Road Troubles Strike Florida State Again in 21–11 Loss to NC State
The Florida State Seminoles (5–6, 2–6 ACC) once again faltered away from home, falling 21–11 to NC State (6–5, 3–5 ACC) in Raleigh in a game with major bowl eligibility implications. Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey delivered a strong performance, while FSU was undone by repeated mistakes.
Florida State’s ball-security issues proved costly, as the Seminoles committed three turnovers—including two muffed punts on consecutive fourth-quarter possessions. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos finished 16-of-32 for 203 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, struggling with accuracy throughout the game. Bailey, meanwhile, went 18-of-25 for 152 yards and two scores.
FSU’s season-long issues resurfaced yet again: turnovers, stalled drives, and special teams errors. The questions looming over the program feel heavier each week.
Turnovers and Missed Field Goals Doom FSU
NC State opened the game with the ball, but early defensive plays by FSU—including a sack by James Williams—forced a punt. The Seminoles responded with a few promising gains before Castellanos threw his first interception.
The Wolfpack quickly capitalized, with Bailey connecting on a 23-yard touchdown to Anderson Terrell. Florida State answered with a 46-yard field goal from Jake Weinberg, but offensive rhythm remained inconsistent.
Castellanos and Gavin Sawchuk helped move the chains, and standout receiver Duce Robinson surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the season. A crucial fourth-down conversion kept a drive alive, but penalties stalled progress. Weinberg later missed another field goal, sending FSU into halftime trailing 7–3.
Penalties and Miscues Compound the Struggle
Penalties continued to hurt Florida State; they committed eight fouls for 37 yards. NC State extended its lead early in the second half with a short touchdown run following an FSU defensive penalty.
FSU finally found the end zone when Castellanos hit Robinson for a nine-yard touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 14–11. However, the momentum didn’t last.
Florida State’s special teams collapsed in the fourth quarter, muffing two punts. NC State turned the second error into a late touchdown on fourth down, sealing the game.
Drops, mistakes, and inconsistency plagued the Seminoles across all phases. They now return to Tallahassee looking to regroup before another road challenge against the Florida Gators.
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