Florida State fans didn’t get the season they wanted - not even close - but they did get one small consolation prize on Monday night: Miami didn’t win the national championship. Instead, Indiana capped off a perfect 2025 campaign by edging the Hurricanes 27-21 in a tightly contested title game. For Seminole fans, that’s a silver lining in an otherwise cloudy stretch.
But let’s not sugarcoat it - Florida State football is in a tough spot right now. The program, once a perennial powerhouse, is struggling to find its footing.
Four losing seasons in six years under Mike Norvell have left fans frustrated and hungry for change. And yet, the administration is sticking with Norvell for 2026, a decision that’s raised eyebrows across the fan base.
The hope is that continuity might spark a turnaround, but after back-to-back disappointing seasons, that’s a tall order.
The pain runs deeper than just the record. Florida State has watched its rivals rise while it continues to tread water.
The latest “Way-Too-Early Top 25” from On3 only adds salt to the wound. The Seminoles are nowhere to be found on the list - not a surprise given their recent form - but what stings more is who is on it.
Miami, fresh off a national title appearance, finds itself in the top 10. And for once, that ranking might be justified.
Head coach Mario Cristobal has been building from the inside out, focusing on the trenches and stacking talent where it matters most. The big question now is whether Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah ends up in Coral Gables - and if he does, how quickly he can make an impact.
Meanwhile, Florida sneaks into the rankings at No. 24, despite a roster that arguably took a step back heading into 2026. The Gators hired Jon Sumrall to lead the program, and while they retained standout running back Jadan Baugh, the overall outlook is murky.
Their schedule doesn’t do them any favors either. Road trips to Auburn, Missouri, Texas, Kentucky, and a rivalry game in Tallahassee - not to mention matchups against Georgia, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss - make for a brutal slate.
That’s a gauntlet even for a seasoned team, let alone one in transition. Missing another bowl game isn’t out of the question.
Then there’s Clemson. Dabo Swinney’s Tigers are absent from the early rankings, which is surprising given the long-term consistency of the program.
Sure, 2025 was a letdown after high expectations, but Clemson has built enough equity over the years to warrant at least a mention. Swinney’s track record suggests they won’t stay down for long.
As for Florida State, the road ahead is steep. The Seminoles haven’t just fallen behind; they’ve been lapped by rivals who’ve either reloaded or retooled. The offseason will be critical - not just for development, but for restoring belief in a fan base that’s watched its team drift from relevance.
Spring ball might not bring a full showcase - there’s even talk that Florida State may not stage a traditional spring game - but the updates will keep coming. Because in college football, the season never really ends.
The countdown to 2026 has already begun, and for the Seminoles, it’s a chance to hit the reset button. Whether that reset leads to a revival remains to be seen.