Florida State traveled across the country to play the latest kick time in almost 50 years for the program. The Seminoles looked like they were sleepwalking, committing silly penalties — delay of game, a second delay of game, an offsides on a field-goal attempt, a late hit on a backup quarterback.
FSU struggled from the start, unable to build drives, make defensive stands and the mistakes continued to add up.
The last ACC win came in September 2024 over California inside Doak. The last ACC road victory came in November 2023.
Extend both streaks into November 2025. FSU lost 20-13 — as a 17-point favorite on the road at Stanford. The Cardinal played the second half without their starting quarterback and running back and put away FSU 20-13 on Saturday night. The loss drops FSU to 0-4 in ACC play in 2025 and 1-11 in league games since August 2024.
Stanford was one of the worst teams in Power 4 football going into Saturday. FSU often looked disinterested and, worse, committed 10 costly and mostly avoidable penalties. The players committed the penalties, but lack of discipline is also a reflection on the coaching staff.
FSU didn’t turn it over but the offense managed just three scores (including one touchdown) on 12 drives against Stanford, which entered the night 118th in scoring defense (30.2 points).
The Seminoles’ penalties also added up: 13 for 87 yards.
Tommy Castellanos completed 14 of 28 passes for 242 yards and 20 carries for 70 yards, but he left the game on a feet-first slide where he was hit by a shoulder in a targeting call.
Castellanos connected with Duce Robinson three times for 95 yards, including a 38-yarder.
Kevin Sperry came into the game when Castellanos was injured. Sperry connected on 4 of 7 passes for 69 yards.
Gavin Sawchuk ran 19 times for 65 yards.
Stanford was shorthanded in the second half, with starting quarterback Ben Gulbranson sidelined due to injury on a play when he was sacked by FSU safety KJ Kirkland. But Stanford still came up with a clutch drive in the third quarter — marching 94 yards on 13 plays and milking seven minutes off the clock with a Cole Tabb 1-yard touchdown run that put Stanford up 20-10.
FSU (3-4, 0-4 ACC) fought back with drives deep into Stanford’s end in the final quarter.
The first stalled out and Jake Weinberg made a 33-yard field-goal attempt.
On the second, Castellanos ran and was stopped short of the marker on fourth down at the Stanford 13.
On the third, Randy Pittman’s third-down grab was upheld on review. After Castellanos left the game as a result of targeting, Sperry was pressured immediately on third down and threw away (intentional grounding was called). On fourth-and-19, Sperry threw downfield but the pass was swatted away with 1:26 to go.
On the fourth, Sperry picked up a first down by scrambling. But he had nowhere to run and was sacked in the final seconds. Sperry tossed a desperation heave that was caught by a leaping Micahi Danzy at the Stanford 9-yard line with two seconds to go. Duce Robinson was then interfered with a Cardinal defensive back, resulting in an untimed down.
After a timeout, FSU had the ball at Stanford’s 2-yard line with an untimed down. Sperry took the snap, rolled left and tossed a shovel pass to Sawchuk — who dove for the goal line but was called down short of the goal line. The call was upheld after a lengthy review.
Notes
Shamar Arnoux started in place of cornerback Ja’Bril Rawls.
FSU played without running backs Roydell Williams and Kam Davis as well as receiver Gavin Blackwell.
Among the defensive players who were out: Defensive lineman Deamontae Diggs, linebackers Stefon Thompson and Donny Hiebert and cornerback Quindarrius Jones (who is out for the season).
Thanks for reading the Osceola. Subscribe now for less than $70 annually to enjoy a full year of coverage of FSU athletics. You’ll also earn discounts at the Osceola’s merch store and Alumni Hall.
