The ACC became the stage for one of the season’s biggest upsets once again, but the aftermath quickly overshadowed the victory. Florida State entered Charlottesville as the No. 8 team in the country, unbeaten and looking ahead to a massive Week 6 clash with Miami.
Instead, unranked Virginia stunned the Seminoles with a 46-38 double-overtime win, handing FSU its first loss of the season and sending Scott Stadium into chaos. The Cavaliers improved to 4-1 on the year, while Florida State dropped to 3-1.
Fans Storm the Field and Ran Over the Players
As soon as Ja’Son Prevard intercepted Thomas Castellanos’ desperate fourth-down heave in double overtime, Virginia students and fans charged from the hill and stands in a massive rush. The cameras captured the moment as a sea of navy and orange engulfed the field, and at least two Seminole players.
One of them was wide receiver Squirrel White, who was the intended target on the game-sealing play. White had tumbled to the ground in the end zone, leaving him completely exposed when thousands of Cavaliers fans flooded the field.
I’ve never seen a field stormed this fast in my life pic.twitter.com/dcLjmLvYwM
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) September 27, 2025
College Football World Reacts to Dangerous Chaos After Virginia’s Win
Florida State’s chaotic sideline moment during the pile-up drew instant reaction online, with fans expressing shock and concern.
One viewer summed it up bluntly, “They literally ran over the FSU player.” Another added, “Kid just disappeared.”
The sentiment spread quickly, with worried fans questioning whether the scene was safe at all. “Looks so unsafe for the players. Hope nobody got hurt,” one post read.
Looks so unsafe for the players. Hope nobody got hurt.
— Jared (@J_boog210) September 27, 2025
The unease extended beyond just the football action. In the aftermath, some fans couldn’t locate one of the Seminole receivers, Squirrel White, joking nervously, “Has anyone seen that FSU WR?”
Another shared a meme clip from Game of Thrones, Jon Snow being swallowed up in battle, to illustrate how overwhelmed the player looked in the pile.
FSU’s WR pic.twitter.com/Wqdb2wpWg6
— Arf Arf Arf (@ArfArf2011) September 27, 2025
But for others, the situation was no laughing matter. A fan described a far more serious scene: “It was dangerous. There was a level two tactical alert from the police, fire, & medical teams. At least 15 people injured, including a young lady with her leg broken. Police reporting three sets of frantic parents looking for young children. They were too close. Not cool.”
It was dangerous. There was a level two tactical alert from the police fire, & medical teams. At least 15 people injured, including a young lady with her leg broken police reporting three sets of frantic parents looking for young children. They were too close. not cool.
— Maggie (@maggiekilbridge) September 27, 2025
The mixture of memes, concern, and first-hand reports shows how the incident resonated with both fans at the stadium and those watching from home, a reminder of how quickly a lighthearted football atmosphere can flip into a safety scare.
ACC Policy, Financial Penalty, and What Comes Next
Friday’s incident wasn’t just a safety scare; it came with a steep price. Under the ACC’s updated field-storming policy, Virginia will be fined $50,000 as a first-time offender. The money will go not to Florida State but to the conference’s scholarship fund.
Ironically, Florida State fans had stormed their own field earlier this season after upsetting Alabama, making this the second time Seminole players have been caught up in postgame chaos.
For White, the moment was particularly jarring. The former Tennessee receiver had only two catches for five yards in the loss, bringing his season total to four catches for 52 yards. But the discussion around him this week is less about statistics and more about his frightening experience amid the stampede.
With Miami looming in Week 6, Florida State will need to regroup quickly. But as conversations around field-storming grow louder, the ACC and its member schools may soon face pressure to take even more decisive action to prevent a repeat and take measures for players’ safety after what unfolded in Charlottesville.
