Florida State Seminoles DC Tony White unexpectedly lays down the hammer regarding Friday's game vs. Virginia

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated Sep 22, 2025 5:14 PM ET

The Florida State Seminoles have one of the best point differentials in the entire country. They are averaging the most points per game in the country at 58, and are near the top in points allowed per game at 10. Sure, that's partly because of two of their games being against pretty bad teams, but they also beat the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The coaching staff has the team looking great going into ACC play. Defensive coordinator Tony White understands, though, that what they have done defensively up to this point is not enough. They still have to be better.

"I don't care about what the score said, it's about the way you play on the grass… We can watch this film, and we can be better. We'd better be a hell of a lot better Friday Night, because Virginia is no joke. They are a good football team, so the things we got away with last week, we won't be able to get away with this week… explosive, you look at their run numbers, and they are running the ball on people," White said Sunday.

Florida State allowed Kent State to score 10 points after allowing East Texas A&M to score just three. That's not good enough for White, and he won't stand for it.

Tony White calls UVA's offense one of the best in the country.

"We better be a hell of a lot better Friday Night, because Virginia is no joke."

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Seminoles will be ready for Virginia

These two teams will actually face off on Friday, rather than Saturday. Virginia is coming in with two ACC games under their belt already, with a loss to NC State and a win over Stanford, where this is FSU's first ACC game. Virginia is 3-1 on the year, and has put up some pretty big numbers offensively against some decent teams, like the 48 on Stanford and the 31 on NC State.

So, this won't end up being a game they can cruise through like the last two. The Seminoles haven't actually proven anything yet, either. Sure, they locked up Alabama, but that was Week 1 at home, and we still don't know exactly how good Alabama is. They haven't played enough great offenses to tell how good this defense truly is, so you kind of like that White is talking that way, even after a big win over Kent State.

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If he's saying things on tape and on the grass don't look as good as they do on the scoreboard, against a much inferior team, then the team better get their crap together. Virginia has played two Power Four games, both ACC games, and still averages 45 points per game as an offense. They're averaging 313 passing yards per game and 251 rushing yards per game.

Friday will be a good one, and a true test for the Noles, their first test since Week 1. And next week, after Virginia, the Seminoles play Miami, which will be the biggest test remaining on their schedule.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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