Florida State plays Virginia this Saturday at 3:30 PM EST inside Doak Campbell Stadium on ESPN2. It has been 12 years since the Seminoles welcomed the Cavaliers in Tallahassee. Virginia is 1-8 on the road against Florida State in the series history. The Seminoles will try to continue that trend, even though Florida State is a 3-point underdog to Virginia, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Head coach Mike Norvell and his squad are facing the pressure of winning now due to the nature of Norvell’s discussion in the hot seat after his 2-10 and 5-7 campaigns in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The road to success doesn’t get any easier for Florida State after the Virginia contest, as the Seminoles play Louisville and Miami on the road. Unfortunately, the Seminoles haven’t won a road game since November 2023.
A win over Virginia isn’t going to solve all of the issues that Florida State is facing, but it could give them confidence as they head into the Friday night road tilt against a solid Louisville team. The Seminoles might have the necessary weapon to beat the Cavaliers if they utilize him appropriately.
Florida State needs running back Ousmane Kromah more than ever
Florida State’s game against Virginia could have rain in the forecast, but as we know, Tallahassee weather is very unpredictable, and that could mean that there will be all sunshine and no clouds in sight. However, if the forecast is correct, the rain could create issues for quarterback Ashton Daniels when throwing the football.
In slippery conditions, teams typically rely on the running game. This could be another matchup where running back Ousmane Kromah runs wild. In the last home prime-time matchup against SMU, the former four-star prospect had 22 carries for 116 yards and 1 touchdown. The thought was that Florida State would use the effective running game and create easier pass windows, but Ashton Daniels completed 12 passes for 125 yards.
It might not be the most explosive strategy, but it does limit a Florida State defense from being on the field after their struggles all season. Virginia ranks 49th in the FBS in rush defense, allowing 116.8 rushing yards per game. In their loss to West Virginia, WVU running back Cam Cook racked up 123 yards on 30 carries against the UVA defense. Kromah has to find a way to put this team on his back and carry them (literally) to victory on Saturday.