Virginia
30 notes to remember from FSU football’s 34-14 victory against Virginia Tech
The Florida State Seminoles recorded their second ACC victory of the season in the middle of November. On Saturday night, FSU took down Virginia Tech, 34-14.
The Seminoles outscored the Hokies 24-7 in the second half, overcoming a 7-3 deficit in the second quarter to win by 20 points.
READ MORE: FSU football ends home slate on high note with 34-14 win over Virginia Tech
Here are 30 notes surrounding various data-points from the game.
Stats To Remember From FSU’s Win Over Virginia Tech
- Florida State won its 600th game in program history Saturday, beating Virginia Tech 34-14 in the home finale at Doak Campbell Stadium. Among schools with 600 all-time wins, FSU (79 seasons) and Appalachian State (96) are the only schools to play fewer than 100 seasons.
- Head coach Mike Norvell improved to 27-9 in November as a head coach, including a 14-5 mark at home. FSU is now 22-2 under Norvell when allowing fewer than 20 points, with a 5-0 record in 2025.
- The Noles improved to 25-13-1 all-time against the Hokies, with a 15-6 mark at Doak.
- Wide receiver Duce Robinson led Florida State with 6 catches for 134 yards and a 50-yard touchdown. Robinson’s five 120-yard receiving games are tied for the national lead and are the most for a Seminole in a season since 2014 (Rashad Greene, five).
- Robinson’s 947 receiving yards rank 18th in FSU single-season history and are the most for a Nole since 2019.
- Robinson’s touchdown was Florida State’s seventh of the season of at least 50 yards.
- Robinson’s catch was his third of at least 50 yards in 2025, 2nd-most in the ACC behind teammate Micahi Danzy’s four. Robinson leads the ACC with 10 30-yard catches.
- Robinson also broke up a pass on Virginia Tech’s hail mary to end the first half. He previously had an interception on a hail mary vs. Penn State while with Southern Cal in 2024.
- Florida State has had a 100-yard receiver in five consecutive games, the Noles longest streak since 2013-14 (five games).
- Quarterback Tommy Castellanos was 12-for-24 for 189 yards and three total touchdowns – one passing and two rushing. His touchdown pass to Robinson was his eighth pass of 50+ yards, most in the ACC and top-5 nationally.
- Castellanos’ eight rushing touchdowns are tied for the team lead and a new FSU’s singleseason record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (Jordan Travis had seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2020-23).
- Castellanos’ three total touchdowns tie his most in a game this season.
- Castellanos will enter the NC State game with 6,006 career passing yards.
- True freshman Mandrell Desir forced a fumble on a 4-yard sack in the third quarter, the first forced fumble of his career. Linebacker Blake Nichelson fell on the ball, his first career fumble recovery and FSU’s second of the season.
- Nichelson added a 3-yard tackle for loss on fourth down in the fourth quarter.
- Desir later teamed up with Omar Graham Jr. for a tackle on 4th down, forcing a turnover on downs. Desir finished with three tackles in the game, while Graham had five tackles and now has 102 for his career.
- Desir leads FSU with 5.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss in 2025. His 5.0 sacks are the most for an FSU true freshman since current New York Giant Brian Burns had 9.5 in 2016; Desir’s 5.0 sacks are the 2nd-most for an FSU true freshman since 2005.
- Safety Ashlynd Barker had five tackles with 1.0 tackles for loss and ranks second on the team with 5.0 TFL for the year.
- Tight end Randy Pittman Jr. rushed for a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter, his third rushing touchdown of the season. Pittman’s three rushing TDs in a season are the most for a tight end in 2025 and most for an ACC tight end since 2019.
- Pittman’s touchdown followed Nichelson’s fumble recovery; FSU has scored points after 11 of 14 takeaways in 2025, with eight touchdowns.
- Senior cornerback Jerry Wilson’s interception on Virginia Tech’s third play was his 3rd of the season and 8th of his career.
- Wilson’s interception was FSU’s 11th interception of the season and was FSU’s first takeaway on an opening drive since an interception vs. Boston College in 2022.
