The Florida State football team has had an interesting start to the 2025 season. It has experienced the highest of highs and is currently going through the lowest of lows. From beating Alabama to start the year, to dropping their first two conference games against Virginia and their bitter rival Miami Hurricanes.
Both losses were close and emotional, but can this team right the ship to get the season back on track? Time will tell with the Seminoles as they enter the meat of their schedule. In order for FSU to get back on track, this team must figure out how to limit first-half turnovers.
Most of the turnovers have been at the hands of senior starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who tossed two interceptions in the 26-22 loss to Miami. Both interceptions turned into Miami touchdowns, including one on a quick-strike 44-yard pass.
“I don't really think they did anything to stop us,” Castellanos said. “We had three turnovers — two picks and a fumble. And we had a lot of penalties. I just think self-inflicted wounds. Two games back-to-back where we're kind of hurting ourselves, kind of beating ourselves.
“I told the guys that I have to play better. And I have to be better. And I told them I promised that you'll start seeing better.”
The talented senior is a good college quarterback with the emphasis being placed on the words “good, talented and college.”
There have been plenty of quarterbacks in the history of college football that have been placed with those superlatives. Having said that, all of those quarterbacks had glaring limitations and the same goes for Castellanos. Being a great college quarterback remains to be seen for the senior quarterback.
This team was riding high and the nation was heaping praise on Castellanos and was the toast of the town. All of that changed after the two losses when Castellanos combined for four interceptions. Even though the Seminoles were in both of those games at the end, the turnovers from Castellanos were costly, especially in the first half.
Coupled with some penalties that put FSU’s offense in difficult down-and-distance situations, the Seminoles went seven drives without any points.
“We all got to get better,” FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “And I've said it every week — we're growing as an offense. But we've got to eliminate the self-inflicted things. That's the bottom line. It's penalties and turnovers. That's what hurt us the last two weeks. We didn't do it the first three weeks. We got to solve that and it starts with me. I've got to help our guys.”
Going forward, Castellanos must be great at managing risks for the Seminoles to have a chance at either earn an eight- or nine-win season. Being a good quarterback could mean more losses. This may sound doom and gloomy, but Castellanos is allowed to get better. Castellanos is a hard worker and is still getting used to his new team and system. Limiting turnovers and being smart with the football can get corrected and this team could find its rhythm again, but it starts with Castellanos.
The Miami loss was a difficult one for Florida State, but the challenge of bouncing back will be put to the test in the coming weeks.
“It’s a locker room that’s hurting,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said after the loss to Miami. “It hurts and, as a coach, I have to be better when helping continue to assist our guys, eliminate some of the mistakes and continue to lift them up and push them forward.”
The Seminoles are still searching for their first conference win and have to play perfect the rest of the way to have any chance of making it to Charlotte for the ACC championship.
It’s crucially important for FSU to play with a sense of urgency in the coming weeks and for Castellanos to limit his turnovers. As many Seminole fans know from last year’s team, one loss can easily turn into four or more and that is the challenge that lies ahead in the next two weeks.
“We will respond from this,” Norvell said. “Nobody wants to have to go through it, but these guys are going to fight and they’re going to continue to get better.”
It’s an important two-game stretch for FSU. The Seminoles next welcome Pittsburgh at noon (ESPN) to Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday. FSU’s next road game against Stanford on Oct. 18 will be unfamiliar and 2,600 miles from home. The Seminoles have not won a road game since 2023 and have proven to be shaky away from Doak.
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