The FSU Seminoles are set to play their first game without Mike Norvell on Saturday against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Interim head coach Rick Stockstill is now in charge and will look to guide them to a strong end to the season with four games to go.

FSU (3-5, 1-4 ACC) will need to win three of its final games to make a bowl game, something they have not done since 2023. It will be tough; two of the four games are on the road, and the final game is against the Florida Gators.

Saturday's game against Boston College (4-4, 2-3) is an excellent chance for the Seminoles to start the final stretch of the season with a win. FSU has dominated this series, even if the Eagles won the last meeting 28-23 in 2024. The Seminoles lead the series 16-6 and have won eight of the last 10 meetings, including the last three on the road.

While FSU has been good on the road against Boston College, that has not been the case against the rest of the country. The Seminoles have not won a road game since 2023, dropping their last 12 games.

FSU will have a great shot at snapping that streak on Saturday, but here is why it will be tough for them to do so.

Duce Robinson is gone

He hasn't had the year he was hoping for, but Robinson was still FSU's top receiver and a difference-maker for the Seminoles. He was at his best in FSU's biggest games this year, and his leadership is also important for a struggling offense. His absence will put more pressure on Micahi Danzy, Jayvan Boggs, and Jasen Lopez, who are not nearly as experienced or proven as Robinson.

This is still the same team

FSU may have overhauled its coaching staff, but this is still the same roster that they assembled. The Seminoles are flawed on both sides, and while the coaching change should cause the team to come out energized, they still have issues along the lines of scrimmage in the secondary, and no coaching change was going to fix that completely.

FSU's road struggles are real

FSU has still not won a road game since 2023, dropping their last 12 true road games. They have come close to snapping this streak numerous times, but have been unable to pull off the win for a variety of reasons. Norvell is gone, but FSU's road struggles do not inspire confidence, no matter who is leading the team.

The running back depth is gone

The Seminoles are already without their top two running backs in Ousmane Kromah and Samuel Singleton Jr., and Quintrevion Wisner is now questionable. If he is unable to go, FSU would have to turn to freshman Amari Thomas and veteran Zay Parks. Thomas has just four carries for 11 yards, and Parks has yet to log a carry. Even if Wisner is able to go, he clearly won't be at full strength and will put more pressure on Ashton Daniels.

Boston College has been better at home

The Eagles are not a very good team, but they have been much better at Alumni Stadium, going 3-1 and picking up wins over the Rutgers Scarlett Knights and Pitt Panthers. While those are not signature wins, combined with FSU's road struggles, it will be tough for the Seminoles to get the win.