- Wilson added a 5-yard tackle for loss on 3rd-and-2 on the Hokies’ next drive, his first of the season. Wilson’s TFL forced a Virginia Tech field goal try from 54 yards that was missed short.
- Earl Little Jr. had six tackles and one pass breakup, the second PBU of his career.
- Redshirt senior Stefon Thompson forced a fumble, the fifth of his career and his first since 2023.
- Jaylin Lucas returned consecutive kickoffs for 37 and 39 yards in the second half, FSU’s two longest kickoff returns of the year and Lucas’ longest as a Seminole. Offensively, Lucas added 13 yards on two catches and 10 yards on two runs.
- Kicker Jake Weinberg connected on two field goals to tie a career high. He was 4-for-4 on point-after tries, extending FSU’s streak to 159 straight made PAT.
- Florida State did not punt, the Noles third game without a punt in 2025. Entering the season, FSU did not punt in only four games in school history.
- The three games without a punt are the most in the country this year and match the most in a season since 2007.
- In a pregame ceremony, Florida State recognized 18 seniors: LS Mason Arnold, WR Gavin Blackwell, DB Shyheim Brown, QB Tommy Castellanos, TE Markeston Douglas, OL Gunnar Hansen, LB Elijah Herring, RB Caziah Holmes, DL Darrell Jackson Jr, DL Jaden Jones, OL Richie Leonard IV, OL Adrian Medley, OL Luke Petitbon, OL Micah Pettus, LB Stefon Thompson, WR Squirrel White, RB Roydell Williams and DB Jerry Wilson.
READ MORE: Mike Norvell sickened by FSU football’s loss to Clemson: ‘that comes down to all of us’
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Virginia
Final ACC availability report for FSU football vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Only two hours remain until the Florida State Seminoles kick off their tenth game of the 2025 season.
The Seminoles are back in Doak Campbell Stadium for the seventh time this year, hoping to end things off on a positive note in Tallahassee. Florida State is 4-2 at home but 0-3 on the road this fall.
READ MORE: FSU football navigating Tommy Castellanos’ potential return for 2026 season
Virginia Tech is hoping to spoil Florida State’s senior day. The Hokies had a week off to prepare for the road trip.
The Seminoles and Hokies will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
Earlier this week, Florida State announced DB Ja’Bril Rawls, DL Deamontae Diggs, DB Quindarrius Jones, DB Ricky Knight III, LB Caleb LaVallee, LB Ethan Pritchard, and DB Donny Hiebert would miss the game.
Rawls was injured in FSU’s loss to Clemson last Saturday.
In the first two ACC availability reports, Florida State listed two players as questionable (TE Chase Loftin, RB Samuel Singleton Jr.) and six others as probable (RB Roydell Williams, WR Lawayne McCoy, DE James Williams, WR Jayvan Boggs, OL Gunnar Hansen, WR Teriq Mallory).
The ACC released its final availability report for the matchup two hours before kickoff, providing final updates from Florida State and Virginia Tech.
On gameday, the statuses for players on the report are out, game-time decision, or available.
The total number of missing players is up to 23, 15 for Virginia Tech and eight for Florida State.
The Seminoles will get some much-needed reinforcements with redshirt junior defensive end James Williams and true freshman wide receiver Jayvan Boggs returning to the lineup.
Running back Samuel Singleton Jr. and left tackle Gunnar Hansen are game-time decisions. Tight end Chase Loftin has been ruled out.
Virginia Tech backup offensive lineman Tommy Ricard will play.
Check out the full report below.
FLORIDA STATE:
OUT:
— DB Ja’Bril Rawls
— DL Deamontae Diggs
— DB Quindarrius Jones
— DB Ricky Knight III
— TE Chase Loftin
— LB Caleb LaVallee
— LB Ethan Pritchard
— DB Donny Hiebert
GAME-TIME DECISION:
— RB Samuel Singleton Jr.
