Florida
Three Players To Watch In Florida State’s ACC Finale Against North Carolina
In a season filled with highs and lows, Florida State’s culture has been thrust into the spotlight. While the Seminoles’ 2024 campaign hasn’t met initial expectations, Mike Norvell’s ‘Noles are under the microscope, as people both in and around the program wish to see grit and tenacity continue to shine throughout the remaining weeks. Regardless of record, players have been tasked with carrying the weight of a struggling season, expected to rise to the occasion week after week with determination and focus. With just one conference game left against the North Carolina Tar Heels, each athlete has a chance to make an impact that goes beyond individual stats or win-loss records.
NoleGameday Staff Score Predictions: Florida State Seminoles vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
As the Seminoles prepare to face a UNC team bolstered by a dynamic offense, their success may depend on the performances of key players like Azareye’h Thomas, Omar Graham Jr., and Jacob Rizy. Together, these three players embody both the heart and potential within Florida State’s program, and they’ll be crucial in a game that could set a positive tone for the program moving forward.
Prior to the start of the 2024 season, DB Azarey’h Thomas was the topic of discussion among beatwriters and national media pundits alike, all of whom were ready to label the experienced defensive back as “Florida State’s next great DB”. Following a sophomore campaign that saw Thomas record 29 tackles, 4.5 of which were TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery and ranked 4th in the ACC for total pass deflections, those in and around the program expected him to take a monumental leap in his development in 2024. He would undoubtedly slot into a starting role for DC Adam Fuller’s defense, and that increased playing time was sure to provide him with the opportunity to unleash his full potential. For all intents and purposes, Thomas was poised for a breakout season.
Fast forward to November, and Florida State’s season is far below any pre-season expectations. The defending ACC Champions have 1-win to their name with just one conference matchup remaining on their schedule. Much like the hype for the overall team, the hype surrounding Thomas hasn’t been quite as loud, but that doesn’t mean he’s been a poor defender. In fact, the opposite has been true. Through eight weeks, Thomas is Florida State’s top-performing cornerback, having tallied 35 total tackles, 22 of which were solo tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 TFL, 1 FF, and 5 quarterback pressures. Per PFF, the cornerback has been targeted a total of 17 times in over 200 snaps but has only given up 11 receptions for a total of 92 yards. Despite a poor season from the Florida State football team as a whole, Thomas is living up to the expectations, and he’s receiving NFL buzz as a result. NFL Analyst James Foster, writing for 33rdTeam, states, “Thomas is the best man coverage cornerback in this class.” Within his recent mock draft, Foster projected the 6’2”, 198-pound cornerback to be selected within the first round at the no. 14 overall slot, citing his youth, experience, and sheer skill set in single coverage as appealing qualities for NFL teams. With a handful of games left in the 2024 season, expect Thomas to continue his streak of strong performances as he looks to round out his film and bolster his draft stock.
The Seminoles will need Thomas to be just as reliable in pass defense come Saturday, as well. North Carolina’s offense, which ranks 27th in the nation for total yards per game, leans heavily on their passing attack. The Tar Heels average 251.6 passing yards per game and have notched 12 passing TDs over the course of the season, thus far. However, North Carolina’s offense suffered its biggest loss in the season opener wherein starting quarterback Max Johnson suffered a leg injury that has sidelined him for the entire year. In his place, HC Mack Brown has turned to Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell, the latter of which has secured the starting job as of late. Criswell, a 6’1”, 230-pound senior out of Arkansas, was on the UNC roster from 2020 through 2022 before transferring to Arkansas. He returned to UNC prior to the start of the 2024 season and currently boasts a total of 1,660 passing yards and 10 TDs with a completion rate of 57.1%. Despite being a veteran at the collegiate ranks, Criswell is rather inexperienced in games, with a total of 35 completions attributed to his name from 2020 to 2023. As such, the senior quarterback is guilty of turning the ball over, including a 2 INT performance against James Madison. That’s where FSU DB Thomas will come into play. The seasoned cornerback, along with his peers in the secondary, have the opportunity to showcase their experience in an effort to slow down and confuse the relatively inexperienced Criswell. If he and the rest of the ‘Noles can do so successfully, it stands a chance that Florida State can limit UNC’s scoring output enough to keep the game close. Look for Thomas to play a key role in both disrupting the UNC passing attack and pressuring the UNC quarterback.
