Tag: florida state

Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas (0) is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Terrell Foster (30) during the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Florida State, Georgia nix 2027-28 home-and-home series

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Georgia and Florida State are calling off a home-and-home series scheduled for 2027 and 2028.

There was no longer room on their respective calendars after the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference moved to nine-game league schedules.

The Seminoles and Bulldogs already are playing in-state, non-conference rivalry games against Florida and Georgia Tech, respectively, giving both teams 10 Power 4 opponents on their annual schedule.

They could still potentially meet in a neutral-site matchup. Florida State athletic director Michael Alford said he was “optimistic” about making such a deal, per ESPN.

Georgia is 7-4-1 against Florida State, including a 63-3 thumping in their most recent meeting in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30, 2023.

–Field Level Media

Vero Beach quarterback Wonderful “Champ” Monds IV, a four-star recruit, announces his college decision to attend University of Notre Dame live on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, May 1, 2026, at Vero Beach High School along with family, teammates and coach Lenny Jankowski. Monds is rated the No. 2 quarterback in Florida and the No. 22 overall recruit in the state on the USA TODAY Florida Network Top 100.

Four-star 2027 QB prospect Wonderful Monds IV commits to Notre Dame

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Four-star 2027 quarterback prospect Wonderful Monds IV announced his commitment to Notre Dame on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show Friday afternoon.

Monds, who hails from Vero Beach, Fla, chose the Fighting Irish over Florida State and Ohio State. He ranks as the No. 264 overall prospect and No. 20 quarterback in the 2027 recruiting class in 247Sports’ composite rankings after reclassifying from the 2028 class last December.

His most recent recruiting visit was to Notre Dame the weekend of April 18, which was when the Irish convinced him to choose Notre Dame.

At 6-foot-2, 224 pounds, Monds became the starter at Vero Beach (Fla.) High as a freshman in 2024. He has thrown for 2,925 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions across 17 games across the last two games.

With his reclassification, he skips straight to his senior season this fall.

Monds presumably aspires to be a third-generation NFL player. Mario Monds, his father, appeared in seven NFL games as a defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals (2001) and Miami Dolphins (2004). Wonderful Terrific Monds, Jr., his grandfather, played defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers in 1978.

Notre Dame’s 2027 class ranks sixth in the 247Sports rankings with 12 total commits.

–Field Level Media

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Ashton Daniels (14) winds up to pass Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Florida State names Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels as starting QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State announced Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels as its starting quarterback for the 2026 season on Tuesday.

Daniels, who turns 22 next month, has appeared in 37 games over the last four seasons at Stanford (2022-24) and Auburn (2025).

He beat out redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry, with the news announced by the school Tuesday after head coach Mike Norvell said at the end of spring practice last week that he wasn’t ready to choose a QB1.

Daniels took over the starting job late last season at Auburn, completing 57.1% of his passes for 797 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions with 280 rushing yards and two rushing scores in four games.

His most productive season came in 2023 at Stanford, when he threw for 2,247 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Over four seasons, he’s thrown for 4,783 yards, 24 TDs and 22 picks while rushing for 1,401 yards and 11 scores.

It will be the third straight season the Seminoles start a first-year transfer at quarterback. It was not a formula that worked particularly well with D.J. Uiagalelei (2024) or Thomas Castellanos (2025) as the Seminoles have gone a combined 7-17 over the last two seasons.

–Field Level Media

Mar 2, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a Florida State Seminoles logo against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Florida State K Conor McAneney facing multiple charges

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State kicker Conor McAneney was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Wednesday and charged with two third-degree felonies.

Per arrest documents from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, McAneney was charged with battery on an officer, violently resisting an officer and trespassing. The first two are third-degree felonies, while trespassing is a first-degree misdemeanor.

“While FLPD officers were attempting to detain McAneney, he became uncooperative and violent,” the Fort Lauderdale Police Department said in a statement.

McAneney has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities, the university confirmed on Thursday.

McAneney, of Northern Ireland, joined Florida State as a transfer in January after making 7 of 10 field-goal attempts and handling kickoffs last season at Division II Quincy in Illinois.

He was brought in to compete with Oklahoma State transfer Gabe Panikowski for the starting job after fellow kickers Jake Weinberg and reserve Brunno Reus left via the transfer portal.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn looks on before a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Florida State OC Gus Malzahn retires after 35 years of coaching

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn announced his retirement Monday after 35 years in coaching.

