Doak Campbell Stadium went from cheers to silent tension late in the second quarter. Thomas Castellanos had just launched a dart to Lawayne McCoy when he went down amid a tangle of Kent State defenders. Fans held their breath as their senior QB tried to shake off a limp, hopping towards the sideline on one foot. Luckily, the Seminoles’ medical staff acted fast, and he was gingerly able to walk into the locker room as a weather delay paused the game. The fact he wasn’t carted off immediately was the first hopeful sign for Florida State fans.

Later, Castellanos faced the media with a clear indicator that the injury wasn’t severe. An X post on September 23 gave a breaking update on his health. “Tommy Castellanos says on SportsCenter that he feels 100% for Friday night in FSU’s first ACC game against Virginia,” it reported. “All good. All good. Just got rolled up a little bit but all good,” the QB said on Saturday night. “100% still. Obviously, a little scary but I’m perfect, I’m good.” Bold words from a player who knows both the weight of expectation and the fragility of a promising season.

Thomas Castellanos has been playing like a machine. Through three games, he’s 27-of-38 passing for 594 yards, three touchdowns, and a single interception. He also has 27 rushes for 139 yards, and three more scores on the ground. Against Kent State alone, he completed 10-of-13 passes for 205 yards, plus seven rushes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. 

Monday’s practice offered more encouragement. HC Mike Norvell confirmed that Castellanos was back at it, albeit cautiously. “Today he was able to get some work,” he said. “I feel confident about where that’s going to be, but obviously we’ll continue to see how the week plays out.” If the unexpected happens, true freshman Kevin Sperry would step in, but the team’s confidence is clearly with their veteran leader.

Does FSU have enough momentum for the rest of the schedule?

Florida State enters the ACC opener 3-0. The season-opening upset over Alabama still has fans talking, a statement game that announced the Seminoles weren’t here to play small. Back-to-back wins against East Texas A&M and Kent State reinforced the message that this team is balanced, explosive, and not afraid to lean on Castellanos when the game gets tight. 

Coach Norvell shared the optimism but also the careful patience of a coach protecting both his star QB and the program’s future. When asked about Castellanos’ eligibility for 2026, he carefully dodged a firm answer. “There really hasn’t been a change in ruling as of yet, so we’ll see how things progress,” he said. “We’ll see if there’s anything that does change, but right now it’s just about today.” Wise words from a coach balancing hope with patience.

Florida State fans can breathe easy for now but the road to Virginia won’t wait. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, and all eyes will be checking whether Thomas Castellanos can lead the Seminoles into ACC play unscathed.