247 Sports’ Composite Ratings<\/a>, which capture the talent rankings of both incoming freshman and incoming transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2026 Florida State Seminoles Outlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n When a coach starts talking as fast as Jimbo Fisher\u2013and it\u2019s not Jimbo Fisher doing the talking\u2013odds are that something is up. So it seemed for Florida State’s Mike Norvell at the recent ACC Media Days in Charlotte, when the normally soft-spoken Seminoles mentor, though not necessarily raising the decibel count, was definitely in \u201cJimbo mode\u201d as he seemed to be auditioning for an auctioneer job, so fast was he chatting away at the podium. Nerves, perhaps? Maybe so. For if any coach enters this fall on the hot seat, it\u2019s Norvell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, in the wake of two consecutive highly-disappointing campaigns at a Tallahassee locale used to much better, Norvell sat in the firing line last November as a 5-7 FSU failed to qualify for the postseason after also swinging and missing at a bowl by an even wider margin the preceding 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, Seminole administrators granted Norvell a stay of execution, though many regional observers gave more credit to Norvell\u2019s agent Jimmy Sexton, who is known to structure buyouts with a lump sum chunk component, and not just the traditional contract \u201coffsets\u201d that can greatly lessen the financial pain for an institution looking to move on from a coach. No two buyouts are the same, and there also is a provision for FSU to pay off Norvell in monthly chunks as well, though the full amount would increase (It\u2019s complicated!). Simply, ACC sources suggest, Jimmy Sexton buyouts are a bit different, and it was just too expensive to buy out Norvell after last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The financial pain lessens somewhat for the school moving forward, of which Norvell is all too aware, and regional insiders say that Norvell likely needs a lot more than a minor bowl berth this fall to keep the wolves at bay. Moreover, some ACC observers looked at the July hire of former Texas and FAU head coach Tom Herman as an offensive consultant also as a potential interim replacement should Norvell not make it thru the campaign (a distinct possibility), though Norvell insists there is a role for Herman as an analyst. We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps working in Norvell\u2019s favor, however slightly, is that the Deion Sanders-to-FSU chatter has subsided considerably after last season when Deion\u2019s Colorado stumbled to a 3-9 mark. As Sanders also deals with some health issues, talk about him returning to his alma mater has definitely cooled since this time a year ago. In fact, Deion’s name hardly came up during the recent Media Days in Charlotte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where has it gone wrong for Norvell? Many point to several swings and misses in the portal, especially during a disastrous 2024 when the Noles sunk to 2-10 with one of the nation\u2019s worst offenses. Almost en masse, transfers on the attack-end flamed out, especially along the OL and also including QB DJ Uiagalelei, and while things improved slightly last fall, with ex-BC QB Tommy Castellanos providing a bit of an upgrade from Uiagalelei and engineering an early-season upset of Alabama, it wasn\u2019t nearly enough, nor was the hire of ex-Auburn HC Gus Malzahn as OC (Malzahn stepped down after last season).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others also suggest that it was maybe just the law of averages catching up with FSU after landing almost every conceivable break in the preceding 2023, with an ultra- soft schedule proving a smooth landing for a deceiving and unbeaten regular season. When it went all wrong in December as the Seminoles were bypassed for the last four-team playoff, and QB Jordan Travis was injured, it was a humiliating 63-3 loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl that seemed to deliver a psychological blow from which FSU has yet to recover. Beginning with that humbling vs. Kirby Smart\u2019s Bulldogs, the Seminoles have lost 18 of their last 25 entering this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t be deceived, either, by some of FSU\u2019s stat lines a year ago on offense under Malzahn, who in concert with Norvell ran up some big scores in September vs. outmanned opposition (77-3 over East Texas A&M, 66-10 over Kent State), shamefully so, to distort the numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norvell and new OC Tim Harris Jr are now turning to former Stanford and Auburn QB Ashton Daniels to spark the turnaround. With 23 career starts, Daniels has at times performed with some flair, and Norvell convincing NFL-bound WR Duce Robinson (1,081 receiving yards last season) to stick around for another season rather than enter the draft should prove a plus. Former 1,000-yard rusher Tre Wisner also arrived thru the portal via Texas, but Norvell has once again reloaded almost the entirety of his OL thru the portal. After recent failures using the same strategy along the forward wall, ACC observers need to be convinced that Norvell can again get it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense performed with a bit more purpose in 2025 for new coordinator Tony White, a Rocky Long disciple who returns this fall. Another season in White’s 3-3-5 deployments that his mentor Long made famous once upon a time with Brian Urlacher should prove more comfortable, though replacing NFL draftee DT Darrell Jackson (now NY Jets) might prove an issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several portal adds who will be asked to hit the ground running include ex-Texas A&M DE Dylan Kennedy and ex-Southern Miss LB Chris Jones, the latter ranking 7th in tackles per game in the entire FBS last autumn. Once again, however, Florida State is relying heavily upon the transfer market for a quick fix\u2026and we\u2019ve seen what can happen when that doesn\u2019t go to plan in Tallahassee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florida State Win Total Prediction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As an indicator of how far the Florida State Seminoles have fallen in the ACC pecking order, and a further indictment on the Norvell regime, FSU is no longer regarded as one of the top contenders in the ACC; indeed, the poll at the recent Media Days in Charlotte forecast FSU at 11th in the league, enough to elicit a \u201cdad gummit\u201d from the ghost of Bobby Bowden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the school and boosters reportedly lining up the resources for a buyout if needed, Norvell is on the shakiest of footing, and several in Charlotte were wondering if Norvell might even last into November, with a demanding early-season slate featuring road games at revenge-minded Alabama, ACC contender Louisville and national runner-up Miami, plus SMU, Virginia and Clemson at Doak Campbell, all by Halloween. Some aren’t sure Norvell even makes it to Columbus Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are simply too many questions to get very excited about the Seminoles, with the expected Norvell \u201chot seat\u201d talk likely to dominate conversation at every Waffle House in Tallahassee. UNDER 6.5 Wins<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n2026 Florida State Football Schedule<\/h3>\n\n\n\nDate<\/th> Day<\/th> Home\/Away<\/th> Opponent<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> August 29<\/td> Sat<\/td> Home<\/td> New Mexico State<\/td><\/tr> September 7<\/td> Mon<\/td> Home<\/td> SMU<\/td><\/tr> Bye<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td><\/tr> September 19<\/td> Sat<\/td> Road<\/td> Alabama<\/td><\/tr> September 26<\/td> Sat<\/td> Home<\/td> Central Arkansas<\/td><\/tr> October 3<\/td> Sat<\/td> Home<\/td> Virginia<\/td><\/tr> October 9<\/td> Fri<\/td> Road<\/td> Louisville<\/td><\/tr> October 17<\/td> Sat<\/td> Road<\/td> Miami (Fla)<\/td><\/tr> Bye<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td><\/tr> October 31<\/td> Sat<\/td> Home<\/td> Clemson<\/td><\/tr> November 7<\/td> Sat<\/td> Road<\/td> Boston College<\/td><\/tr> November 13<\/td> Fri<\/td> Road<\/td> Pitt<\/td><\/tr> November 21<\/td> Sat<\/td> Home<\/td> NC State<\/td><\/tr> November 27<\/td> Fri<\/td> Home<\/td> Florida<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
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