— OL Gunnar Hansen
VIRGINIA TECH:
OUT:
— S Quentin Reddish
— CB Joshua Clark
— WR Keylen Adams
— WR Chanz Wiggins
— LB Gabe Williams
— CB Caleb Brown
— RB Braydon Bennett
— CB Jojo Crim
— DL Sherrod Henderson
— DL James Jennette
— OL Montavious Cunningham
— OL Brody Meadows
— WR L.J. Booker
— WR Joseph Hobbs
— DL Andrew Hanchuk
READ MORE: Mike Norvell sickened by FSU football’s loss to Clemson: ‘that comes down to all of us’
Stick with NoleGameday for more FREE coverage of Florida State Football throughout the 2025 season
Follow NoleGameday on and Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Virginia
Shaw, Rivière carry West Virginia in win over 15th-ranked Duke women in game featuring 6 ejections
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Sydney Shaw scored 16 points and reserve Celia Riviere scored 12 as West Virginia overcame the ejection of six players just before halftime to beat 15th-ranked Duke 57-49 Friday night.
The undefeated Mountaineers (4-0) finished the game with just five players.
West Virginia lost backups Gia Cooke, Carter McCray, Madison Parrish, Jordan Thomas and Kierra Wheeler in a dust-up between the squads. The Mountaineers also lost starter Jordan Harrison.
Duke (2-2) lost Jordan Wood in the skirmish, which took 15 minutes for officials to sort through.
Wood blocked Harrison’s shot attempt as time expired at the half, then flexed on her in a stare down. When the two exchanged shoves, the Mountaineers’ bench emptied before the teams were separated. Departing the bench carries an automatic ejection.
“I’m disappointed in the ending of the half,” WVU coach Mark Kellogg said. “I think we’re better than that — we’re going to learn a huge lesson — but I’m so proud of that group five.”
Normally a reserve, Rivière was on the court at the end of the half. Trailing 23-20 at halftime, West Virginia emerged from the break and proceeded to outscore the Blue Devils 20-6 in the first six minutes of the third.
Rivière scored eight and Shaw had seven during that span, which saw the Mountaineers expand their lead to 40-29 with 4:03 remaining in the third.
The Blue Devils drew within 53-49 with 37 seconds left before Shaw atoned for some late turnovers and made 5-of-6 foul shots in the last 43 seconds to clinch it.
Cooke scored 12 for West Virginia before her ejection.
Taina Mair scored 10 points for Duke
Up Next
Duke travels to South Florida on Thursday. West Virginia hosts Appalachian State on Thursday.
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Virginia
What did Virginia Giuffre say about Donald Trump
Virginia Giuffre repeatedly refuted allegations that President Donald Trump was involved in the crimes of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in sworn testimony and her memoir.
One of Epstein’s most prominent accusers said she did not believe Trump was involved in any of Epstein’s sexual abuse of minors.
Although she has made no allegations against Trump, she has described meeting him in contexts unrelated to Epstein’s crimes.
Why It Matters
Newly disclosed emails and court documents from investigations into Epstein, released by the House Oversight Committee, have renewed scrutiny on Trump’s relationship with both Epstein and Giuffre.
With both political parties invoking the scandal in ongoing debates, the precise nature of Trump’s interactions with Epstein and whether he was alleged to have participated in Epstein’s criminal activities remain central questions.
Trump has also faced internal pressure from within his own MAGA base to disclose the full details of his relationship with the disgraced financier.
As divisions persist over whether the scandal implicates more Democrats or Republicans, the factual accounts of those directly involved, including Giuffre, are central to understanding any political or legal implications.
The inclusion of Trump and former President Bill Clinton in the newly released correspondence underscores the scandal’s bipartisan reach and the ongoing public demand for transparency regarding Epstein’s network of associates and political friends.
Both Trump and Clinton deny any wrongdoing and have never been charged with criminal activity.
Trump also said earlier this year that he declined an invitation to go to Epstein’s private island. “I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn it down, but a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island. In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didn’t want to go to his island,” he said.
Newsweek reached out to the Clinton Foundation and the White House outside of normal working hours via the contact forms on their websites for further comment.
