Florida State snapped its three-game losing streak with a 31-24 road victory over Boston College on Saturday, Nov. 7.
But amid the Seminoles' first ACC road win in more than three years, and their first under interim coach Rick Stockstill, Florida State's defense found itself on the wrong end of a trick play.
Facing a second-and-goal attempt in the third quarter, the Seminoles' defense was left in absolute confusion when Boston College broke out a ring-around-the-rosie pre-snap movement that sent a swarm of offensive linemen out left just for quarterback Mason McKenzie to make an unhanded touchdown pass to Javarius Green in motion.
"The meme machine huddle,"
one of ESPN's broadcasters said of the play.
The 2-yard pass briefly put Bill O'Brien's squad up 24-21 following the extra-point attempt.
What are you doing as a defense if you see this? 😭 pic.twitter.com/xEVNOIMcaY
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 7, 2026
Here's another look at it:
Ring-around-the-rosie trick led to a TD 😭
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) November 7, 2026
FSU was so confused 😅 pic.twitter.com/laiCRrx3l2
That proved to be Boston College's lone score in the second half, as Florida State's defense bounced back by shutting out the Eagles in the final 19:11 of the game. The Seminoles' offense outscored Boston College 10-0 en route to the 31-24 win.
Saturday's win for Florida State marked its first win since Oct. 3, when it defeated Virginia. The Seminoles' three-game skid since that 38-7 win over the Cavaliers led to Mike Norvell's firing on Nov. 8, ending his six-plus-year tenure in Tallahassee.
Norvell is owed a buyout of roughly $50 million from Florida State, though there's offset language in his contract that can lower that amount to what the school has to pay him should he get a new job elsewhere.
Ashton Daniels completed 15-for-26 passes for 178 yards in the Seminoles' win on Saturday, while also adding a rushing touchdown. He also threw his 12th interception of the season, which leads the country.
Florida State next heads to Pitt on Friday, Nov. 13 for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff in its final road game of the regular season. The Seminoles are two wins away from becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since that historical 2023 season that was on track for a College Football Playoff berth before Jordan Travis sustained a season-ending injury.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida State fooled by Boston College 'meme machine' trick-play for touchdown
