The Professor - The Coaching Career of James Xavier

[Captain Canada]

Week 4 Preview: at Florida State


Record: 1-1, 0-0 ACC
Head Coach: Mike Norvell
Offensive Scheme: Spread
Defensive Scheme: 4-2-5

Injuries
HB Bennett Galloway, Sr - Torn Pectoral (Out)
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WR LaWayne McCoy, So - Dislocated Hip (Out)

Florida State Projected Starters
QB #10 Brock Glenn, Rs Jr | 6'2", 215 lbs | 85 overall
HB #3 Kam Davis, Jr | 5'10", 224 lbs | 87 overall
FB #46 Floyd Lowell, So | 6'2", 232 lbs | 73 overall
WR #6 Jalen Brown, Rs Jr | 6'1", 174 lbs | 84 overall
WR #8 Hykeem Williams, Sr | 6'2", 215 lbs | 84 overall
TE #18 Landen Thomas, Jr | 6'4", 235 lbs | 82 overall
LT #79 Lucas Simmons, Rs Jr | 6'8", 308 lbs | 89 overall
LG #72 Julian Armella, Rs Sr | 6'6", 325 lbs | 88 overall
C #58 Chandler Strong, Rs Sr | 6'3", 275 lbs | 85 overall
RG #59 Enrique Hector, Rs Fr | 6'1", 311 lbs | 87 overall
RT #54 Jaylen Early, Rs Sr | 6'4", 297 lbs | 84 overall
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DE #19 Tomiwa Durojaiye, Rs Sr | 6'4", 280 lbs | 86 overall
DE #40 Amaree Williams, Rs So | 6'4", 219 lbs | 84 overall
DT #56 K.J. Sampson, Rs Jr | 6'3", 306 lbs | 90 overall
DT #95 Daniel Lyons, Rs Sr | 6'4", 294 lbs | 85 overall
OLB #28 Justin Cryer, Sr | 6'1", 232 lbs | 88 overall
MLB #20 Blake Nichelson, Sr | 6'3", 224 lbs | 89 overall
Rover #55 Jayden Parrish, Jr | 6'1", 225 lbs | 87 overall
CB #16 Quindarrius Jones, Rs Jr | 6'2", 190 lbs | 89 overall
CB #14 Cai Bates, Rs So | 6'2", 190 lbs | 84 overall
FS #12 Conrad Hussey, Sr | 6'0", 200 lbs | 83 overall
SS #27 Ashlynd Barker, Rs Sr | 6'3", 212 lbs | 78 overall
K #64 Brandon Garner, Rs Jr | 6'0", 180 lbs | 83 overall
P #43 Mac Chiumento, Rs Sr | 6'4", 222 lbs | 76 overall
KR #88 Camdon Frier, Rs So | 6'0", 192 lbs | 99 overall

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Coach James Xavier's Gameplan

"This is a big game for us on multiple fronts. The energy and discipline it took on all fronts to refocus after getting slapped last week like that. We were meme'd to Hell and rightfully so. It was embarrassing but it's something we would have rather taken on the chin in Week 3 or 4 than down the line in a potential championship game. We needed humbling. Now, we're refocused and going into the Doak looking to get our season back on that. Their defense is littered with experience and guys who will be on Award shortlists. We need to take care of the football and take the little things they give us. On defense, we're putting an emphasis on flock mentality. Getting to the football, getting back to playing delinquent football. Violence and bad intentions is the name of the game."

[YaBoyRobRoy]

I see FSU is still loaded, good luck at Doak, I love that atmosphere

[djp73]

no real holes in that lineup, godspeed

[Soapy]

don't lose to them, now

[Chillcavern]

Need to rebound (at least a bit) here vs FSU after that one. Ouch. And that certainly will not be easy.

Good luck! You got this!

[Agent]

Violence and bad intentions is the name of the game.

[The JZA]

Win or lose, just don't do what you did against Syracuse

[redsox907]

if you lose, then you lose. But the boys at least got to fight for it.

