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Unbelievable! Virginia Topples Florida State in Double OT Thriller

by
27 September 2025

Journey Tribune – Under the lights of Scott Stadium, the Virginia Cavaliers delivered a victory that will be remembered for years. In a game full of momentum swings, mistakes, and heroic plays, Virginia outlasted No. 8 Florida State, 46-38, in a double-overtime thriller Friday night.

As the final interception landed safely in the arms of a Cavaliers defender, a wave of orange and blue rushed onto the field. Fans poured over the walls and flooded the grass, turning the stadium into a sea of celebration. For head coach Tony Elliott, in his third season, this was more than just a win.

“This was about belief,” Elliott said. “The guys never stopped fighting. They’ve been through ups and downs, but tonight, they showed the best version of Virginia football.”

Virginia’s Hot Start and Costly Errors

Virginia struck first and struck fast. Quarterback Chandler Morris guided two crisp scoring drives to give the Cavaliers a 14-0 cushion early in the first quarter. The Seminoles looked rattled.

But Morris’ aggressiveness backfired. Two interceptions in the half gifted Florida State excellent field position, and the Seminoles converted both into touchdowns to pull even. Suddenly, what looked like a rout was a fight.

Still, Virginia showed composure. A grinding 15-play drive pushed them back on top before halftime, only for Florida State to answer again. By the break, it was 21-21 — a dead heat that set the stage for what would come.

A Battle of Endurance

The second half was a tug-of-war. Virginia leaned on discipline, piecing together another 12-play scoring drive. Florida State, meanwhile, leaned on muscle. Their ground game churned out yards all night, piling up 256 on 48 carries.

Yet every time the Seminoles surged, Virginia found an answer. The defining moment came midway through the fourth quarter, when the Cavaliers mounted a marathon 16-play, 75-yard drive. It drained the clock, ended with a touchdown, and gave Virginia a 38-31 lead with under two minutes left.

Scott Stadium shook. Fans were already imagining the upset. But Florida State wasn’t finished.

Florida State Forces Overtime

With 36 seconds left, Florida State faced fourth down deep in Virginia territory. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos had no choice but to gamble. He zipped a ball into tight coverage, and tight end Randy Pittman Jr. stretched out for a diving grab in the end zone.

Touchdown. Tie game. Silence from the home crowd, replaced seconds later by anxious applause. It was 38-38. Overtime was inevitable.

“When the ball came my way, I just thought, ‘This is it,’” Pittman said later. “I came down with it, but unfortunately, the night didn’t end the way we hoped.”

First Overtime: Trading Field Goals

The first extra session brought tension but no breakthrough. Both teams settled for field goals, playing cautiously to avoid the fatal mistake.

Second Overtime: Morris Writes His Story

That mistake came in the second overtime — but it wasn’t Virginia who made it.

On the opening possession, Morris tucked the ball and sprinted across the goal line for his third rushing touchdown of the game. He followed it with a successful two-point conversion, giving Virginia a 46-38 lead.

Florida State’s response looked promising. Castellanos connected with Duce Robinson in the end zone for what the officials initially ruled a touchdown. The Seminoles celebrated. But after review, heartbreak: Robinson had juggled the ball before stepping out of bounds. The score was wiped away.

On the next play, Castellanos heaved a desperate throw into traffic. A Cavaliers defender read it perfectly, plucked it from the air, and sealed the game. Moments later, the field was swallowed by celebrating fans.

“I just saw the ball coming and thought, ‘Don’t drop it,’” the defender said with a grin. “The rest was pure joy.”

Numbers That Mattered

Morris’ stat line told the story of resilience. He completed 26 of 35 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. On the ground, he added 37 yards and three rushing scores, redeeming himself after early mistakes.

Castellanos finished 18-of-32 for 254 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Robinson was sensational with nine catches for 147 yards and a score, but even his brilliance couldn’t save Florida State.

Shifting the ACC Landscape

The upset reshaped the ACC picture. Florida State, once seen as a contender, fell to 0-1 in conference play just a week before hosting No. 2 Miami.

“We have to respond quickly,” Castellanos said. “We don’t have time to dwell on this.”

Virginia, meanwhile, improved to 4-1. With no ranked opponents left on the schedule, bowl eligibility is within reach — and the Cavaliers could even play themselves into contention. Only Miami, Georgia Tech, and Louisville remain unbeaten in the ACC.

A Program’s Turning Point?

Since their Orange Bowl appearance in 2019, Virginia football has stumbled. Elliott’s first two seasons were marked by inconsistency and disappointment. But Friday night felt different.

“This isn’t just about one win,” Morris said, still smiling as he left the field to chants of his name. “This is about showing we belong. We can compete with anybody.”

For a fan base that has waited years to celebrate again, those words meant everything.

Conclusion

Virginia’s 46-38 victory over Florida State was more than just an upset of a top-10 team. It was a defining moment — for the players, for the program, and for a stadium that shook with every play.

For Florida State, it was a painful reminder of how narrow the margins are in college football. For Virginia, it was a rebirth.

Scott Stadium will remember the night the Cavaliers stood tall, toppled a giant, and let the world know: Virginia football is back.

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