FSU football report card: Ashton Daniels, Seminoles earn high marks

Florida State football finally delivered the complete performance it had been searching for all season.

After a sluggish start, the Seminoles dominated the final three quarters on Oct. 3, rolling past Virginia 38-7 at Doak Campbell Stadium for their first ACC victory of the season. Behind a record-breaking five-touchdown performance from quarterback Ashton Daniels and a suffocating defensive effort that produced 10 sacks , Florida State improved to 3-2 and showed signs of becoming the team coach Mike Norvell envisioned entering the season.

See the best moments from FSU football vs. Virginia

Daniels turned in his most dynamic performance as a Seminole, making his biggest impact with his legs rather than his arm.

The senior quarterback rushed for 136 yards and five touchdowns, breaking the school record for rushing touchdowns in a single game at Doak while finishing just short of the program mark for rushing yards by a quarterback. His ability to create explosive plays on the ground consistently stressed Virginia's defense and fueled Florida State's offensive surge.

This was the version of Daniels that Norvell and the coaching staff envisioned when he arrived in Tallahassee: decisive, explosive and capable of taking over a game.

There is still room for improvement as a passer. Daniels continues to struggle with deep-ball accuracy and timing throws under pressure. His biggest mistake came in the second quarter when he threw behind Jayvan Boggs, resulting in an interception. Still, Daniels completed 12 of 19 passes for 183 yards and more than made up for the turnover with his record-tying effort on the ground.

As of now, this was Daniels' best performance in garnet and gold.

Florida State's offense looked stagnant early but quickly found its rhythm after the opening quarter.

The Seminoles wore down Virginia's defense with a punishing rushing attack, finishing with 465 total yards, including 281 on the ground while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Ousmane Kromah helped spark the turnaround with a powerful third-down run in which he broke multiple tackles and pushed Florida State into favorable field position. Shortly afterward, a long screen pass to Tre Wisner set up Daniels' first touchdown and ignited a dominant second quarter. Florida State piled up 218 yards before halftime and carried a 17-7 lead into the locker room.

The Seminoles never let up. Daniels, Kromah and Micahi Danzy continued to attack a tiring Virginia defense. Danzy led all receivers with four catches for 70 yards, while Wisner added two receptions for 60 yards.

The offensive line created consistent running lanes throughout the night, though pass protection remains a concern. Daniels was sacked four times, and the unit committed multiple holding penalties.

Still, Florida State's most complete offensive outing of the season earns high marks.

After weeks of scrutiny, Florida State's defense delivered its best performance of the year.

The Seminoles held Virginia to just 206 total yards and only 37 rushing yards. The turning point came when back-to-back sacks by JuJu Wynn and Mandrell Desir energized the defense and completely shifted momentum. By halftime, Virginia had managed only minus-18 yards in the second quarter as Florida State took control.

The defensive front overwhelmed quarterback Beau Pribula from start to finish. The Cavaliers quarterback threw for 168 yards and a touchdown but spent much of the evening under relentless pressure. Florida State recorded 10 sacks, with Rylan Kennedy leading the way with two.

Chris Jones was disruptive throughout the game, frequently meeting ball carriers in the backfield and helping shut down key third- and fourth-down opportunities. Virginia converted just 3 of 15 third downs and failed on all four fourth-down attempts.

A late turnover capped a nearly flawless night for coordinator Tony White's defense.

The special teams unit delivered both encouraging moments and areas for continued improvement.

Punter Daniel Hughes showcased his leg strength with a booming 65-yard punt that pinned Virginia deep in its own territory. He averaged 47.2 yards across five punts and consistently flipped field position.

Jasen Lopez provided excitement in the return game, highlighted by a 31-yard punt return that nearly became a touchdown. However, consistency remains an issue. Lopez still must improve his decision-making when fielding punts and determining when to secure the ball versus letting it go.

Overall, the unit contributed positively but left room for growth.

Norvell and his staff deserve significant credit for how Florida State responded after a slow start.

The game plan emphasized physicality and aggression on both sides of the ball, and the players executed it effectively. Whatever message was delivered after the opening quarter clearly resonated, as the Seminoles dominated the remainder of the game.

Florida State played with confidence, and energy, producing its most complete performance against an FBS opponent this season.

This was exactly the type of performance Florida State needed heading into a challenging stretch of the schedule.

The Seminoles improved to 3-2, moved above .500 and earned their first conference victory. More importantly, they displayed an identity built around a powerful rushing attack and an aggressive defense capable of controlling games.

The next test will be whether Florida State can carry that momentum on the road against Louisville on a Friday night and Miami over the next two weeks. Those matchups will provide a clearer picture of where the Seminoles stand within the ACC hierarchy.

For now, though, Florida State has every reason to feel encouraged. The Seminoles played their most complete game of the season, and if they can replicate this level of execution, they may be positioned to make a strong run through October.

Oct. 3: vs. Virginia , 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2, ACC Network)

Oct. 9: at Louisville , 7 p.m. (ESPN, Friday)

Nov. 13: at Pittsburgh , 7 p.m. (ESPN, Friday)

Nov. 27: vs. Florida , 3:30 p.m. (ABC, Friday)

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you'd like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don't hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.