Florida State’s linebackers have been the recipients of relentless criticism since before the 2024 campaign began. Poor performances from the Seminole defense through the early portions of the season only exacerbated those criticisms, with a very clear finger being pointed at the deficiencies of the linebacker corps. Sophomore LB Omar Graham Jr. is no stranger to criticism. Following the loss of DJ Lundy, Graham has watched on as fellow linebackers Justin Cryer, Blake Nichelson and Cam Riley have received praise for their improved play from week to week. Graham, meanwhile, has endured scrutiny, some warranted and some not. However, the sophomore linebacker pushed back against the narrative with a strong showing against the Miami Hurricanes last week. Graham Jr.’s effort against the ‘Canes was noticeable. He was flashing all over the field en route to a 4 tackle, 1 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 pass breakup performance. Graham was FSU’s highest graded defender, per PFF, with a score of 77.0 (in 46 snaps).
Graham’s most recent performance reflects the elevated play we’ve seen from the Florida State defense in recent weeks. The ‘Noles held Miami to their lowest scoring output, stifled the Duke offense, and kept the Clemson Tigers within striking distance (even when the offense was showing no signs of life). The linebackers, along with the interior defensive line, have made considerable strides in providing pressure in the backfield and slowing down opposing rushing attacks. Similar performances from Graham and his cohorts will be needed this weekend, especially against a Tar Heel rushing attack that ranks 34th in the country. With some confidence and the support of a home crowd behind him, look to see if Graham can build upon his performance from last week and provide DC Adam Fuller’s defense with a consistent presence at the second level of attack.
It’s not often that we talk about a non-skill position player in the “Three Players” to watch articles. But, when the team is 1-8 and everyone is struggling across the board, you’re open to trying new things. So, when editor-in-chief Dustin Lewis recommended that we talk about OL Jacob Rizy, no one batted an eye. With the offensive line struggling the way it is and plagued by the injury bug, new faces have begun to take over some prominent roles. Rizy, a newcomer prior to the start of the 2024 season, is one of those new faces. The 6’5, 303-pound offensive lineman played in 22 games for Harvard, earning all-conference honors twice and first team all-Ivy League in 2023. Following his 2023 campaign, however, the redshirt junior announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. After receiving offers from Purdue, Tulane, Duke, UTSA, and Tulsa, Rizy ultimately decided to commit to Florida State in late-January. Since doing the ‘Noles, Rizy has appeared in a variety of roles along the offensive line. He made his first appearance during the 42-16 rout against SMU and earned a PFF grade of 64. However, the experienced lineman received his first start as a Seminole against the Miami Hurricanes, wherein he allowed three pressures. Following this week of practice, many expect to see Rizy continue to take on a prominent role in the trenches. Despite a few shaky outings thus far, look for the veteran lineman to find his footing as the recipient of increased playing time.
As Florida State gears up for their final conference showdown with North Carolina, the ‘Noles have the opportunity to close conference play on a high note. Despite facing setbacks and falling short of preseason expectations, standout players like Azareye’h Thomas, Omar Graham Jr., and Jacob Rizy exemplify the resilience seen across the roster. Their efforts highlight the strength and potential within the team, even amid adversity. Saturday’s matchup offers the Seminoles an opportunity to leverage recent improvements on both sides of the ball, showcase their competitive spirit, and build momentum as they look toward future seasons.
READ MORE: Tom Brady Names Former FSU Quarterback “Star Of The Week”
Stick with NoleGameday for more FREE coverage of Florida State Football throughout the 2024 Season
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• Game Preview: Florida State Seminoles vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
• Three Key Matchups For FSU Football’s Home Matchup Against North Carolina
• How To Watch Florida State vs. North Carolina: Kickoff Time, TV Channel, and Odds
• Jacob Rizy Recaps First Start At FSU: ‘I Just Really Wanted To Win’
Florida
What channel is FSU football vs UNC on today? Time, TV schedule to watch Week 10 game
WATCH: Here’s what Darrell Jackson said about his performance all year
FSU’s defensive tackle Darrell Jackson has been emerging in recent week. Here’s what he has to say after facing Miami, his former team.
Florida State football is staring down the prospect of its worst season since Bobby Bowden transformed it into a national powerhouse. A loss to North Carolina today would clinch the Seminoles’ worst record since 1975, when Darrell Mudra finished 3-8 in the final pre-Bowden year.
Few saw FSU starting 1-7 after Mike Norvell led the team to the brink of the College Football Playoff one short year ago. The Seminoles are fresh off a fourth straight loss at No. 5 Miami, where neither quarterback Brock Glenn nor Luke Kromenhoek completed half their passes. True freshman Kromenhoek did show his talent as a runner, leading FSU with 71 rushing yards.