No one said the 1st year at Virginia would be easy lol

[Captain Canada]

I see FSU is still loaded, good luck at Doak, I love that atmosphere

It's going to be one hell of an atmosphere, I'm looking forward to it

no real holes in that lineup, godspeed

That defense is something else

don't lose to them, now

Going out there with no fear in our hearts

Need to rebound (at least a bit) here vs FSU after that one. Ouch. And that certainly will not be easy.

Good luck! You got this!

Defense needs to get it together and make a tackle, we should be okay.

Violence and bad intentions is the name of the game.

Win or lose, just don't do what you did against Syracuse

Leave the past in the past

if you lose, then you lose. But the boys at least got to fight for it.

No one said the 1st year at Virginia would be easy lol

Definitely going through some growing pains over here

[Captain Canada]

‣ CFB 2026 Regular Season, Week 4 - Doak S. Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
(2-1, 0-1 ACC) Virginia Cavaliers at Florida State Seminoles (1-1, 0-0 ACC)

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UVA | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13
FSU | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17

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Cavaliers stuffed on final drive at FSU 2-yard line, drop second straight ACC decision

"To get that close and not come away with the win, this is definitely going to be one that sticks with us for a while" said star running back Donte Hawthorne, clearly disappointed and emotional after Virginia came a mere two yards away from a walk-off touchdown at Doak Stadium. The team ended with a turnover on downs, suffering a 17-13 loss at the hands of Florida State, dropping their conference record to a dismal 0-2 record.

Coming off the heels of a horrific effort against the Syracuse Orange last week, the Virginia defense performed leagues better, holding the Seminoles to a meager field goal heading into the second half. Though the offense itself came out to a slow start, the defense held steady. Running back Donte Hawthorne scored his nation-leading eighth touchdown of the year to put them up multiple scores.

"We would have been in decent shape had we not spoon-fed them the game," commented offensive coordinator Slade Nagle. "We handed it to them, and that's going to be on myself, Coach Xavier, and Anthony [Colandrea]."

Colandrea threw an out route that was perfectly undercut by Florida State cornerback Braeden Marshall, who would run it back 69 yards to the house, setting Doak Stadium on fire. The Cavaliers nearly recovered with an amazing two-minute drill, but the Seminoles' front seven stood tall; bending but not breaking.

"It's horrific," said a dejected James Xavier. "We're playing some soft ass football. We need to take a long, hard look at ourselves and decide what team we want to be - what men we want to be. I don't need guys who want to win when its convenient. I want dogs who cannot stand to lose."

The Cavaliers will return home next weekend and face off against Utah State, hoping to get their season back under control.

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Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Jawan Hocker, 28-yard field goal [1:57]

2nd Quarter
Brandon Garner, 23-yard field goal [8:56]
Jawan Hocker, 35-yard field goal [5:06]
Donte Hawthorne, 1-yard run (Jawan Hocker kick) [0:49]

3rd Quarter
Hykeem Williams: 43-yard pass from Brock Glenn (Brandon Garner kick) [0:51]

4th Quarter
Braeden Marshall, 69-yard returned interception (Brandon Garner kick) [5:01]

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Player Stats
QB Anthony Colandrea: 27-37, 250 passing yards, interception
QB Brock Glenn: 19-27, 224 passing yards, touchdown

HB Donte Hawthorne: 23 carries, 85 rushing yards, touchdown
HB Noah Vaughn: 12 carries, 35 rushing yards
HB Kam Davis: 13 carries, 96 rushing yards, touchdown

TE Dom President: 13 receptions, 163 receiving yards
WR Jaden Gibson: 4 receptions, 38 receiving yards
WR Triston Ward: 4 receptions, 24 receiving yards
WR Hykeem Williams: 6 receptions, 79 receiving yards, touchdown
TE Landen Thomas: 5 receptions, 65 receiving yards
WR Jalen Brown: 4 receptions, 48 receiving yards

SS Keke Adams: 7 tackles
FS Ethan Minter: 8 tackles, pass deflection
CB Tayon Holloway: 4 tackles, pass deflection
DE Amaree Williams: 9 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks
CB Braeden Marshall: 8 tackles, tackle for loss, interception, touchdown
MLB Blake Nichelson: 14 tackles, 2 pass deflections