The Florida State Seminoles will wrap up their 2026 road schedule Friday night at Acrisure Stadium in Pennsylvania against the Senior Day-celebrating Pitt Panthers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
FSU and Pitt will meet for the 13th time in a series that dates back to 1971. The Panthers lead the all-time series, 7-5, following last season’s 34-31 victory in Tallahassee. The ACC series is tied, 2-2, the teams are also tied 3-3 in games played at Pitt, but
Pitt holds a 2-1 record against Florida State under Pat Narduzzi.
Florida State (4-5, 2-4 ACC), under interim head coach Rick Stockstill, will attempt to win its second consecutive road game for the first time since the 2023 season, before closing out with two home games against NCST, and with Florida again on a Friday with a short week to prepare.
The Panthers (6-3, 3-3 ACC), who are coming off a bye week after securing bowl eligibility with a 34-11 victory over Georgia Tech, enter their final home game with a 5-1 record at home this season. Pitt was on a roll early in the season, winning their first five games before dropping their next 3 games against North Carolina, Boston College, and Miami, then bouncing back against the Yellow Jackets in their last outing.
The Panthers have outscored their home opponents, 208-66, allowing averages of 11.0 points and 55.8 rushing yards per game. Pitt has held opponents to 14 points or fewer in each of its five home victories.
Through nine games Pitt’s defense ranks 2nd in the nation allowing just 68.3 rushing yards per game, 29th in total defense (321 yds/game), rank 42nd in third-down defense (holding opponents to a 35.4 percent conversion rate), T-32 in scoring defense (19.8 pts/game), however the Panthers passing defense ranks 123rd in the nation giving up an average of 253 yards per game.
In their last outing, Pitt recorded a season-high 10 tackles for loss and five sacks against Georgia Tech. Jaeden Moore leads the Panthers with 4.5 sacks and shares the team lead with Nick James at eight tackles for loss, while Cruce Brookins leads Pitt with 61 tackles.
The Panthers offense is led by QB Holden Geriner, who replaced season starter Mason Heintsche after he went down with a torn ACL against Virginia Tech and will miss the rest of the season. Overall, Pitt’s offense ranks 24th in total offense (446), T-45th in scoring offense (31.9 pts/gm), 18th in passing offense (278.4), 61st in 3rd-down conversion (40.8%), and 106th in red zone offense.
Wide receiver Cataurus Hicks leads the ACC receivers with an average of 20.5 yards per catch on 34 receptions, 698 receiving yards, six touchdown catches, and 844 all-purpose yards. Hicks has caught a touchdown pass in three consecutive games.
The strength of Pitt’s offense is their rushing attack led by true freshman Damon Ferguson Jr., who is coming off a 185-yard rushing, two touchdowns, and 196 total yards from scrimmage performance against GT, all career highs. On the season, Ferguson leads Pitt with 123 carries for 662 yards and a 5.4 average per carry, followed by RB La’Vell Wright with a 4-yard average on 76 carries.
The Seminoles are coming off a 31-24 win over the BC Eagles 31-24 that gave interim head coach Rick Stockstill a victory in his FSU debut and snapped FSU’s 12-game road losing streak. Unlike past performances, the Seminole players did not fold under the pressure of a back-and-forth battle that saw four lead changes, an FSU touchdown on a fake field goal, and then an 8+ minute, 14-play, 90-yard drive that was capped off by Amari Thomas’s 11-yard touchdown with 2:29 left in the game.
On the season, FSU is 3-0 when rushing for 200 or more yards and 4-1 when rushing for more than 155 yards. FSU’s offense is ranked 45th in the nation in total offense, 50th in passing offense, 50th in rushing, 51st in scoring, and 65th in red-zone offense.
Team Stats – Through games 11/10/2026
Florida State’s defense has allowed 11 rushing touchdowns in its past four games and 15 this season. After holding Boston College to a respectable 320 total yards (148 rushing/172 passing), FSU now ranks 121st in total defense giving up 413 yards/game, 110th in passing defense (239 yards/game), 106th in third-down percentage, allowing opponents to convert almost 42% of their third-down attempts, and T-109th in first-down defense, allowing their opponents 193 first downs (21.4/game) in the 9 games played this season.
FSU individual leaders
Florida State is currently trending as a 3.5-point underdog with the over/under set at 53.5 points, according to FanDuel.
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- NoleThruandThru (season record: 8-1)
This is a tough one to predict as FSU’s bowl hopes likely hinge on beating Pitt. Holden Geriner doesn’t exactly inspire confidence at QB for the Panthers but FSU’s secondary doesn’t either. I’m excited to see what Amari Thomas can do as a feature back in Tre Wisner’s absence and hopefully the ‘Noles can get a couple of key defenders back in time for Friday night. Loved seeing my boy Jasen Lopez notch his first touchdown, keep feeding him. FSU did what it needed to do to hold on against Boston College, but I’m just not as confident that they can keep the momentum rolling on a short week.