UNC is also struggling this season, though their 4-4 record at least makes bowl eligibility a possibility. Coach Mack Brown snapped a four-game losing skid with a 41-14 win at Virginia last week. FSU’s top task will be slowing down running back Omarion Hampton, who is fifth in the nation with 1,006 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Tar Heels quarterback Jacolby Criswell has 1,600 passing yards and 10 TDs against just three interceptions.
Here’s how to watch the FSU game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:
What channel is Florida State football vs North Carolina on today?
TV channel: ACC Network
Livestream: ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
Florida State vs. North Carolina will broadcast nationally on ACC Network in Week 10 of the 2024 college football season. Chris Cotter and Mark Herzlich will call the game from the booth at Doak Campbell Stadium, with Coley Harvey reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Watch FSU vs North Carolina live on Fubo (free trial)
FSU football vs North Carolina time today
- Date: Saturday, November 2
- Start time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The Florida State vs North Carolina game starts at 3:30 p.m. from Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
Florida State football vs North Carolina predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Oct. 231.
UNC 27, FSU 13: The Seminoles’ year of unfortunate firsts continues as Brown gets his first win over his alma mater and FSU loses its fifth straight game. – Liam Rooney
ODDS: UNC by 2½
O/U: 50½
Florida State football schedule 2024
- August 24: vs. Georgia Tech* in Dublin, Ireland (L 24-21)
- September 2: vs. Boston College* (L 28-13)
- September 7: Open
- September 14: vs. Memphis (L 20-12)
- September 21: vs. California* (W 14-9)
- September 28: at SMU* (L 42-16)
- October 5: vs. Clemson* (L 29-13)
- October 12: Open
- October 18: at Duke* (L 23-16)
- October 26: at Miami* (L 36-14)
- November 2: vs. North Carolina*, 3:30 p.m.
- November 9: at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
- November 16: Open
- November 23: vs. Charleston Southern
- November 30: vs. Florida
- Record: 1-7 (1-6 in ACC)
* – ACC game
North Carolina football schedule 2024
- August 29: at Minnesota (W 19-17)
- September 7: vs Charlotte (W 38-20)
- September 14: vs NC Central (W 45-10)
- September 21: vs James Madison (L 70-50)
- September 28: at Duke* (L 21-20)
- October 5: vs Pittsburgh* (L 34-24)
- October 12: vs Georgia Tech* (L 41-34)
- October 19: Open
- October 26: at Virginia* (W 41-14)
- November 2: at Florida State*, 3:30 p.m.
- November 9: Open
- November 16: vs Wake Forest*
- November 23: at Boston College*
- November 30: vs NC State*
- Record: 4-4 (1-3 in ACC)
* – ACC game
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Florida
Time to Smile: Florida trick-or-treaters fill empty candy bowl
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A trio of Florida trick-or-treaters were caught on camera sharing their treats.
The “sweet” video captured by a Ring camera shows the kids approach the empty bowl at a Volusia County home.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood posted the video of the kids chatting for a second, then they took candy from their sacks to refill the bowl for the next kids who came along.
“These parents should be proud,” said Chitwood in his post.
Last year, a South Florida teen did the very same thing.
Gabby Parisotti had no idea she was being recorded, but her act of kindness went viral last year. She spoke to Local 10 News’ Christian De La Rosa about what inspired her.
“Well, there was a little girl behind me, and we went up to the house and there was no candy, and I felt bad. She was really cute, so I just decided to put some in, and I never knew there was a camera or anything,” she said. “I put the candy in, and I just walked out.”
The video has since been seen and celebrated over 11 million times on social media.
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Florida
NoleGameday Staff Score Predictions: Florida State Seminoles vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
The first two-thirds of the 2024 season are over and Florida State has just one win to show for it through eight games. Though no longer bowl-eligible, the Seminoles have an opportunity to end the season on a strong note and carry some momentum into the offseason after a disappointing year. The good news is that FSU will play three of its final four games at home, the bad news is that three of those four opponents (North Carolina, Notre Dame, Florida) are all fighting for a shot at the postseason.
The Seminoles do have a long streak in their favor entering the matchup against the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday afternoon. North Carolina head coach Mack Brown is 0-11 against Florida State (0-8 at UNC, 0-3 at Tulane) dating back to his first matchup against the program in 1985. This is probably the best chance Brown will have to defeat FSU, considering the way the season has gone thus far in Tallahassee.
