The Florida State Seminoles arrive in Pittsburgh aiming for a second straight road win under interim head coach Rick Stockstill, who is still seeking his first season sweep on the road. Since their rivalry began in 1971, FSU trails 5-7 against the Panthers, a record Stockstill hopes to improve when the teams meet Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
Stockstill described Pittsburgh as "a really good Pittsburgh football team" with a 6-3 record that has kept close in every game this season. The Panthers made a quarterback change earlier in the year, replacing an injured starter with fifth-year senior Holden Geriner. Stockstill said Geriner is "a really good passer" and pointed to a "young running back that’s really dynamic" as part of the Panther offense.
The Seminoles will face a chilly night in the Steel City and expect a tough physical contest. Stockstill warned, "You go on the road, you got to pack your toughness. We got to do that again this week."
Expert opinions on the outcome are mixed, with many predicting a narrow victory for Pittsburgh but some backing Florida State. FSU Wire's panel of four experts split 3-1 in favor of Pittsburgh, with scores ranging from a lopsided 51-38 to a tight 28-24 in FSU’s favor. Jacob Smith from FSU Wire gave Pittsburgh a high-scoring 51-38 win, while Matthew Lenix was the only expert in that group to pick Florida State.
At FSU Seminoles on SI, five experts leaned toward Pittsburgh wins, with scores mostly in the mid-to-high 20s, while two supported Florida State in close games. Dustin Lewis forecasted a 24-22 win for the Seminoles, and Dillon Riera picked FSU 27-24. The majority, however, expected Pittsburgh to keep the advantage.
Noles247 staff were evenly split, three favoring Pittsburgh by narrow margins and three siding with Florida State, including Adam Brown who called for a 24-17 Seminoles win. The other picks hovered around close, low-scoring games.
Tomahawk Nation leaned slightly toward the Seminoles, 6-5. Their contributors were divided, with some predicting a high-scoring Pittsburgh win and others backing Florida State in games decided by three to seven points. Tony Morris and Frank DaNole projected FSU victories by double digits, while others like NoleThruandThru and Jacob Smith expected the Panthers to prevail.
National outlets Athlon Sports and Bleacher Report both predicted a Pittsburgh win, with Athlon calling for a slim 28-27 margin and Bleacher Report giving the Panthers a touchdown-edge at 34-28.
The Panthers' offensive adjustment following their quarterback injury has changed their dynamic, but their ability to maintain a 6-3 record shows resilience. Florida State’s challenge is to match that consistency on the road and protect their own record under Stockstill’s leadership. The Seminoles’ toughness in cold conditions and ability to contain Geriner and the dynamic running back will shape the contest.
Friday’s game could be a low-tempo encounter, as the Seminoles prepare for a physical and possibly slow-paced battle in Pittsburgh’s chilly weather. The Seminoles will seek to improve their decades-long record against the Panthers and give Stockstill a 2-0 start to his tenure.
According to Yahoo Sports.
