Virginia field storm after upset of FSU left 19 people seeking medical treatment: School

Nineteen people were treated at UVA Health University Medical Center following the field storming that occurred after Virginia’s 46-38 upset of No. 8 Florida State on Friday night, according to the university.

The nature of the injuries was not disclosed due to the health system policy.

There was a second incident outside the stadium, where an altercation occurred. The university did not specify which injuries resulted from the field storming or altercation.

In addition, Virginia was fined $50,000 by the Atlantic Coast Conference for violating the league’s “event security policy.”

Cavaliers fans at Scott Stadium swarmed the turf in one of the fastest field storms you’ll see in college football after an upset that shook up the ACC and College Football Playoff race.

The game-sealing interception happened in the end zone right in front of the student section, which stands on the lawn behind the end zone, up a small hill with no barrier in front of them. As soon as the final play happened, students ran onto the field and over the two nearby players. Florida State wide receiver Squirrel White was seen walking off the field afterward and appeared to be OK. Another fan ran in front of FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos and gave him a middle finger while recording it with a phone. Castellanos was being escorted off by a coach.

Students had been slowly creeping up closer to the field starting in the fourth quarter. A few linemen seemed to head toward the tunnel when the game ended, but a couple of players looked swallowed up in the crowd, according to The Athletic’s Grace Raynor, who was at the game. Several students on the goal posts were detained by police. By about 11:15 p.m., police officers and stadium staffers had cleared the field. The goal posts didn’t come down.

FSU head coach Mike Norvell was not aware of any issues with his team following the hectic field storm.

“I’m not sure of any issues,” he said. “I mean, we got everybody in the locker room.”

One week before a monster rivalry game against Miami (Fla.), Florida State fell victim to the trap and brought back memories of an upset 30 years ago.

Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris, starting at his third school in as many years, had five total touchdowns, and the defense made a stand in the second overtime to secure the win.

Morris and the Cavaliers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter off two Florida State turnovers, but the Seminoles responded with 21 consecutive points in the second quarter. Ten consecutive drives ended in either a touchdown or a turnover.

The sides traded scores in the second half. A Morris touchdown pass with 7:20 left put Virginia up 35-28, but a Castellanos touchdown on fourth-and-goal with 36 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime.

Both teams hit field goals in the first overtime. In the second overtime, Virginia scored a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. Florida State responded with a touchdown on third down, but replay review overturned it because Duce Robinson bobbled the catch before stepping out of bounds. One play later, an end zone pass was intercepted.

The finish reminiscent of UVA’s upset of No. 2 FSU in 1995, which ended a 29-game FSU ACC winning streak as one of the first major Thursday night college football games. This year, the top-10 upset happened on a Friday.

The Seminoles fall to 3-1 on the season and 0-1 in ACC play, and Virginia is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in ACC play (the Week 2 loss to NC State was scheduled as a nonconference matchup).

The ACC added the event security fine this year to penalize schools for not preventing field storms in football and basketball. FSU was fined the same amount for fans coming on the field after beating Alabama. The fines go to the league’s Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Fund, which supports ACC athletes pursuing graduate school.

What does this mean for Florida State?

Florida State’s rocket back into the top 10 has quickly crashed. When the Seminoles beat Alabama 31-17 in Week 1, it looked like FSU had returned to its old form, beating the Crimson Tide in the trenches. After a 13-0 regular season in 2023 failed to earn a College Football Playoff spot, the Seminoles collapsed to 2-10 last year. Coach Mike Norvell shook up the roster and staff, and the team looks much improved.

This loss to Virginia changes the outlook dramatically. The Seminoles must now beat No. 2 Miami at home next week to avoid a 0-2 start in conference play. Hopes for an ACC championship and Playoff appearance provide little room for error. According to Austin Mock’s projections for The Athletic, Florida State dropped from a 33 percent chance to make the Playoff to 15 percent and a 15 percent chance to win the ACC to 6 percent after Friday night’s loss.

We haven’t had an FSU-Miami game with both ranked in the top 10 since 2013, and that streak will continue.

What does this mean for Virginia?

Coach Tony Elliott came into this season on the hot seat, failing to reach a bowl game in his first three seasons. Rather than buy out the coach last year, Virginia invested in the roster, and the improvement is evident. Now 4-1, the Hoos should have a postseason game in their future.

Virginia’s offense, led by Morris, has been among the best in the country, entering Friday night ranked No. 11 in scoring. Its remaining schedule avoids Miami, Georgia Tech, Clemson and SMU; it’s not wild to think the path could be there for an ACC championship game appearance.

Next week’s trip to Louisville could be the toughest remaining game.

(Photo: Ryan M. Kelly / Getty Images)

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