With the countdown to the 2025 Florida State season in full swing, we’re previewing the Seminoles’ schedule game-by-game.

This matchup needs no introduction, but it could be an inflection point for each of these two teams’ seasons. Florida State and Miami are both playing difficult home matchups in week one, and the Hurricanes take on the Gators in their final game before FSU. Could this be two teams with CFP hopes on the line? Or will one side be able to give the other a knockout blow before the calendar flips to the second week of October?

Florida State vs.

Date: October 4, 2025 (Week 6)

Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

Previous matchup: L, 14-36

All-time series: 33-36

Team Preview

2024 record: 10-2 (6-2)

Two things to know:

For the second year in a row, the Hurricanes dipped into the transfer portal for a QB and came away with the most expensive quarterback in the class as Carson Beck transferred from Georgia to Miami. Beck is one of the most decorated players in CFB, a two-time national champion in 21-22, named to First-Team All-SEC in 2024 and has thrown for over 7,500 career passing yards in the SEC. However, his ending with the Bulldogs was…strange. Initially Beck declared for the NFL Draft, but did not like the feedback, withdrew his name and transferred to a Miami team desperate for a quarterback. Beck, coming off Tommy-John surgery and did not throw for all of spring camp, will try and recreate the same magic that #1 NFL Draft Pick Cam Ward did in his lone season with UM.

According to 247Sports, Mario Cristobal has put together the best recruiting class in the ACC for the past three seasons, but that did not stop the head coach from taking a heavy load out of the transfer portal. UM brought in 19 transfers, including eight in the spring window to try and supplement a roster that lost numerous contributors to the draft last season and finally push the Canes over the top. Of the 19 transfers taken, Miami brought in seven that play in the secondary in an attempt to fix one of the worst pass defenses in the country a season ago. Along with overhauling the defensive personnel, the Canes hired a new defensive coordinator, Corey Hetherman from Minnesota, to stabilize their defense. At the most granular level, the success of Miami will come down to whether the defense takes enough of a step forward to cancel out the step back from the offense.

Three key players:

OT Francis Mauigoa lived up to the billing as a 5-star prospect out of high school and has done nothing but deliver for Miami along the offensive line. Mauigoa started all 26 games in his first two seasons in Coral Gables and earned Second-Team All-ACC in 2024 after being named a Freshman All-American in 2023. Mauigoa should be a top-15 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft next year even as a Right Tackle.

After a dominant freshman season, DE Rueben Bain Jr. battled injuries for most of 2024 and did not put up the production he or many others expected like he did in his 7.5-sack season in 2023. However, in his draft-eligible junior year and an offseason to get back to full strength, Bain Jr. should be a premier pass rusher in college football in 2025 with the potential to be a first-round pick in 2026.

Florida State continues to rue their LB Wesley Bissainthe recruiting loss from four years ago as he has developed into a three-down linebacker and leader of Miami’s defense. Bissainthe started all 13 games last season and has missed only one contest in his first three years with the Hurricanes. In 2024, he ranked second on the team in tackles with 59 and should be in line for a larger role in 2025 with Fransisco Mauigoa moving on to the NFL.

Florida State vs. : Game preview, predictions

Best Case

Even though the Hurricanes are coming off a bye, Miami steps foot in Tallahassee beaten up by Notre Dame and Florida in their first two weeks of the season and unprepared playing in their first road game of the year. Meanwhile, Florida State strides into their first rivalry game of the year 4-0 after an upset win over Alabama and three-straight victories over middling opponents. Beck does not have any rhythm with his receivers after UM tried to microwave their offense without their QB throwing over the spring and Tony White’s defense takes advantage. On the other side of the ball, the Seminoles are able to hold up against an impressive Miami defensive front with a brand new offensive line and Tommy Castellanos takes advantage of a rough Hurricane back-end. Rivalry games are usually close and the Canes make a couple of plays late, but Florida State pushes to 5-0 with a 27-20 win.

Realistic Case

4-1 Miami comes into Tallahassee against 3-1 Florida State in a matchup that appears close on paper, but over the course of 60 minutes, the better constructed Hurricane roster breaks through. After a slow first half, Beck hits a couple of big plays down the field to make it a two-possession game and the Florida State offense, still struggling to find success in the passing game cannot keep up. Miami wins their second-straight game against FSU, 31-17.

Worst Case

The Noles enter October already bailing water after a drumming against Alabama and a close but unconvincing win against Virginia. Miami enters 4-0 with two of the best wins in the country with victories over Notre Dame and Florida and look every part of a top-10 team. The Seminoles’ offensive line cannot contain a ferocious Hurricane pass rush and Castellanos makes a couple of critical mistakes with defensive lineman in his lap. Beck plays like he did in his junior season at Georgia and has no issue with the 3-3-5. Miami runs away with their second-straight 20-point victory over FSU.

2025 FSU football schedule

Saturday, Aug. 30: Alabama Crimson Tide (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)

  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel: ABC

Saturday, Sep. 6: East Texas A&M Lions (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)

  • Time: 12 p.m. ET
  • Channel: ACC Network

Saturday, Sep. 13: BYE

Saturday, Sep. 20: Kent State Golden Flashes (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)

Friday, Sep. 26: Virginia Cavaliers (Scott Stadium, Charlottesville)

  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Channel: ESPN

Saturday, Oct. 4: Miami Hurricanes (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)

Saturday, Oct. 11: Pitt Panthers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)

Saturday, Oct. 18: Stanford Cardinal (Stanford Stadium, Stanford)

  • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel: ESPN

Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE

Saturday, Nov. 1: Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)

Saturday, Nov. 8: Clemson Tigers (Memorial Stadium, Clemson)

Saturday, Nov. 15: Virginia Tech Hokies (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)

Friday, Nov. 21: NC State Wolfpack (Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh)

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Channel: ESPN

Saturday, Nov. 29: Florida Gators (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville)