Florida State University Athletics
FSU Edged by Pitt
10/11/2025 4:42:00 PM | Football
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 25 Florida State football team's comeback bid came up just short in a 34-31 defeat to Pitt on Saturday afternoon at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Seminoles (3-3, 0-3 ACC) erased 7-0 and 14-7 deficits in the first and second quarters, respectively, but could not come back from down 34-24 late in the fourth quarter. FSU scored a touchdown to make it a three-point game with less than two minutes left, but the Panthers (4-2, 2-1 ACC) recovered the onside kick to prevent the rally from continuing.
Florida State had 415 total yards of offense, 245 through the air and 170 on the ground, while Pitt had 476 yards, 321 passing and 155 rushing. The Seminole defense forced two turnovers, which led to seven points, and the offense had one turnover that yielded a Pitt field goal.
Quarterback Tommy Castellanos was 16-for-23 for 245 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Wide receiver Micahi Danzy had a career-best seven catches for a career-high 133 yards with two touchdowns. Running back Gavin Sawchuk had a team-leading 14 rushes for a game-high 71 yards.
Defensively, defensive back Ja'Bril Rawls had 10 tackles, all solo, with one of the team's eight tackles for loss. Defensive backs Edwin Joseph and Earl Little Jr. both had interceptions and Little Jr. also forced a fumble.
The Panthers took a 7-0 lead on the opening possession of the game with a 15-play drive that took more than eight minutes and was aided by three fourth-down conversions.
Florida State answered right back to tie the game at 7-7 with a one-yard rush on third down from running back Caziah Holmes with 3:17 left in the opening quarter. The eight-play, 65-yard drive that took 3:38 was highlighted by a 33-yard run by Sawchuk on third-and-6 to set up first-and-goal.
Pitt regained a 14-7 lead on its next possession, with a 24-yard touchdown pass less than a minute into the second quarter. The Panthers converted twice on third down during the nine-play drive that took nearly four minutes.
FSU was forced to punt on its next drive, but punter Mac Chiumento's kick pinned the visitors back at the two yardline, and the Seminoles got the ball back after seven plays.
Just six plays and 62 yards later, Florida State tied the game at 14-14 on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Castellanos to Danzy. The drive took 2:35.
The Seminoles intercepted passes on each of Pitt's next two drives, with Little Jr. notching the first at the FSU 18 with 2:59 left in the first half before Joseph got the next at the FSU 12 with 1:26 remaining. Florida State was forced to punt after the first pick, but put together a touchdown drive on the next.
A 25-yard pass from Castellanos to tight end Landen Thomas gave the Seminoles their first lead of the day, 21-14, with six seconds left in the half. The score punctuated the seven-play, 88-yard drive that took just 80 seconds and started with a 23-yard pass from Castellanos to Danzy, and also featured a 19-yard completion to wide receiver Elijah Moore to the Pitt 25.
That ended the first half with FSU ahead by a score, 21-14.
Pitt tied the game at 21-21 five minutes into the third quarter. A 50-yard pass on third down helped extend the seven-play, 85-yard drive before a 16-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-long.
Florida State responded right back to regain the lead on a 34-yard field goal by kicker Jake Weinberg. That made it 24-21 with 5:41 left in the third quarter.
Following a fumble recovery near midfield, Pitt tied the game at 24-all with 11:38 left in regulation. The Panthers kicked a 28-yard field goal to cap a five-play drive that started at the FSU 49 with a 35-yard completion.
The Panthers forced a punt before regaining the lead on a 34-yard field goal with 7:15 remaining. The six-play drive that began after a Florida State punt included a 42-yard pass.
Pitt extended its lead to 34-24 with a three-yard touchdown run with 2:28 left in the fourth. The visitor's drive took nearly four minutes and was 73 yards on eight plays, including a 30-yard run across midfield.
The Seminoles quickly got a touchdown back to cut the deficit to 34-31 with 1:45 left. A 58-yard touchdown pass from Castellanos to Danzy capped the 75-yard drive that was just four plays in 43 seconds.
Florida State attempted an onside kick with 105 seconds on the clock, but could not recover.
