Aug 312 min read

Seminoles Face Challenge With Eagles in a Must-Win Matchup

On Sept. 2, the Florida State Seminoles (0-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast conference) will end the first week of the 2024 college football season when they host the Boston College Eagles (0-0) at 7:30 p.m. EST in Tallahassee, Fla.

In already their second game of the season, head coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles will be focused on learning from the loss the team suffered in Week 0 against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Dublin, Ireland. For the Eagles, they will take the field for the first time under new coach Bill O'Brien. The all-time series favors the Seminoles 15-5.

What's at Stake?

For the Seminoles, after the loss to Georgia Tech, the Seminoles face a must-win challenge in their game against the Eagles. Against the Yellow Jackets, the Seminoles' offensive and defensive lines got manhandled. It was an eye-opening display for the Seminoles as they find and establish their identity on offense and defense after the departure of several key players to the NFL.

For the Eagles, O'Brien has quality weapons on offense led by a dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Thomas Castellanos. Last season, Castellanos led the team in rushing with 1,113 yards while throwing for 2,248 yards in his first season as a starter. In last season's matchup, Castellanos gave the Seminoles defense fits, as he accounted for 400 total yards and 2 touchdowns.

Who to Watch for the Seminoles

All eyes will be on the defensive line. Patrick Payton, Marvin Jones Jr., Sione Lolohea and company need to establish to themselves that a repeat performance is not an option. They do face another veteran offensive line with the Eagles creating an interesting matchup with big consequences to the outcome.

The offense and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will be under an equally bright light. The lackluster performance against the Yellow Jackets raised a lot of questions that will have to be answered. The offense struggled to establish itself and get any traction at all. With their speed and playmakers, Uiagalelei and the offense will be focused on playing better.

Who to Watch for the Eagles

The offense runs through Castellanos. He's dynamic and can make a variety of throws to all areas of the field. He's agile enough to make defenders miss and can make plays as a runner when needed. Also, the Eagles have a two-headed monster in running backs Kye Robichaux and former Seminole Treshaun Ward. Both are great runners that complement each other with a great combination of speed and power.