Eli Lederman Nov 7, 2026, 03:48 PM ET

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Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.

Florida State interim coach Rick Stockstill said he repeatedly preached toughness to his players in the six days after the program fired former Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell. He got that and much more Saturday afternoon -- including a successful fake field goal and a postgame Powerade bath -- in an "emotional," come-from-behind win in the rain at Boston College.

The 31-24 victory gave Florida State to its first road road victory in nearly three years.

"Just really proud of them and the resiliency [they showed]," Stockstill, 68, said afterward. "...The toughness that they played with and the competitive spirit, I tell you, I'm very humbled. Excited for them. Long time since we won a game on the road.…