Florida State’s offseason commitment to rebuilding its ground game paid off in historic fashion Saturday. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos passed for 205 yards and added two rushing touchdowns as No. 7 Florida State ran for a school-record 498 yards in a 66-10 demolition of Kent State. The Seminoles (3-0) scored eight rushing touchdowns—matching their entire output from the 2024 season—in just three quarters of work.
“We wanted to be physical and set the tone,” offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “That’s the identity of this team now.”
Gavin Sawchuk, a transfer from Oklahoma, paced the Seminoles with 97 yards and two scores on 11 carries. Freshman Micahi Danzy ripped off a 64-yard touchdown run and added catches of 65 and 47 yards, continuing a breakout start to his college career.
Florida State averaged 12.1 yards per carry, producing 17 runs of 10 yards or more. In just three games this season, the Seminoles have piled up 1,089 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. For perspective, they managed 1,079 yards and only eight rushing scores across 12 games in 2024.
The transformation began with Malzahn’s arrival from UCF and a roster overhaul. Alongside Castellanos and Sawchuk, the Seminoles added four transfer offensive linemen, all of whom started Saturday.
Castellanos gave fans a brief scare when he left in the second quarter with an apparent ankle injury. But he returned early in the third, sprinting down the sideline to a roar from the crowd. With FSU already leading 45-7, he did not play in the second half.
“I’m good,” Castellanos said afterward with a smile. “I just wanted to be out there with my guys.”
Kent State (0-3) never found traction. The Golden Flashes mustered just 43 rushing yards on 28 carries and failed to sustain drives against Florida State’s swarming defense. Quarterback Dru DeShields provided the lone highlight with a 75-yard touchdown strike to Da’Shawn Martin in the second quarter, part of his 129 passing yards.
Florida State scored on 10 of its first 11 possessions, including nine touchdowns, and followed up its 77-3 blowout of East Texas A&M with another emphatic win.
Florida State has quickly emerged as one of the nation’s most dominant rushing teams, averaging 363 yards per game on the ground. With Malzahn’s system clicking, Castellanos at the helm, and fresh playmakers like Sawchuk and Danzy thriving, the Seminoles’ offensive identity is clear.
“This is what we envisioned,” head coach Mike Norvell said. “We’re not done yet.”
The Seminoles will aim to keep their momentum rolling as ACC play begins next week.
