Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech football team will face their sixth conference opponent of the year as they travel to play Florida State on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Hokies (3-6, 2-3 ACC), who are looking to reach .500 in their 2025 conference competitions, will attempt to do so against a Seminole team (4-5, 1-5 ACC) that lost their last outing against Clemson 24-10. With plenty of storylines waiting to be written in Tallahassee, here’s What to Watch as the Hokies and Seminoles square off on Saturday.
Eyes on the Ground
The Virginia Tech run game has been a key part of the Hokies offense throughout the 2025 season. Led by transfers Marcellous Hawkins and Terion Stewart, the team has showcased a dynamic mix of strength and speed to sustain drives, move the ball, and keep defenses guessing.
Through nine games this season, the Hokies rank fourth in the ACC in rush yards per game (182.0). In the last three games alone, the offense recorded 707 yards on the ground, over half of which came in a 357-yard showing in the double-overtime win against Cal on Oct. 24. In the game against the Golden Bears, Hawkins rushed for a team-high 167 yards on just 21 carries (8.0 yards per carry).
The Hokies will bring their high-octane rush attack to Tallahassee, where the Seminoles rank seventh in the conference in yards allowed (112.6). Hokie Nation should make note of how Hawkins, Stewart and members of the offense penetrate the Florida State defense on the ground this Saturday.
Defensive Test
The offensive firepower of the Florida State football team has topped the stat sheet in several categories this season. The team leads the conference in passing plays of 30 or more yards (27) and is fourth in the country in rushing plays of 10 or more yards (68), proving that the Seminoles have been able to get it done both in the air and on the ground.
However, the Sam Siefkes-led Lunch Pail Defense has been able to answer the call in the moments that matter most. Against dual-threat quarterbacks this fall, key members of the defensive front have been able to limit production, specifically in muting N.C. State quarterback C.J. Bailey to a season-low 19 rush yards and Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to negative 27 rush yards.
This week, the Lunch Pail Defense has their sights set on senior quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who has over 2,000 passing yards through nine contests. Keen-eyed fans should watch to see how Kelvin Gilliam Jr., Kemari Copeland, Caleb Woodson and the defense perform on Saturday.
Similarities and Differences
The primetime matchup features a pair of teams who have both gone 1-3 in their last four games, providing an equal playing field in terms of momentum.
Contrastingly, however, the conference performances from both squads could not be more different. While the Hokies are looking to achieve a 3-3 ACC record with a win this weekend, the Seminoles stand at 1-5 in conference play behind losses to Virginia, Miami, Pitt, Stanford and Clemson.