FSU Football's Lackluster Showing Results in Loss to Boston College

Amid boos and groans from the crowd, Florida State football suffered a loss in its home opener against Boston College, falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2021.

The Eagles secured a 28-13 victory as quarterback Thomas Castellanos led a dominant Boston College offense, exposing another lackluster performance from the Seminoles' defense.

This defeat ended FSU's nine-game home winning streak.

"I'm just sick about how the season started. Obviously, I failed in preparing the team to respond tonight," said FSU head coach Mike Norvell. "The things we talked about, the things we emphasized—obviously, we were not able to execute in any phase."

"I clearly didn't put them in a position to showcase what I believe this football team can be, and that's extremely disappointing."

FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei struggled to find his rhythm, prompting fans to chant "We want Brock" multiple times throughout Monday night's game at Doak Campbell Stadium, calling for his benching.

Brock Glenn, the Seminoles' redshirt freshman backup quarterback, appeared in five games last season, including starts in the ACC Championship game and the Orange Bowl.

Uiagalelei completed 21 of 42 passes, with one touchdown and one interception. Meanwhile, Castellanos completed 10 of 16 passes, throwing for two touchdowns, and added 85 rushing yards on 19 carries, scoring one touchdown on the ground.

Boston College scored twice in the second quarter, with Castellanos running for one touchdown and throwing for another. The first scoring drive was a methodical 14-play, 71-yard march that took 9:18 off the clock.

At one point in the first half, the Eagles outgained FSU by a staggering 172 yards to just 8.

FSU made a late push for a comeback when Uiagalelei connected with wide receiver Kentron Poitier for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-13. However, the defense couldn't hold, allowing Boston College to seal the game with a short rushing touchdown from running back Kye Robichaux, bringing the final score to 28-13.

Here are three takeaways from FSU football's 28-13 loss to Boston College.

Directionless FSU Offense, DJ Uiagalelei Struggles Against Boston College Defense

After a lackluster showing against Georgia Tech in Week Zero, FSU's offense looked for redemption against Boston College.

Instead, they delivered a directionless performance, struggling to generate explosive plays throughout the game.

Uiagalelei's struggles continued as he missed throws, both overthrowing and underthrowing, and failed to consistently connect with his receivers. Even when he did find his mark, the passes were too often dropped.

The run game was virtually nonexistent, with only 16 carries for 21 yards, while Boston College racked up 263 yards on 52 rushes.

"Obviously tonight we went into it with a more balanced run/pass approach," Norvell said. "We missed some opportunities in the passing game. We've got to win one-on-ones. A lot of factors tie into that. When it comes to the run game, it takes everyone. We need to create space and stay on track."

"We've got to make sure we're utilizing every position effectively."

Late in the first half, the Seminoles managed a 13-play, 70-yard drive, reaching the 4-yard line and nearing the end zone. However, after three straight incompletions—one deflected and two overthrown—FSU had to settle for a field goal, ending the half without a touchdown.

This drive and failure to score epitomized the offense's struggles against Boston College.

The second half didn't fare much better for FSU. Their first drive ended with an interception thrown by Uiagalelei on a fourth-down attempt at their own 45-yard line.

The touchdown drive that led to Poitier's score began shakily, with a trick play on third down barely giving the Seminoles any momentum. Poitier then caught a pass, broke three tackles from Eagles defenders, and made his way into the end zone.

Aside from their lone touchdown drive, FSU punted three times and turned the ball over on downs once in the second half.

Lackluster Defense Struggles to Contain the Run

Heading into the Boston College game, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller knew his team needed to improve against the run.

Despite this awareness, the Seminoles couldn't turn Fuller's plan into reality. The Eagles ran for 263 yards and scored twice on the ground, with former FSU player Treshaun Ward proving to be a persistent thorn in the defense's side.

Ward rushed for 77 yards on 12 carries and added 61 receiving yards on three receptions, including one touchdown.

"Everybody has a role to fill, and we need to be aggressive in our assignments. We have to keep our eyes up and run through tackles," Norvell said. "When you face athletic players—like their backs and quarterback—if you give them space, they’ll capitalize."

Even when Boston College turned to the passing game, they found success, racking up 106 receiving yards and exposing FSU's coverage multiple times.

In the first half, Ward ran the same route on three different third-down plays, and he was wide open each time. A dropped pass on the first attempt and a missed throw from Castellanos on the second were warning signs that a big play was coming.

That big play materialized when Ward caught a 42-yard pass on third down, setting up the Eagles for a touchdown just four plays later.

The Eagles averaged 5.4 yards per play, with 10.6 yards per reception and 5.1 yards per carry.

FSU's failure to stop the run allowed the Eagles to dictate the game, much like Georgia Tech did in Week Zero.

This marks the second consecutive game where poor tackling, missed assignments, and slow reactions hindered the Seminoles' defense, leaving them unable to contain their opponent’s ground game.

Ineffective Game Plan and Failure to Adjust Cost the Seminoles

In Week Zero, a run-heavy offense had difficulty finding gaps and creating scoring opportunities against Georgia Tech. In Week One, a pass-first approach led to frustration among fans at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Uiagalelei struggled to connect with his receivers early in the game, with the Seminoles passing the ball 21 times in the first half compared to just six runs. Fans grew increasingly vocal, booing and chanting "We want Brock" even before each play began, with the calls growing louder following each incompletion.

Although the pass-first approach wasn't effective, as Boston College countered with heavy coverage, Norvell kept Uiagalelei in a throwing game. FSU ended the game with only 16 rushing attempts, including several scrambles by Uiagalelei, as the offensive line provided minimal protection.

"Obviously, we were struggling offensively, and there are many reasons for that," Norvell said. "We need to push forward and improve in everything we do. Our focus will be on getting better and putting our players in the best position to succeed."

This contrasted sharply with the Georgia Tech game, where Norvell continued to emphasize the run. The lack of adjustment in the game plan allowed Boston College to anticipate the Seminoles' plays repeatedly.

Defensively, the Seminoles had issues with tackling. Although they improved in setting the edge, they struggled against runs up the middle. There were numerous instances where defenders were caught off guard and unable to stop Boston College's powerful running backs.

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