The former Auburn, University of Central Florida and Arkansas State head coach spent just one season with the Seminoles in 2025.

“After 35 years, it’s time for me to step away from coaching,” Malzahn said in a statement. “I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life. I want to thank Coach (Mike) Norvell for giving me the opportunity to coach at such a prestigious program.”

Norvell promoted co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Tim Harris to replace Malzahn, 60.

Florida State led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing (218.7 yards per game) and total offense (472.1) in Malzahn’s lone season as the play-caller in Tallahassee.

Malzahn compiled a 105-62 record as head coach at Arkansas State (2012), Auburn (2013-20) and UCF (2021-24), including a 3-7 record in bowl games.

During his first season at Auburn in 2013, the Tigers lost 34-31 to Florida State in the BCS Championship game and finished 12-2. Malzahn was named the national and SEC Coach of the Year.

Malzahn coached in the high school ranks from 1991-2005 before becoming the offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2006. After two seasons as an assistant coach at Tulsa (2007-08), he joined Auburn as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2009-11. In 2010, Tigers quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and Auburn completed a 14-0 season with a national championship.

–Field Level Media

Florida State WR Duce Robinson to forgo NFL draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State wide receiver Duce Robinson will forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return for another season with the Seminoles, he announced Thursday.

“This has truly been one of the best years of my life,” he said in an Instagram post. “I’m really excited to be able to be a Seminole again in 2026.”

Robinson was an All-ACC first-team selection in his first season in Tallahassee, catching 56 passes for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts) in 2025.

Robinson posted five 100-yard games for the Seminoles (5-7), including a season-high 173 yards and two scores on five catches in a 77-3 win against East Texas A&M on Sept. 6.

The 6-foot-6, 223-pound junior from Phoenix played his first two seasons at Southern California before transferring to Florida State. He had 39 receptions for 747 yards and seven TDs in 23 games for the Trojans.

–Field Level Media

FSU QB Thomas Castellanos drops appeal, enters draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has dropped his petition for another year of eligibility and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.

“To my family, friends, coaches, and teammates and everyone who has supported me along this journey, thank you for believing in me and pushing me to become the man I am today,” he posted Tuesday on X.

Castellanos started 12 games for the Seminoles in 2025 following two seasons at Boston College (2023-24) and one at UCF (2022).

He had appealed for an extra season based on only appearing in five games as a freshman reserve for the Knights in 2022, including as an injury replacement in the then-American Athletic Conference championship game.

Just Win Management Group, the agency that aided Castellanos during his legal battle with the NCAA, supported his decision to move on.

“While the unique facts and circumstances surrounding the petition for an additional year of eligibility did create a path of viability, after careful review and consideration, we fully support Mr. Castellanos’ decision to forego that continued pursuit and focus his attention on preparing for the 2026 NFL draft,” the agency said in a statement.

Castellanos started every game for the Seminoles (5-7) in 2025, connecting on 58.3% of passes for 2,760 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for a team-high 557 yards and nine scores.

–Field Level Media

ACC reveals ‘26 schedule: Some play 9 league games, others 8

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The Atlantic Coast Conference revealed Tuesday that not all 17 of its football members will make the move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026.

Instead, 12 teams will play nine games while Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina will have eight games in what the league called a “transition year” to its new scheduling policy.

The ACC said in a news release that the unique format for 2026 was “designed to balance competitive equity, honor existing nonconference game contracts and account for the league’s unique 17-team footprint.”

Beginning in 2027, 16 teams will play a nine-game ACC schedule and also be required to schedule one other Power 4 opponent. Because of the odd number of member institutions, one team each season will be scheduled for eight ACC games and must schedule two Power 4 opponents elsewhere.

“Today’s announcement of our 2026 football league opponents is another significant and intentional step forward for ACC Football,” commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. “Transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule strengthens our competitive framework, aligns us with the other Power Four conferences and provides greater consistency for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. This phased approach reflects our commitment to competitive equity, scheduling flexibility and delivering a premier football product across all 17 institutions.”

The league announced its decision to join the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC with a nine-game conference schedule back on Sept. 22.

The ACC also said in its release that its tiebreaker policy will be updated and announced sometime before the 2026 season.

