Florida State Ends 12-Game Road Drought by Beating Boston College 31-24

Florida State beat Boston College 31-24 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, ending a 12-game road losing streak dating to the 2023 season. The win gave interim head coach Rick Stockstill a victory in his first game in charge and the Seminoles their first road win in 1,078 days.

Florida State had to come from behind to do it. Boston College led 10-0 in the first quarter, and the Seminoles trailed again late in the fourth quarter before freshman running back Amari Thomas scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:29 remaining. It keeps the Seminoles' hopes of reaching a bowl game alive.

Key Points

• Florida State beat Boston College 31-24 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, ending a 12-game road losing streak.
• Florida State's first road win since the 2023 season, a gap of 1,078 days, and Stockstill started his tenure 1-0.
• Freshman running back Amari Thomas scored the first two touchdowns of his career, including the go-ahead 11-yard run with 2:29 left, gaining 98 yards on 19 carries.
• Quarterback Ashton Daniels went 15-of-26 for 178 yards and ran for a 4-yard touchdown; kicker Gabe Panikowski scored on a fake field goal and kicked the tying 22-yard field goal.
• Florida State's defence intercepted Boston College twice, Nehemiah Chandler's pass break-up on third down sealing the win in the closing seconds.

What Happened

Boston College made the early running. Bo MacCormack III scored on a 6-yard touchdown run and Luca Lombardo kicked a 58-yard field goal for a 10-0 first-quarter lead. The Seminoles answered with 21 points in the second quarter to take their first halftime lead since 2023.

Thomas was at the centre of the comeback. Filling in for the banged-up Quintrevion Wisner, the freshman scored his first career touchdown on a 20-yard run and finished with 98 yards on 19 carries. Wisner still contributed 58 yards on 12 carries, and Daniels added a 4-yard touchdown run while throwing for 178 yards; his only interception came on a tipped pass.

Boston College retook the lead 24-21 in the second half, and Florida State needed something different. It came from the kicking unit: Panikowski scored on a fake field goal and then kicked a 22-yard field goal to tie the game 24-24 in the fourth quarter. Thomas then finished the job with the 11-yard go-ahead touchdown with 2:29 left, and the defence held on, Chandler's third-down pass break-up ending Boston College's final drive after Rawls had already intercepted the Eagles once.

Background: A Programme Trying to Steady Itself

The win came six days after Florida State fired head coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, November 1, about 12 hours after a 36-24 home loss to Clemson left the Seminoles 3-5 overall and 1-4 in ACC play. It was the programme's 17th defeat in its past 21 conference games, and the university moved quickly to name Stockstill interim head coach.

Stockstill, 68, is no stranger to Florida State. He was the Seminoles' quarterback from 1977 to 1981 under Bobby Bowden, later spent 18 seasons as head coach at Middle Tennessee, winning four bowl games, and had served as Florida State's director of scouting for the offence since 2024. His appointment was a steadying move for a programme that had lost its way, and his first test was the hardest kind: a road game against a Boston College side that had led for much of the afternoon.

Florida State Beats Boston College 31-24: How the Seminoles Won It

The decisive stretch came in the fourth quarter, when Florida State's special teams and its freshman running back changed the game. Panikowski's fake field goal for a touchdown showed trust in the preparation, and his 22-yard kick minutes later levelled the score at 24-24 after Boston College had edged back in front.

Thomas then delivered the finish. His 11-yard touchdown run with 2:29 left was his second score of the day and capped a 98-yard performance that announced him as a player Florida State can build around. The defence did the rest, Rawls' interception and Chandler's late break-up denying Boston College any chance of a reply. For a team that had not won on the road in more than 1,000 days, it was a complete team win: offence, special teams and defence all delivered.

Reactions

The result will be felt most inside the Florida State programme, where a first win under Stockstill gives the interim coach something to build on. Instead of a debut defeat deepening the sense of drift, the players leave Chestnut Hill with a win that ended one of the programme's most unwanted streaks.

For Boston College, the defeat will sting. The Eagles led 10-0 early and 24-21 in the second half and had the game in their hands at home. Letting it slip, with two interceptions and a late defensive stand against them, turns a promising afternoon into a missed opportunity.

Why It Matters

The road losing streak had become a symbol of Florida State's decline. Twelve straight defeats away from home, dating to the 2023 season, covered the collapse from ACC champions to a programme that fired its head coach mid-season. Ending it matters because it shows the players have not stopped competing, even with their season damaged and their coach gone.

It also matters for the weeks ahead. At 4-5, Florida State still has a path to bowl eligibility, and a road win in the first game of the Stockstill era gives the interim staff credibility with a squad that could easily have folded. For a programme searching for stability before a full coaching search, it is a small but real foundation.

What Happens Next

Florida State returns home with three games left: Pittsburgh, NC State and Florida. The Seminoles need two wins from those three to reach six and become bowl eligible for the first time since 2023. Boston College must regroup quickly after letting a home lead slip away twice in the same game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Florida State vs Boston College?
Florida State beat Boston College 31-24 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill.

How long was Florida State's road losing streak?
Twelve games — Florida State's first road win since the 2023 season, a gap of 1,078 days.

Who is Rick Stockstill?
Stockstill is Florida State's interim head coach, appointed after Mike Norvell was fired on November 1, 2026. He was the Seminoles' quarterback from 1977 to 1981 and coached Middle Tennessee for 18 seasons.

Who scored the winning touchdown for Florida State?
Freshman running back Amari Thomas, on an 11-yard run with 2:29 left. It was his second career touchdown; he finished with 98 yards on 19 carries.

Can Florida State still reach a bowl game?
Yes. At 4-5, the Seminoles need two wins from their final three games, against Pittsburgh, NC State and Florida.

Read more on US News Pulse: Florida State fires Mike Norvell after Clemson loss, Stockstill takes over, Swinney sets ACC record as Clemson beats Syracuse 18-13 without a touchdown.