In so many ways, tonight’s game against NC State felt like a rewatch of many of Florida State’s losses this season.

Racking up yards without points to show for it, the defense eventually breaking after bending far too much and the catalyst of it all miscues from Florida State — penalties, turnovers and missed opportunities galore.

The Seminoles mustered just three points in the first half, just the second time they’ve failed to score a touchdown over the first two quarters of play this season (vs. Miami) and laid a goose egg in the third, leading to yet another fourth quarter where FSU was forced to try off a fourth quarter comeback.

Florida State got off on the right foot in making that happen, first shutting down a promising NC State drive with a Mandrell Desir sack (his fourth in the last four games) and then driving 86 yards to score the team’s first touchdown of the night, converting a two-point attempt to make it 14-11 with just over eight minutes on the clock. Duce Robinson, who reeled in the score, set up the touchdown with a 34-yard catch.

The issue is what followed, as the Seminoles unwraveled in a way that felt equally nightmarish and fitting to what Mike Norvell’s teams have done in 2025.

The Wolfpack began to drain as much as time as they could, taking the game down to under five minutes before the Seminoles’ defense forced a second straight punt. FSU couldn’t take advantage, though, as the ball bounced off KJ Kirkland’s helmet and eventually found itself in the arms of NC State’s punter.

FSU forced another punt but, once again, Florida State turned the ball over — this time in an even more devastating way as Squirrel White muffed the ball, coughing it up on the 14-yard line with 2:21 left in the game, resulting in a game-clinching NC State touchdown.

Florida State drove the field but stalled out, attempting and missing a 51-yard field goal to end any shot of the Seminoles pulling off the comeback. NC State ran 36 seconds off the clock before punting one final time, giving Florida State the ball back with 18 seconds — good enough for FSU to add a few more yards to its offensive output before the clock ticked down on the Seminoles’ sixth loss of the season.

Florida State, 0-4 away from Tallahassee this season, has now lost eight straight road games dating back to last season. The Seminoles are now 10-16 on the road overall in six years under Mike Norvell (38-33, 22-26 ACC).

FSU (5-6, 2-6 ACC) will finish the regular season next weekend on the road in Gainesville, the Seminoles’ last shot at earning bowl eligibility in 2025. Should FSU fail to do so, it would be the fourth time that the program has failed to qualify for the postseason under Norvell.

NC State 21, FSU 11: Final stats

Total Yards: FSU 383, NC State 286Passing Yards: FSU 203, NC State 152Rushing Yards: FSU 180, NC State 134Penalties: FSU 8–37, NC State 3–30First Downs: FSU 21, NC State 203rd Downs: FSU 5–12, NC State 7–164th Downs: FSU 1–2, NC State 2–2Total Plays: FSU 66, NC State 68Avg Yds/Play: FSU 5.8, NC State 4.2Avg Yds/Completion: FSU 12.7, NC State 8.4Avg Yds/Rush: FSU 5.3, NC State 3.2Sack-Adj Rush Yds (Avg): FSU 180 (5.3), NC State 162 (4.3)Red Zone: FSU 1–2, NC State 2–2Time of Possession: FSU 27:03, NC State 32:57Turnovers (Def. Points Off): FSU 4 (7), NC State 0 (0)Fumbles–Lost: FSU 2–2, NC State 0–0Sacks (Def. Yds): FSU 4 (28), NC State 0 (0)TFL (Def. Yds): FSU 7 (40), NC State 1 (2)