falling 31-24 in Charlottesville.

The matchup is highly anticipated, with both teams showing impressive offensive capabilities. Virginia’s quarterback Chandler Morris has thrown for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns this season, proving to be a key player for the Cavaliers.

The weather in Charlottesville is expected to be mild, with temperatures dropping from 82 degrees at 4:30 p.m. to 77 by kickoff. There’s a chance of rain in the area, with forecasts indicating a 54% chance at the start of the game.