Florida State has had time to bask in its win over Alabama.
In the three weeks since their 31-17 upset of that Top 10 team, the Seminoles have crushed East Texas A&M and Kent State by a combined score of 143-13, with a bye week in between, as they surged into the Top 10 themselves.
The No. 8 Seminoles (3-0, 0-0 ACC) now will begin a stretch of eight straight Atlantic Coast Conference games with their first road game of the season Friday night against Virginia (3-1, 1-0) in Charlottesville, Va.
The main question facing the Seminoles is whether quarterback Tommy Castellanos will be available this week. Castellanos, who has accounted for 594 passing yards, 139 rushing yards and six total touchdowns, had his lower leg “rolled up on” in the second quarter Saturday, according to Florida State coach Mike Norvell. The QB limped off the field and did not return.
Castellanos said after the game that he was “100 percent still” after the injury scare, but Norvell sent a bit more nuanced message on Monday.
“Today, (Castellanos) was able to get some work. I feel confident about where that’s going to be,” Norvell said. “Obviously, we’ll continue to see how the week plays out.”
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are coming off a 48-20 thrashing of Stanford in their ACC opener on Saturday. Virginia is averaging 45.5 points per game this season, 11th-best in the nation.
Quarterback Chandler Morris, a transfer from North Texas, has been a big part of that success, throwing for 1,050 yards and eight touchdowns. He doubled his TD total last week with four scores and 380 passing yards against the Cardinal and also has 132 rushing yards this season.
Trell Harris had 145 receiving yards and caught three touchdown passes in that game.
“This is a team that, offensively, is one of the best in the country,” Norvell said of Virginia. “… You really felt great speed and physicality in their game there Saturday night.”
The Seminoles will present the toughest challenge of the season to date for Virginia. Florida State ranks 12th nationally in scoring defense (10 ppg) and 21st in total defense (248 ypg). While the last two games were against outclassed competition, those rankings include a game in which Florida State held then-No. 8 Alabama to 17 points and 341 yards on Aug. 30.
Offensively, the Seminoles lead the country in scoring (58 ppg) and total offense (628.7 ypg).
If Castellanos is sidelined or if his mobility is limited, the Seminoles should be able to rely on their run game. They set a program record with 498 rushing yards vs. Kent State, and their 17 rushing touchdowns are the most nationally.
“They’re doing what (Seminoles offensive coordinator) Gus (Malzahn) has always done. He makes you defend every inch of the field,” Elliott said of Florida State’s run game. “He’s got a big offensive line, a stable of running backs and a quarterback that can make you right in the run game.”
While Castellanos’ status is questionable, Norvell said starting tight end Randy Pittman, who has missed the last two games with a lingering injury, and starting slot receiver Squirrel White (wrist), who was sidelined Saturday, are in line to return Saturday, barring setbacks.
