Florida State Seminoles Upset By Virginia In 2 OT Thriller

Justin Rimpi

Some places are just cursed. For the No. 8-ranked Florida State Seminoles, that cursed ground is apparently Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. In a game that will be talked about for years, the Virginia Cavaliers, a team few gave a fighting chance, pulled off a stunning 46-38 upset in double overtime. It was a classic Friday night lights fiasco that left Seminole fans speechless and Cavalier fans storming the field in a sea of orange and blue.

Let’s be honest, this felt like a trap game from the moment the schedule came out. A primetime road game against a hungry, well-coached Virginia team? It had all the ingredients for a disaster, and boy, did it deliver. This wasn’t just a loss; it was a soul-crushing, what-just-happened kind of defeat that makes you question everything.

How Florida State Lost the Unlosable

The game was a wild ride, a back-and-forth street fight that felt more like a heavyweight boxing match than a football game. Florida State, fresh off a bye week and a blowout win, looked sluggish and unprepared. Virginia, on the other hand, played like their season depended on it—because it probably did. They jumped out to an early lead, and every time the Seminoles clawed their way back, the Cavaliers had an answer.

The final moments of regulation and the ensuing overtime periods were pure, unadulterated chaos. With just 36 seconds left, Florida State Quarterback Thomas Castellanos, on a gutsy fourth-down scramble, found Randy Pittman for a game-tying touchdown. Overtime, here we come. You could feel the collective groan from everyone who had an early bedtime planned.

The first overtime was a tense exchange of field goals. Then, in the second OT, Virginia Quarterback Chandler Morris channeled his inner Houdini and scrambled for a touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion. The pressure was all on Florida State.

The Controversial Catch That Wasn’t

Then came the play that will haunt the dreams of every Seminole fan. Castellanos lofted a pass to Duce Robinson in the end zone. It looked like a miraculous, juggling touchdown catch that would send the game to a third overtime. The call on the field was a touchdown. The celebration began. But wait—the replay official had other ideas.

After a lengthy review, the call was overturned. Robinson, they said, didn’t have full control before he went out of bounds. It was a gut punch. A brutal, controversial call that swung the game in an instant. The next play, a desperate heave from Castellanos, was intercepted in the end zone. Game over. Virginia wins.

For Florida State, this is more than just a blemish on their record. It is a harsh reality check. A team with championship aspirations can’t afford to get ambushed like this. This loss in Charlottesville wasn’t just a game; it was a nightmare. And for a program trying to climb back to the top of the college football mountain, it is a brutal reminder that some houses of horror are very, very real.

Justin has been a sportswriter for nearly a decade. He has previously written for 247 Sports an Sports Illustrated.

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