In a game filled with audible disappointment, Florida State football concluded their home opener against Boston College with a defeat, marking their first 0-2 start since 2021.

The final score was Boston College 28, Florida State 13, with quarterback Thomas Castellanos leading a powerful offensive effort that exploited Florida State’s struggling defense.

This loss ended Florida State’s nine-game winning streak at home.

FSU’s quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei, faced challenges throughout the game, prompting the crowd to chant “We want Brock” during critical moments, expressing their desire for a change at the helm.

Uiagalelei’s performance showed inconsistencies, completing 21 out of 42 passes, with one touchdown and one interception. Castellanos excelled, completing 10 of 16 passes with two touchdowns while rushing for 85 yards over 19 carries, including one touchdown of his own.

Boston College capitalized in the second quarter, scoring twice with Castellanos contributing both a rushing and a passing touchdown. One scoring drive consumed 9:18 on a 14-play, 71-yard effort, with Boston College outpacing Florida State by a whopping 172 to 8 yards at one stage of the first half.

FSU attempted to rally, with Uiagalelei connecting with wide receiver Kentron Poitier for a touchdown, narrowing the score to 21-13. However, the Florida State defense faltered again, allowing Boston College to extend their lead with a short touchdown run by Kye Robichaux, sealing the game at 28-13.

Here are three key observations from the Seminoles’ 28-13 loss to Boston College.

Struggling FSU Offense: DJ Uiagalelei Fails to Breach Boston College Defense

After a disappointing offensive outing against Georgia Tech in Week 0, Florida State’s offense was eager for redemption against Boston College.

Unfortunately, they delivered a lackluster performance, failing to generate any significant plays for most of the contest.

Uiagalelei struggled, missing key throws and inconsistently finding open targets. Even when he did connect, dropped passes marred his performance, resulting in a 21-for-42 showing.

Near the end of the first half, the Seminoles managed a 13-play, 70-yard drive that brought them close to the end zone at the four-yard line. However, after three unsuccessful plays—including a deflected pass and two overthrown attempts—they settled for a field goal, concluding the half without a single touchdown.

This drive exemplified the offense’s broader struggles throughout the game against Boston College.

In the second half, things didn’t improve. Their first possession ended in an interception by Uiagalelei on a fourth-down attempt from their own 45-yard line.

Poitier’s touchdown came after a slow start to the drive; a trick play on third down gave the Seminoles a brief lift. Poitier showcased his strength, breaking tackles to secure the only FSU score of the second half.

This was the team’s sole touchdown in a dismal half.

Underwhelming Seminoles Defense Can’t Contain the Run

As Florida State prepared for Boston College, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller recognized the necessity of strengthening their run defense.

Yet, the Seminoles’ failure to implement this tactic led to a dismal performance, allowing the Eagles to rush for 263 yards and score twice on the ground, with former Seminoles player Treshaun Ward making significant contributions.

Ward managed 77 rushing yards on 12 carries and added another 61 receiving yards with one touchdown catch.

Even when the Eagles chose to pass, they found success, accumulating 106 receiving yards while exploiting gaps in Florida State’s coverage numerous times throughout the game.

During a crucial stretch in the first half, Ward ran the same route on three separate third downs, getting wide open each time. A missed catch on the first attempt and an incomplete pass on the second signaled potential trouble ahead.

This culminated in a pivotal 42-yard catch-and-run from Ward that set up a touchdown just four plays later.

The Eagles averaged 5.4 yards per play, with 10.6 yards per reception and 5.1 yards per carry.

Florida State’s failure to halt the run allowed Boston College to control the game, reminiscent of the way Georgia Tech dominated the Seminoles just weeks prior.

This marks the second consecutive game where poor tackling, missed assignments, and slow reactions hindered the Seminoles’ defense against the opposing team’s ground game.

Poor Strategy and Inability to Adapt Hurt the Seminoles

The Seminoles had a challenging start to their run-heavy offense in week zero against Georgia Tech, struggling to create scoring chances. In week one, they switched to a passing-focused strategy but met with dissatisfaction from fans at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Quarterback Uiagalelei had difficulty connecting with his targets, attempting 21 passes in the first half compared to only six runs. Fans responded by booing and loudly calling for “We want Brock” even before plays began, and their frustration grew with each failed pass.

Despite Boston College’s well-structured coverage making it hard for the Seminoles to effectively utilize the passing game, coach Mike Norvell kept allowing Uiagalelei to make throws. As a result, FSU’s total rushing attempts were alarmingly low, with only a few stemming from Uiagalelei scrambling under pressure due to inadequate offensive line support.

This strategy sharply contrasted their earlier game against Georgia Tech, where Norvell prioritized running the ball. The failure to adapt their game plan allowed Boston College to anticipate the Seminoles’ moves effectively.

On the defensive side, the Seminoles faced challenges with tackling and maintaining solid positioning, despite having emphasized these areas in their preparations. Defenders frequently appeared unprepared, leading to ineffective attempts to stop Boston College’s running game.

With the game plan unchanged throughout the entire match, the final score reflected a disappointing 28-13 defeat.