Virginia football upset No. 8 Florida State 46-38 in a thrilling double-overtime game Friday night, securing the Cavaliers’ first home victory over a top-10 team since defeating the Seminoles in 2005. Chandler Morris was the star, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for two more. He capped the victory with a 4-yard touchdown run in the second overtime and completed a two-point conversion pass to Trell Harris to put Virginia ahead for good.
Florida State had a chance to respond, but Duce Robinson bobbled a pass in the end zone on third down. On fourth-and-12 from the 27, Tommy Castellanos’ throw into the end zone was intercepted by Ja’son Prevard, sending Cavaliers fans onto the field in celebration.
The Seminoles had rallied late in regulation to force overtime, with Castellanos connecting on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Randy Pittman Jr. on fourth down with just 32 seconds left. The first overtime saw the teams trade field goals, setting the stage for Virginia’s decisive second overtime.
Robinson finished with nine catches for 147 yards and a touchdown, while Castellanos threw for 254 yards and a score and added 78 rushing yards with a touchdown. J’Mari Taylor contributed 99 rushing yards and a touchdown as Virginia’s running game dominated the clock in the second half.
Virginia jumped out to a quick lead, converting two first-quarter turnovers into touchdowns for a 14-0 advantage. Florida State fought back, fueled by two early interceptions, and held a 21-14 lead at halftime. The teams were tied at 21 at halftime and 28 after three quarters, highlighting a back-and-forth battle.
Florida State entered the season with high expectations after a season-opening upset over Alabama. Despite two dominant wins over lesser opponents, the Seminoles faltered in ACC play, falling to Virginia in a hard-fought contest.
For Virginia, this victory ranks among the most significant for the program in recent years, matching the importance of their 2019 season finale win over rival Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Florida State dropped to 3-1 and 0-1 in the conference.