The league caught flak for 7-5 Duke winning a five-way tiebreaker among 6-2 ACC teams to qualify for the championship game against Virginia. The unranked Blue Devils upset the Cavaliers for the conference title, and come College Football Playoff selection time, two Group of Five champions — Tulane and James Madison — were ranked higher than Duke and got in the field as the No. 11 and 12 seeds.

–Field Level Media

Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos petitions NCAA for extra season

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Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos is petitioning the NCAA to reconsider his request for an extra season of eligibility.

Castellanos contends he should be granted a fifth season since he played in only five games in 2022 as a freshman third-stringer at UCF. One was a spot appearance as an injury replacement in the American Athletic Conference championship game.

Castellanos started for Boston College as a sophomore and junior, then transferred again to join the Seminoles for the 2025 season.

“Just weeks after Tommy’s participating (in the 2022 AAC title game), the NCAA issued a blanket waiver allowing future players in his exact situation to maintain their redshirt status,” Darren Heitner, the attorney representing Castellanos as he appeals, said in a statement Friday.

Heitner added, “Players today can participate in four regular-season games plus a conference championship game without losing eligibility.”

Castellanos completed 2 of 8 passes for seven yards as UCF fell 45-28 to Tulane in the 2022 AAC championship. The Knights tabbed him to fill in for John Rhys Plumlee, who exited with a hamstring injury, because backup Mikey Keene had opted out of postseason play to preserve his own redshirt status as he mulled a transfer.

“(Castellanos) played only because of circumstances beyond his control,” Heitner said. “(He) is being penalized for the timing. Considering the postseason exception that now exists, this case demands a fair resolution.”

Castellanos started every game for Florida State in 2025, connecting on 58.3% of passes for 2,760 yards and a 15-9 touchdown-interception split, as coach Mike Norvell’s team limped to a 5-7 record and lost six of eight ACC matchups.

The dual-threat quarterback totaled 557 yards and nine scores on the ground as Florida State’s leading rusher.

The Seminoles decided to bring back Norvell for a seventh year at the helm despite another losing season. They went 2-10 (1-7 ACC) in 2024 before Castellanos’ transfer.

–Field Level Media

Jadan Baugh’s historic outing leads Florida to rivalry win over Florida State

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Florida’s Jadan Baugh eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in a dominating, career-best outing, and the Gators deprived rival Florida State of a bowl berth by rocking the Seminoles 40-21 on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.

Baugh carried 38 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns, and DJ Lagway was 15 of 24 for 168 yards with three touchdowns and an interception as the Gators (4-8, 2-6 SEC) finally won in November.

With an interim coach and falling out of the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes this weekend, Florida snapped a four-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, Florida State (5-7, 2-6 ACC) needed another win for a bowl appearance, but the ACC school never led and lost for the third time in four games.

Tommy Castellanos went 17 of 28 for 240 yards with two TD passes and a pick; he also rushed for 77 yards and a score. Lawayne McCoy had six receptions for 117 yards and a score.

The Seminoles are now winless on the road for the second straight season; their last road victory, coincidentally, was in Gainesville in 2023.

After the Gators took a 3-0 lead on Trey Smack’s 23-yard kick, Florida’s defense stuffed the visitors’ second series with a turnover on downs, and Lagway soon found J. Michael Sturdivant on a slant for a five-yard score at 2:49 for a 10-0 lead.

However, on third-and-5 in the second quarter, Castellanos hit receiver Micahi Danzy, who hauled in a throw underneath and was shoved into the end zone by his teammates for a 13-yard TD to make it to 10-7 at 13:39.

The home side answered Florida State’s score with a nine-yard play-action pass to Tony Livingston in an epic 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 8:01 of the quarter.

Seminoles defensive back Edwin Joseph picked off Lagway to set up the half’s final score, a four-yard scamper by Castellanos as a short skirmish broke out at the goal line between the north Florida foes in the 17-14 contest.

Baugh had 101 yards in the first half to become the first 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor in 2015.

Lagway led Florida 40 yards in three plays after a turnover on downs and regained the 10-point lead with a three-yard pass to Hayden Hansen at 9:47. Baugh created separation with a 22-yard run at 2:55 to increase it to 31-14.

Smack hit from 54 for the first points of the 4th quarter. Then, Castellanos found McCoy from 17 yards out with 3:07 left.
Baugh’s TD run was the final score of the contest.

–Field Level Media