Florida State’s season of wild swings found a much-needed upswing in Week 12. Behind an explosive performance from quarterback Tommy Castellanos and the continued emergence of star receiver Duce Robinson, the Seminoles routed Virginia Tech 34-14 on Saturday to move within one win of bowl eligibility.
After a scoreless first quarter, FSU (5-5, 2-5 ACC) seized complete control, scoring on six straight drives and dominating possession behind a punishing ground attack and timely chunk plays through the air.
Castellanos sparked the Seminoles with a pair of touchdown runs and a beautifully placed 50-yard TD strike to Robinson that broke the game open. The junior dual-threat completed 12 of 24 passes for 189 yards and added 45 yards on seven carries, controlling the tempo from the second quarter on.
With Castellanos operating efficiently, Florida State’s ground game kept the Hokies off-balance. Ousmane Kromah: 59 rushing yards. Samuel Singleton Jr.: 53 rushing yards
FSU piled up 237 rushing yards on 46 carries, wearing down a Virginia Tech defense that gradually ran out of answers.
Few players in college football are finishing the season stronger than Duce Robinson. The star wideout hauled in six passes for 134 yards, marking his third straight 100-yard game and his fifth such performance in 2025.
The 50-yard touchdown—his longest of the season—highlighted a day filled with contested grabs and explosive plays. Robinson now sits at 947 receiving yards through 10 games, closing in on the 1,000-yard mark. No Seminole has reached that milestone since Tamorrion Terry’s 1,188-yard season in 2019.
Virginia Tech actually outgained Florida State on the ground, racking up 238 rushing yards, but the Seminoles’ defense made the defining plays.
Jerry Wilson snagged a key interception. Mandrell Desir forced a fumble on a promising Hokies drive. Those stops helped offset the 363 total yards allowed and kept the game tilted toward the Seminoles after halftime.
The Hokies (3-7, 2-4 ACC) flashed explosiveness, especially on the arm of Kyron Drones, who connected on passes of 36, 31, 29, and 18 yards. Drones finished 10 of 18 for 125 yards, throwing an 8-yard touchdown to Ayden Greene and adding a 4-yard TD run.
Running back Marcellous Hawkins powered the offense with 12 carries for 101 yards, repeatedly finding creases against the FSU front.
But despite the flashes, Virginia Tech struggled to sustain drives, stalling repeatedly in plus territory and failing on two fourth-down attempts in the fourth quarter. The loss is their fourth in five games, further dimming hopes for a strong finish.
What once looked like a dream season—after a 3-0 start capped by a shocking upset of Alabama—turned chaotic for Florida State. But with this victory, the Seminoles now stand one win from bowl eligibility, a meaningful achievement given the roller-coaster nature of their year.
Virginia Tech: Hosts Miami on Nov. 22. Florida State: Travels to NC State on Friday, with a chance to secure a postseason bowl berth.
Florida State’s performance in Week 12 showed a team regaining rhythm at just the right time—powered by Castellanos’ poise, Robinson’s brilliance, and timely defensive resilience. The stakes only rise from here.