What To Know
The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday released more than 20,000 pages related to Jeffrey Epstein, including emails referencing Trump, as part of ongoing inquiries into Epstein’s criminal activities and relationships.
Among the released correspondence is a 2011 email from Epstein to his convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, in which Epstein stated: “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is Trump.. [VICTIM] spent hours at my house with him.”
The emails released by the House Oversight Committee included the name “Virginia,” which the White House asserted referred to Virginia Giuffre.
Names of victims were redacted initially in accordance with their families’ wishes, according to Representative Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the US House Oversight Committee, as per BBC News.
While an email released by the committee quoted Epstein as saying, “Trump knew about the girls,” Giuffre’s account and those of other key witnesses—including Maxwell’s recorded testimony—do not corroborate any allegation against Trump.
Maxwell herself reportedly stated to the Justice Department that “Trump acted as a gentleman” and denied observing any inappropriate behavior by him.
What Giuffre Has Said About Trump
Giuffre’s own account, both in sworn depositions and her posthumously published memoir Nobody’s Girl, provides a consistent narrative regarding Trump.
While Trump and other high-profile individuals are mentioned, no new accusations or suggestions of any inappropriate behavior by him have emerged from Giuffre’s previous statements, and the record remains consistent with her longstanding position: she did not witness or allege any misconduct by Trump related to Epstein’s crimes.
In a November 2016 deposition, unsealed as part of the so-called “Epstein document dump,” Giuffre said: “I don’t think Donald Trump participated in anything. That would have to be another assumption. I never saw or witnessed Donald Trump participate in those acts, but was he in the house of Jeffrey Epstein? I’ve heard he has been, but I haven’t seen him myself, so I don’t know”.
Although Giuffre further testified that she never saw Trump and Epstein together, she did say they were good friends. But she only encountered Trump at Mar-a-Lago during her employment, and that Trump “never flirted with me.”
In her memoir, Giuffre alleged an initial meeting with Trump when her father, employed at Mar-a-Lago, introduced her for a locker-room attendant job.
She said: “Trump couldn’t have been friendlier, telling me it was fantastic that I was there. ‘Do you like kids?’ he asked. ‘Do you babysit at all?’”
She also recalled attending a lavish Halloween gathering in October 2000 at the Hudson Hotel in New York City, writing in her memoir: “On Halloween, along with other guests that included Donald and Melania Trump, Maxwell and Prince Andrew attended a party hosted by German supermodel Heidi Klum at The Hudson, a swank hotel.”
What People Are Saying Now
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “The Democrats are using the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax to try and deflect from their massive failures, in particular, their most recent one — THE SHUTDOWN!”
He added: “The Democrats cost our Country $1.5 Trillion Dollars with their recent antics of viciously closing our Country, while at the same time putting many at risk—and they should pay a fair price. There should be no deflections to Epstein or anything else, and any Republicans involved should be focused only on opening up our Country, and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!”
In a statement following the disclosure of new emails, a White House spokesperson said Giuffre “repeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever and ‘couldn’t have been friendlier’ to her in their limited interactions.”
Addressing the renewed focus brought by the document releases, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the emails were “selectively leaked” by House Democrats to “liberal media to create a fake narrative to smear President Trump.”
“The more Donald Trump tries to cover up the Epstein files, the more we uncover. These latest emails and correspondence raise glaring questions about what else the White House is hiding and the nature of the relationship between Epstein and the President,” Representative Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the US House Oversight Committee, said in a statement.
Annie Farmer, a key Epstein accuser and witness in Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial, called for “the full release” of the so-called Epstein files: “The estimated one thousand women and girls who were harmed by Epstein and his associates deserve full transparency.”
What Happens Next
The release of the emails and thousands of pages of Epstein-related correspondence has further fueled demands for greater transparency and a comprehensive investigation into the extent of Epstein’s associations and possible abuses.
Survivors and advocacy groups are pressing Congress and law enforcement for the full public release of all related documents.
Lawmakers have indicated potential additional disclosures in the coming months.
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