BOSTON -- The names may change on the players' uniforms. The coaching staff may turn over.

But since Boston College first joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2005, one fact has remained constant: The Eagles are going to play a physical brand of football, and they're going to challenge opponents to either match their toughness or find a way through speed and athletic ability to overcome it.

"It's going to be an absolute battle," Florida State football coach Mike Norvell said this week, as his Seminoles prepared for today's trip to BC (noon, ACC Network). "And we are fully aware of that."

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There have been times during this past decade-and-a-half when FSU has overwhelmed Boston College with its speed on the edges and its quickness near the line of scrimmage. But this would not appear to be one of those years.

While the 2021 Seminoles have turned in their share of explosive plays on offense, Norvell has pushed this team to make toughness its calling card. It's an approach that suits the Seminoles' run-first mentality on offense and their attacking front-four on defense.

So in this particular trip to Chestnut Hill, with temperatures expected to be in the mid-40s, FSU will be looking to match power with power.

"You have to get your mind [ready] for it," Norvell said. "It's a mindset. It's attitude. Approach. I love games like that. Because at the end of the day, you're going to see who's willing to invest. Who's willing to give. Who's willing to push.

"Both sides, at some point, are going to get knocked down on Saturday. Can you get back up and can you continue to push forward? That's all in a mindset."

Florida State (4-6, 3-4 in the ACC) has displayed that type of tenacity at various points of this season, but perhaps most notably in last week's 31-28 victory against rival Miami. The Seminoles saw an early 17-point lead vanish, and they actually fell behind by eight points in the fourth quarter before rallying for two late scores to snare the win.

The fact that they capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown plunge with all 22 players on the field bunched up at the line of scrimmage seemed only fitting.

And the Seminoles hope to bring that same physicality into today's battle with the Eagles (6-4, 2-4).

* ALSO SEE: FSU Football Matchup Analysis & Prediction: 'Noles at Boston College

Boston College started this season with four consecutive non-conference victories but lost starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec to injury along the way. The Eagles then lost four straight ACC games before Jurkovec returned and they knocked off Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech in back-to-back weeks.

"They got their quarterback returned a few weeks back; they're playing really well," Norvell said. "He is one of the better quarterbacks that we have in this league -- one of the better quarterbacks in the country. ...

"They're undefeated with him here this season. They've won a lot of games the last two years when he's in the lineup."

But even with Jurkovec under center, the real strength of the Boston College offense is its power running game, which often sets up play-action passes for big gains.

Redshirt sophomore running back Pat Garwo has rushed for 909 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards a carry. Star receiver Zay Flowers has caught 40 passes for 653 yards and four touchdowns; he is averaging more than 16 yards per reception. Grad transfer tight end Trae Berry is averaging over 17 yards per catch.

"There's a mindset in that program that you can see on tape when they operate on offense," FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said.

"We've got to be physical," defensive ends coach John Papuchis said. "We know it's going to be a little bit colder -- a little bit more of a fall football environment than maybe we're used to down here. We're gonna have to go up, strap it up and get after it.

"It's going to be a violent, physical football game. But I don't think from a defensive front perspective we'd want it any other way."

Indeed, that defensive front has been the strength of this Florida State team all season.

And while defensive end Jermaine Johnson's sack numbers have drawn the biggest headlines, it has been that group's determination to stop the run that has perhaps been its greatest success.

The Seminoles are limiting opponents to 3.75 yards per carry this season, compared to 5.12 one year ago.

Last week, they held UM star freshman Jaylan Knighton to 32 yards on 16 carries. In their last two games, against the Hurricanes and N.C. State, FSU's defense has allowed a total of just 129 rushing yards on 60 attempts.

"We have to stop the run, which is something we talked about as a defensive line unit (Sunday) and that they're super excited about," Papuchis said. "We feel like we're pretty good in that area. And it's going to be a great challenge, because they run the ball well. So something's going to give."

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