What Virginia couldn’t do in the final seconds of regulation, it was able to conquer in overtime.
The Cavaliers’ fourth-down stop in double overtime secured a 46-38 stunning win over No. 8 Florida State on Friday night in front of a frenzied, lively crowd of 50,107 who were waiting for a night like this at Scott Stadium.
This was a step of maturation for the Hoos (4-1, 2-0 ACC) while outlasting the Seminoles (3-1, 0-1 ACC) and seizing the chance for a program-changing victory under fourth-year coach Tony Elliott, whose squad never relented when going back-and-forth with nationally-ranked Florida State.
Not even after Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos’ 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Randy Pittman Jr. with 11 seconds left evened the game at 35, and forced overtime.
Instead, the Cavaliers’ defense kept chasing and trying to track down Castellanos in the second extra period. Their front-line pressure forced Castellanos on fourth-and-7 to retreat and fire in desperation off his back foot toward the end zone where Hoos defensive back Ja’son Prevard was waiting to catch his second interception of the night.
The party was on.
Down from the hill, the student section rushed the field in jubilation as UVa captured its seventh ever win over an AP Top-10 opponent and third ever against Florida State — in 1995, 2005 and 2025.
UVa took its decisive lead in the first part of the second overtime on quarterback Chandler Morris’ third rushing touchdown of the night, and Morris’ throw on a 2-point conversion to Trell Harris provided them an 8-point lead.
The two teams traded field goals in the first overtime.
Castellanos’ game-tying touchdown throw in the fourth was the fourth tied score of the night.
Morris’ 15-yard touchdown pass to running back Xavier Brown on a wheel route with 7:20 left put UVa up, 35-28, with 7:20 to go.
And that was after the two sides exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter to set up the dramatic finish. Morris had a 7-yard rushing score and the Seminoles countered with Pittman’s jump pass after a direct snap to wide receiver Duce Robinson in the final minute of the third.
But for the Cavaliers to be positioned for an upset, they successfully had to withstand the Seminoles’ second-quarter onslaught.
Florida State rattled off 21 straight points in the second period, including a game-tying and a go-ahead touchdown following interceptions thrown by Morris.
The first pick Morris threw came while rolling right and trying to force a pass downfield to slot receiver Cam Ross. Morris didn’t get enough on the pass and Florida State’s Edwin Joseph picked off the football.
Morris’ second interception wasn’t his fault as he tried to throw high to leaping wide receiver Jahmal Edrine. But the ball bounced off Edrine’s hands and into defensive back Elijah Herring’s hands.
Pittman Jr.’s 2-yard run on a direct snap for a touchdown even the score at 14 with 5:29 left before halftime and Castellanos’ 4-yard touchdown run on a keeper gave the Seminoles their first lead at 21-14 at the 2:32 mark of the second quarter.
UVa didn’t give in, though.
At least not Harris, whose juggling catch off a tipped pass saved the Hoos’ final drive of the opening half. Harris’ extreme concentration allowed him to catch it, and his strength and hustle while stepping through trying arm-tacklers propelled him into Seminoles territory on a 28-yard gain.
Running back J’Mari Taylor’s 26-yard touchdown run followed to even the score before the two sides hit the locker room for halftime.
UVa scored the contest’s first 14 points — on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Morris to tight end Sage Ennis and an 11-yard run by Morris — to build belief from the Wahoo faithful that an upending of the Seminoles was possible.
Greg Madia
gmadia@dailyprogress.com
@GregMadia on X
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Greg Madia
UVa Sports Reporter
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