Pitt 31, FSU 27
- Tim Scribble (season record: 6-2)
I really don’t know what to think of Pitt. Without their quarterback they are definitely a worse team but the defense is still good. I’m not confident in this pick but I am going with the Panthers.
Pitt 24, FSU 21
- Jacob Smith (season record: 6-3)
I think Pitt will be one of those games the Seminoles get simply outclassed. The Panthers have the No. 4 rush defense in terms of EPA per rush, but their offense is simply mediocre. FSU’s offense, while in the top 45 in EPA/Pass and the top 30 in EPA/Rush, this game could get rather high scoring. I also have to agree with NT&T; Jasen Lopez needs the ball thrown his way more.
Pitt will be without Mason Heintschel, so they will have to turn to fifth-year Holden Geriner, who hasn’t been great for the Panthers, but they are 6-3 going into this game. It’ll be one of those games where the Panthers pull away late to make the score look somewhat worse than it was all game.
Pittsburgh 51, FSU 38
- Curt Weiler (season record: 6-3, 3-6 ATS)
This will be an interesting test of exactly how much better FSU can be in the post-Norvell era.
Pitt’s defense is quite good. Its offense, after the loss of Mason Heintschel to a season-ending injury, is not. Holden Geriner has just 886 passing yards, four TDs and two picks in six games this season.
Since they proved me right last week, I’m betting on Florida State for one more week.
FSU 27, Pitt 24
- Tony Morris (season record: 4-0)
This one is deeper than the average Joe thinks. It’s a road game, and one win at BC doesn’t erase the road struggles, so a second straight road victory would be meaningful for momentum. More importantly, it’s a real test for the young guys who are going to be asked to carry a lot of the load: Amari Thomas making his first start at running back, Sandman Thompson stepping in on the offensive line, and contributions from Jasen Lopez, Devin Carter, and others. A strong showing from them against a conference opponent on the road would be a morale boost for the team, the fans, and the staff that the future in Tallahassee is in good hands. I believe Ashton Daniels will turn up in his final few games of his college football career as well as in FSU’s defense with Ernie Sims.
FSU 38, Pitt 28
- Jon Marchant (season record: 7-2)
That was nice. Unfortunately I think another Friday night game on the road will be a much tougher hill to climb.
FSU 26, Pitt 33
- Seminole Uprising (season record: 7-2)
This is a “say it out loud” game for me. Say this out loud: Florida State, with an interim head coach and without its best wide receiver, center, and three running backs, has to go on the road on a short week for the second game in a row. Oh, by the way, the temperature should be in the high 30s and dropping as the game goes on. For a team that does not handle adversity well, this week is full of it. Given that FSU barely beat a bad Boston College team, I don’t see them winning a second game on the road. Pitt wins and covers.
FSU 21, Pitt 27
- Matt Minnick (season record: 7-2; ATS: 5-4)
That loud thud you heard last week was FSU’s road game monkey finally being ripped off our backs and thrown to the ground. Rick “Riverboat Gambler” Stockstill! Can FSU start a road winning streak? Before the season I had this pegged as a near lock for a loss. Friday night road games are tough on their own, but playing one the week after a long road trip, in cold weather, against a physical team like Pitt just seemed like a recipe for disaster. But now the picture looks a little less clear.
The Panthers have not been nearly as effective on offense since losing Heintschel, however their defense remains stout. If you told me FSU could build an early lead, say 13-3, I’d think that might be enough to force Pitt into one-dimensional football and maybe hide some of the Seminoles’ warts on defense. But I just don’t know if I can trust FSU to move the ball consistently enough to keep Pitt on their heels. And will the customary explosive plays be there in 38 degree weather? If FSU had Kromah to deliver body blows I’d feel a lot more confident. As it stands, I have FSU to cover, but not win in a low scoring affair. However, it wouldn’t shock me to see Stockstill and Co. make it two in a row.
Pitt 23, Florida State 20
- Frank DNole (season record: 4-5)
Pitt’s defense appears good on paper, but let’s look at their resume. They beat Miami (OH), barely beat UCF, Syracuse, Bucknell, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech, while losing to North Carolina, Boston College, and getting destroyed by Miami.
Pitt’s offense’s rankings are also inflated; they’re one-dimensional with a decent run game but little to no passing game since their starting QB went down. Their offensive rankings are misleading due to a weak 5-game opening stretch with the better QB inflating the numbers.
The game will follow a similar storyline to what we witnessed last week against BC. The Seminoles will win the offensive, defensive, and special-teams battles because the FSU players will give 114% more effort, will want it more, and they will play with more heart than their equally talented Panther opponent.
FSU Seminoles 34, Pitts 24
- Perry Kostidakis (season record: 5-4, 4-5 ATS)
FSU hasn’t won a Friday matchup since 2022 vs. Florida — but just like Florida State snapping one streak defined by a win against the Gators last week, it’ll rise to the occasion again and pull off a win at Pitt.