North Carolina is coming off a win over Virginia where its defense recorded a whopping ten sacks. That could present an issue for a Florida State offensive line that has started seven different starting combinations in eight games. Plus, the Tar Heels are averaging 190.8 rushing yards per game, led by Omarion Hampton, who has already crossed the 1,000+ mark in just eight appearances.
READ MORE: UNC Head Coach Mack Brown Discusses FSU Ahead Of Return To Tallahassee
Our staff provides their predictions and analysis as the Seminoles prepare to take on the Tar Heels.
Another weekend, another embarrassing loss for Florida State. Falling by 3+ touchdowns to Miami is unacceptable in any year, even if this is sizing up to be arguably the worst in program history. The majority of the goodwill the Seminoles have built up over the last two years has essentially been thrown into the trash and it’s clear major changes are needed if Mike Norvell is going to remain in Tallahassee long-term.
At this point, with eight games played, it’s hard to believe that FSU can do anything to fix its pathetic offense. The Seminoles have tried quarterback changes, they’ve played younger skill players, they’ve tinkered with the offensive line, and nothing has worked. When something does finally start to go right, Florida State shoots itself right in the foot with a bad pass, dropped ball, missed block, or penalty. It feels like an episode of ‘Punk’d’ with Ashton Kutcher each weekend spending four quarters watching this offense.
The defense has been playing slightly better but there’s still much to be desired. Three of the starting four of the defensive front were missing in action against Miami as Marvin Jones Jr., Patrick Payton, and Joshua Farmer combined for one tackle in 156 snaps last Saturday. That’s unbelievably bad and it’s worse when you figure out that redshirt freshman KJ Sampson recorded six tackles in just 17 snaps.
I don’t know why anything would get better against North Carolina when this team has nothing left to play for. I also thought the practice I viewed on Wednesday was arguably the worst of the season. There’s not really much of a reason to think positively going into a matchup against the Tar Heels, who are still trying to clinch bowl eligibility. It might get ugly on Saturday.
2024 Season Prediction Record: 5-3
Tar Heels 38, Seminoles 13
This one I’m going to keep fairly short because of two stats that standout to me.
Number one: North Carolina is ranked 29th in the country in points per game at 32.3. Yes, you can say they’ve faced bad teams to score those points. Surprise! FSU is a bad football team. Doesn’t matter.
Number two: The Tar Heels are averaging 3.3 sacks per game, which is seventh in the country. They recorded 10 sacks LAST WEEKEND against Virginia. Yes, Virginia is not a good team. Surprise! Florida State is worse. And don’t get me started about the Seminoles’ offensive line.
2024 Season Prediction Record: 5-3
Tar Heels 28, Seminoles 16
I don’t care how bad a team’s defense is, Florida State’s offense is worse. Omarion Hampton will likely run all over FSU’s defense, and the offense won’t be enough to overcome it. UNC’s passing game has been rough, but it won’t matter towards the final result.
2024 Season Prediction Record: 4-4
Tar Heels 23, Seminoles 10
Florida State has shown little development over the course of eight weeks. Therefore, the ‘Noles have left me with little reason to think anything will be different going forward. The statistics aren’t far off from that belief, as well. UNC has given up an average of 28.4 points per game, which ranks 96th among FBS programs. However, that average is significantly affected by a 70-point performance from James Madison earlier in the season. For the most part, UNC is a middle-of-the-road team, with team averages that rank in the 30-40 range when compared to the rest of the country.
The problem here is that Florida State is statistically poor in all respects. The rushing attack ranks 131st, the passing attack has dipped into the low 100 range, and the defense yields an average of 379.4 yards and 26.4 points per game. FSU’s most glaring issue, however, is their inability to find the end zone. The ‘Noles average the nation’s second worst scoring offense at 14.9 points per game, and as is common knowledge at this point, they are the only FBS team to not score more than 21 points at any point this season. Despite improvements from the defensive side of the ball, Florida State’s offense remains dead in the water. As long as that’s the case, there’s very little reason to believe that the Seminoles can outscore any of their opponents, especially a UNC team that hasn’t scored less than 20 since their Week 1 game against Minnesota.
The outlook is grim, and it’s not hard to see why. ESPN’s matchup predictor positions UNC as the slight favorite to leave with a victory at 52.9%, which means this game is essentially a coin flip. Vegas oddsmakers share this sentiment with a spread of just (-2) in favor of the Tar Heels at the time of writing this article. For all intents and purposes, most believe the game is a toss-up, and one that the ‘Noles can potentially win. As I’ve stated before, I’ve seen little from the ‘Noles that showcase a team that is capable of scoring enough to keep the Tar Heels close, especially a Tar Heel team that is coming off consecutive performances of 30+ points.
