Florida State Battles Boston College Without 12 Players
Interim coach Rick Stockstill leads Florida State on the road after the program fired head coach Mike Norvell less than a week before the game.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
Florida State listed 12 players as out for its road game against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, its first availability report released Wednesday evening. The Seminoles have not won a road game in nearly 1,100 days and have lost 12 straight away from home.
Why it matters
The combination of a coaching change, a long road losing streak and a heavy injury list leaves Florida State with a difficult path to a road win. The game also tests how an interim staff manages the team in the middle of a season.
The ACC availability reports list 12 Florida State players out and 8 Boston College players out for the game. Florida State's previous win at Boston College came in a 38-31 result under an interim head coach, though updated reports could change the final count.
The players
Florida State University
Florida State is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, and a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The details
Rick Stockstill is serving as interim head coach after previously working as Florida State's director of scouting since 2024. Tim Harris Jr. and Ernie Sims have expanded play-calling roles while the program works through the transition.
Timeline
Florida State fired Mike Norvell less than a week before the game.
The ACC released Florida State's first availability report on Wednesday evening.
Both programs will release updated availability reports on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and two hours before kickoff Saturday morning.
Season Trajectory
Florida State's losing road streak and midseason coaching change place its season under pressure as it tries to rebuild momentum in the ACC. Boston College's injury list adds a second layer of uncertainty to a conference matchup that both programs need to stabilize their seasons.
Fantasy managers and bettors should track the updated availability reports, since Quintrevion Wisner's status is still questionable. The reports will show whether Florida State's depleted roster changes the expected game plan.
The takeaway
Florida State's coaching change and long road drought make this game a test of how quickly an interim staff can steady a depleted roster. Watching the updated availability reports is the best way to gauge the matchup before kickoff.
What happens next
Updated ACC availability reports will be released Thursday, Friday and two hours before kickoff Saturday morning.
Further reading
For more on college football coverage, see Football.