FSU’s offense looked pretty stinky for the early part of last week’s win, but the Seminoles figured themselves out and managed to go blow-for-blow with the Eagles. Even with the absence of Tre Wisner and consideration of Pitt’s impressive defense, I think the emergence of Jasen Lopez and Amari Thomas coupled with a healthy dose of Ashton Daniels runs should keep things humming. The Seminoles have failed to clear 30 points just once this season, so the production will come — it’s just a matter of FSU’s defense doing its job.
Pitt’s offense, which hasn’t exactly been lighting it up since losing Mason Heintschel, doesn’t have a dual-threat quarterback to give it an extra edge — rather, it’s been led by a particularly woeful one in Holden Geriner.
The Panthers, however, do have one of the better offensive lines in the country (grading out at No. 4 in PFF’s rankings), which even when taking into consideration Geriner’s lack of production means an inconsistent FSU pass rush and poor secondary will have to rise to the occasion.
I think things will look similar to Florida State’s win last week, a win that doesn’t blow you away but counts in the record books all the same.
FSU 36, Pitt 24
Florida State Seminoles vs. Pitt Panthers
Pre-Game Coverage from Tomahawk Nation
- TN Staff Predictions: Florida State Seminoles vs. Pitt Panthers
- How To Watch: Florida State Seminoles vs. Pitt Panthers: How to watch, stream, odds
- Snap Counts: Florida State’s offensive and defensive snap counts from the win at Boston College
- Media Monday: Rick Stockstill: “You go on the road, you got to pack your toughness” against Pitt
- FSU’s new athletic director Jeff Purinton: “Florida State can be the best athletics program in the country”
- Florida State hires Jeff Purinton as athletic director
- Rick Stockstill after winning debut as interim coach: “It’s a very special feeling”
- “We want to go broaden the net and get more people involved”: Inside Seminole Boosters’ plan to rebuild and expand FSU’s donor base
- Florida State Head Coach Hot Board 2.0
Florida State Seminoles vs. Pitt Panthers: How to watch, stream, odds
Date
- Friday, November 13th
Time
- 7:00 p.m. ET
Watch/Stream
- Channel: ESPN
- Stream: WatchESPN | ESPN App
Listen
- Seminoles Radio Network
- FSU Broadcast: Ch. 258 | SXM App
Spread
- +3.5, Florida State
Over/Under
- 53.5 points
Weekly Tomahawk Nation Member Guest Picker
This week’s guest picker is a longtime TN member, Murphy45p, who recently celebrated his 14th TN anniversary after joining on September 19, 2012 at 11:54 a.m.
So I’ve been a TN member longer than some 13-year-old boys have been alive. Tip: If you stay on this website long enough, you will get a free lifetime subscription! I graduated from FSU in 1985, and so I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs with the program. When I was asked to be a guest picker, it was prior to Norvell’s firing and prior to a road game win and prior to me being optimistic about the program.
On paper, Pitt and FSU look evenly matched. Pitt doesn’t have any notable wins even though they have a few more than FSU, but Pitt hasn’t faced the level of competition we have either. Pitt’s identity is hard-nosed football, and so their strength (run defense) matches up with our offensive strength (running the ball). Pitt’s promising QB is injured for the remainder of the season. Our WR1, 2 starting RBs, starting center, and best cornerback are
out. Kevin Wynn and McCray were out for BC, and at the time I’m writing this I have no idea if they will be available.
Pitt’s Oline is comprised of large specimen upperclassmen, so I’m hoping that Wynn and McCray can give us some snaps this game. If Norvell was HC, this would be a loss, probably a very ugly loss. If Pitt had its QB healthy, with or without Norvell, it’s probably a loss because I don’t trust our secondary to be in the right place, and even if they are, I don’t trust them to make a tackle. If FSU had Kromah and Duce and Q. Jones, I think FSU wins in a blowout (post Norvell).
This is a tossup, but for some reason, I believe in this team again! There will be some ugly moments, but give me
FSU 30, Pitt 24
Bonus pick: We beat NC State the following week and became bowl-eligible. Happy days are here again! Go Noles!
Throwback Thursday: FSU vs Pitt history and trivia
Forty-six years ago, an upstart 16th-ranked Florida State football program, led by 5th-year coach Bobby Bowden, shocked the football world by upsetting the 3rd-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers at their house in Lincoln.
The following week, the then 11th-ranked Seminoles hosted the 4th-ranked Pitt Panthers, led by future NFL greats Dan Marino and with what “could have been the greatest assemblage of talent to ever play the college game” that had “23 NFL starters on one team! Seven of them were first-round draft picks.”
Florida State, behind red-shirt junior quarterback Rick Stockstill’s 3 touchdown passes, and a relentless Seminole defense featuring Paul Piurowski, Bobby Butler, Ron Simmons, Reggie Herring, Keith Jones, and others, harassed Marino into throwing 3 interceptions and……
…well, I’m going to let Skip Foster take over from here. Click…
Seminole throwback: 1980 v. Pitt
As Florida State prepares to take on Pitt, let’s relive one of the all-time classic FSU games.
There is little to no doubt that this Florida State victory over Pitt and Marino cost the Panthers the National Championship, or at minimum the opportunity to play for it, by finishing ranked second with an 11-1 final season record.