I believe the Seminole defense will keep things within striking distance for a large majority of the game, but offensive deficiencies will keep the ‘Noles off of the board and allow the Tar Heels to slowly accumulate points and eventually push things out of reach. Unfortunately, the Florida State home crowd will have to watch yet another first come off of the board for an FSU opponent. UNC will leave Tallahassee with the first win over the ‘Noles for a Mack Brown-led football program in the history of the coach’s illustrious career. In the meantime, I’ll be praying for some sort of Halloween miracle on behalf of the ‘Noles.
2024 Season Prediction Record: 4-4
Tar Heels 31, Seminoles 17
There can’t be much of a case made for Florida State this season. The record speaks for itself, and it appears that whatever transfers they’ve brought in to replenish their team have either been wrought with injury or, for the most part, been misevaluated. There needs to be a spark on offense for any chance at a win this weekend.
It is a home game, and Norvell is arguably the better coach, but if there isn’t anything happening in the offensive line and receiver rooms, the trickle-down effect will likely provide another anemic glimpse into a team that has been put through the wringer, unable to outperform their competition.
This is a tough game to predict because Florida State has a very talented defensive front and secondary that have started to make strides in the right direction, but there have been no answers at wide receiver aside from Ja’Khi Douglas and some of the newcomers on offense. Running backs Lawrance Toafili and Sam Singleton have been bright spots, but in the absence of the players that were brought in, they’ve seemed to be the only bullets in what was once a fully loaded FSU team last year.
Doom and gloom isn’t necessarily my thing, but the two biggest flags that stand out for me are Florida State’s inability to score more than 21 points all season (averaging around 14 per game) and the fact that UNC has a 1,000-yard rusher going against a defensive line that has struggled against the run.
It is a little weird that the over/under is 50.5, and UNC is only favored by 2.5. I’m going to go with UNC winning by three scores.
2024 Season Prediction Record: 4-4
Tar Heels 35, Seminoles 14
The Florida State Seminoles’ disastrous season will be one game closer to the end, though it won’t come without a tough loss. North Carolina has proven capable of scoring points, which the Seminoles have struggled with. The Seminoles will take yet another tough loss while the young guys are showing flashes of the future.
2024 Season Prediction Record: 5-3
Tar Heels 31, Seminoles 17
It’s hard to see any hope in this team, week after week they continue to give me no sense of optimism that things are heading in the right direction this season, and even though even just a few weeks ago I still had hope that the Seminoles would be able to get another win this weekend, I no longer have reason to believe that is going to happen. The Tar Heels are coming off their best win of the season after blowing out Virginia 41-14, and even though I think that the Florida State defense will keep the score a bit lower, this UNC team has scored more than 34 points in five of their eight games, meaning that even though they sit at 4-4, they still have some offensive production, which is what is missing in Tallahassee this year.
2024 Season Prediction Record: 4-4
Tar Heels 31, Seminoles 13
If Florida State cannot stop the run, I just don’t see a path to victory for them. North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton is fourth in nation in rushing yards. The FSU run defense is, uh, not so great in that regard.
The UNC defense is not exceptional either. They are in the middle of the pack (nationwide) stopping the run and in the bottom tier against the pass.
However, UNC has the luxury of being proficient in what FSU struggles defending, which of course is the run game. The FSU offense isn’t really proficient in anything.
Therefore, it appears the Seminoles will have to either force turnovers, stop the run, hold on to the ball for a while and score with the minimal chances they receive, or win in a shootout.
I truly don’t see any one of those happening, because they haven’t proven they could accomplish those feats against anyone all year.
2024 Season Prediction Record: 4-4
Tar Heels 27, Seminoles 17
CONSENSUS: North Carolina (8-0)
READ MORE: Tom Brady Names Former FSU Quarterback “Star Of The Week”
Stick with NoleGameday for more FREE coverage of Florida State Football throughout the 2024 Season
Follow NoleGameday on and Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
• Game Preview: Florida State Seminoles vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
• Three Key Matchups For FSU Football’s Home Matchup Against North Carolina
• How To Watch Florida State vs. North Carolina: Kickoff Time, TV Channel, and Odds
• Jacob Rizy Recaps First Start At FSU: ‘I Just Really Wanted To Win’
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