FSU travels west to California next weekend for a matchup at Stanford. Kickoff at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California, is at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Seminoles (3-3, 0-3 ACC) erased 7-0 and 14-7 deficits in the first and second quarters, respectively, but could not come back from down 34-24 late in the fourth quarter. FSU scored a touchdown to make it a three-point game with less than two minutes left, but the Panthers (4-2, 2-1 ACC) recovered the onside kick to prevent the rally from continuing.
Florida State had 415 total yards of offense, 245 through the air and 170 on the ground, while Pitt had 476 yards, 321 passing and 155 rushing. The Seminole defense forced two turnovers, which led to seven points, and the offense had one turnover that yielded a Pitt field goal.
Quarterback Tommy Castellanos was 16-for-23 for 245 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Wide receiver Micahi Danzy had a career-best seven catches for a career-high 133 yards with two touchdowns. Running back Gavin Sawchuk had a team-leading 14 rushes for a game-high 71 yards.
Defensively, defensive back Ja'Bril Rawls had 10 tackles, all solo, with one of the team's eight tackles for loss. Defensive backs Edwin Joseph and Earl Little Jr. both had interceptions and Little Jr. also forced a fumble.
The Panthers took a 7-0 lead on the opening possession of the game with a 15-play drive that took more than eight minutes and was aided by three fourth-down conversions.
Florida State answered right back to tie the game at 7-7 with a one-yard rush on third down from running back Caziah Holmes with 3:17 left in the opening quarter. The eight-play, 65-yard drive that took 3:38 was highlighted by a 33-yard run by Sawchuk on third-and-6 to set up first-and-goal.
Pitt regained a 14-7 lead on its next possession, with a 24-yard touchdown pass less than a minute into the second quarter. The Panthers converted twice on third down during the nine-play drive that took nearly four minutes.
FSU was forced to punt on its next drive, but punter Mac Chiumento's kick pinned the visitors back at the two yardline, and the Seminoles got the ball back after seven plays.
Just six plays and 62 yards later, Florida State tied the game at 14-14 on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Castellanos to Danzy. The drive took 2:35.
The Seminoles intercepted passes on each of Pitt's next two drives, with Little Jr. notching the first at the FSU 18 with 2:59 left in the first half before Joseph got the next at the FSU 12 with 1:26 remaining. Florida State was forced to punt after the first pick, but put together a touchdown drive on the next.
A 25-yard pass from Castellanos to tight end Landen Thomas gave the Seminoles their first lead of the day, 21-14, with six seconds left in the half. The score punctuated the seven-play, 88-yard drive that took just 80 seconds and started with a 23-yard pass from Castellanos to Danzy, and also featured a 19-yard completion to wide receiver Elijah Moore to the Pitt 25.
That ended the first half with FSU ahead by a score, 21-14.
Pitt tied the game at 21-21 five minutes into the third quarter. A 50-yard pass on third down helped extend the seven-play, 85-yard drive before a 16-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-long.
Florida State responded right back to regain the lead on a 34-yard field goal by kicker Jake Weinberg. That made it 24-21 with 5:41 left in the third quarter.
Following a fumble recovery near midfield, Pitt tied the game at 24-all with 11:38 left in regulation. The Panthers kicked a 28-yard field goal to cap a five-play drive that started at the FSU 49 with a 35-yard completion.
The Panthers forced a punt before regaining the lead on a 34-yard field goal with 7:15 remaining. The six-play drive that began after a Florida State punt included a 42-yard pass.
Pitt extended its lead to 34-24 with a three-yard touchdown run with 2:28 left in the fourth. The visitor's drive took nearly four minutes and was 73 yards on eight plays, including a 30-yard run across midfield.
The Seminoles quickly got a touchdown back to cut the deficit to 34-31 with 1:45 left. A 58-yard touchdown pass from Castellanos to Danzy capped the 75-yard drive that was just four plays in 43 seconds.
Florida State attempted an onside kick with 105 seconds on the clock, but could not recover.
FSU travels west to California next weekend for a matchup at Stanford. Kickoff at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California, is at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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