Mike Norvell was not the only one with questions to answer. FSU’s defensive coordinator knew Friday night in Charlottesville was going to be tough. Virginia’s offense had the numbers to back it up as they put up 48 points and over 500 yards against Stanford. So, he expected the Cavaliers to make plays and put points on the board. But what he didn’t expect was for his defense to struggle so badly in a 46-38 double-overtime loss. That’s why on Sunday when he met with the media, the coach didn’t hold back and made an honest admission.

On September 28, Warchant.com shared FSU DC Tony White’s candid reaction to the Virginia loss. “That’s the thing I’m probably most disappointed about,” he admitted. “Not finishing those plays. There’s a ton of times where we’re hitting the ball at 3 or 4 yards… and it’s gaining, falling forward for 4, 5, 6. Which adds on to the downs.” Then he paused, letting the frustration sink in. “That part, I think, is probably the most disappointing part,” stated White. So for the Seminoles, sloppy execution turned what could have been small gains into a costly setback.

White pointed to preparation as part of the problem. “And that goes back to maybe we didn’t emphasize it enough during the week,” he said. “Maybe we didn’t put them in those positions enough, the finish part.” Then he shook his head, frustrated. “There are so many plays where you talk about finish. I don’t know how many tackles turned what could be a third-and-7 or 8 into a third-and-4. That’s a big difference right there.” So, for White and the Seminoles, tiny lapses stacked up.

Missed tackles piled up, and big opportunities slipped away, like DE Jerry Wilson’s near pick-six in the 2nd quarter and DB Earl Little just missing an interception in the first OT. “We have to put players in a position to make those plays,” said White. But it wasn’t just about technique. When asked about physicality, White was blunt. “No. They rushed for 200 yards. That’s not gonna cut it… we hit it at 3 or 4 yard gains and don’t finish the play,” said the FSU DC. So for the Seminoles, the defensive effort was there, but execution was painfully lacking.

White praised Virginia QB Chandler Morris for keeping plays alive and being tough to tackle. Still, he wasn’t happy with the easy yards. “Way too many little errors,” said White. “They were converting on simple throws, running quick-game, five-yard passes turning into 11. We’ve got to adjust and shore that up, because we’re going to see it again.” Looking ahead, White knows Saturday’s opponent will be even tougher. The No. 3 Miami may not have a mobile QB like Virginia, but Carson Beck has a talented O-line and SEC experience.

“They’ll get it fixed,” said White confidently. Despite giving up 200 rushing yards and falling behind 14-0, the Seminoles showed fight last week. “So, we’re going to build off of that damn thing,” said the FSU DC. “Try to make a run here and get this season to end the right way.” Right now for White, it’s all about adjustments and getting ready to face the Hurricanes. But while FSU prepares for what’s next, the Seminoles have already paid a hefty price for the Virginia loss.

FSU’s slide in the rankings

The latest AP Top 25 Poll was not good for Florida State fans. The Seminoles plummeted 10 spots from No. 8 to No. 18. Yes, the biggest drop of the week. Even the US LBM Coaches Poll told a similar story, sliding FSU from No. 8 to No. 19. Obviously, it’s a costly tumble for a program that had started the season 3-0.

Tom Fornelli of CBSSports summed it up bluntly. “Alabama at 10 in the AP Poll while Florida State is 18. You have to remember Alabama lost to Florida State, but Florida State lost to Virginia, and that’s much worse,” wrote Fornelli. So, one bad night in Charlottesville came with a heavy price, leaving the Seminoles to pay the toll in the polls. Meanwhile, the next challenge looms.

Miami had a week off but only slipped one spot to No. 3 in the AP Top 25. Now, the Hurricanes remain a top-tier opponent, and FSU will need to rebound quickly to avoid another painful fall. The stakes for FSU simply couldn’t be higher.