The Atlantic Coast Conference has once again provided one of the biggest upsets of the college football season.
For the second time this year, Mike Norvell and Florida State football were at the center of it — though on the opposite end. The No. 8-ranked Seminoles, ahead of a massive Week 6 game against No. 6-ranked Miami, went on the road to Virginia for a Friday night game and left with their first blemish on the season.
Unranked Virginia, which didn’t receive a single vote in the most recent US LBM Coaches Poll, knocked off FSU with a 46-38 double-overtime win, dropping the Seminoles to 3-1 on the season and 0-1 in ACC play. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, improved their record to 4-1 and 2-0 in conference play.
The hero of the game for Virginia may end up being junior defensive back Ja’Son Prevard, who twice intercepted Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos on the night. The first of those occurred at the end of the first quarter, negating what stood to be a Florida State scoring drive after he rushed the quarterback, tipped the ball and brought it in for the pick.
The second pick was less acrobatic, but more consequential, as it sealed Virginia’s win. He targeted Castellanos’ pass intended for Squirrel White, bringing the ball safely to the turf to end the game.
Florida State may look back at its first loss of the season and see missed opportunities across the board. In the first quarter alone, the Seminoles’ three offensive drives consisted of a punt, fumble and interception, followed by three straight second-quarter touchdown drives to enter halftime tied 21-21.
Florida State also had a missed field goal in the third quarter, a turnover on downs in the fourth and the game-sealing interception in double overtime.
The Seminoles may also look back at what would have been a game-tying touchdown in the second OT period, as receiver Duce Robinson bobbled the ball the entire length of the end zone, failing to get control of it before he exited out the back of the end zone.
Virginia was able to capitalize on those mistakes and pull out the win in a back-and-forth game. Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris wasn’t perfect, completing 26 of 35 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns to three interceptions. But he also rushed eight times for 37 yards and three touchdowns, accounting for all but one of the Cavaliers’ touchdowns (the other being a 26-yard J’Mari Taylor score to even the game at 21-21 in the second quarter).
The Cavaliers will next travel to Louisville on Saturday looking to keep its undefeated ACC record intact. Florida State, meanwhile, will look to respond positively in its rivalry game vs. Miami that, despite losing some of its luster, will have massive implications for the College Football Playoff.
This story has been updated with additional information.