Florida State’s season is officially in the books - and not in the way anyone in Tallahassee hoped it would be. What began as a promising campaign quickly unraveled, leaving more questions than answers and setting the stage for what figures to be a pivotal offseason for Mike Norvell and his staff.
Norvell, who entered the year with renewed authority as a CEO-style head coach, now finds himself in a familiar spot: searching for solutions. The Seminoles played hard, no doubt, but the late-season collapse and lackluster finish against a struggling Florida team painted a picture of a program that lost its edge when it mattered most. Let’s take a closer look at what went wrong for Florida State - and why changes are not just expected, but necessary.
Norvell’s CEO Transition: A Mixed Bag
Norvell stepped back from play-calling duties this year, shifting into more of a big-picture role. The idea was to strengthen the overall operation - more player meetings, more oversight, more cohesion. But the results were uneven.
While the team showed effort and intensity at times, it also displayed signs of disconnect. Public sideline tension and a flat performance against Florida were red flags. The Seminoles didn’t just lose that game - they looked disengaged, a troubling sign for a program that had top-tier aspirations.
Off the field, recruiting remained underwhelming. Communication breakdowns continued to pop up, and some of the program’s logistical decisions - including a short-notice West Coast trip to Stanford - didn’t help matters. If Norvell wants to stay in this CEO role, the execution around him has to improve significantly.
Tommy Castellanos: Flashes of Brilliance, But Far From Consistent
Tommy Castellanos brought excitement and unpredictability to the offense - for better and worse. There were stretches where he looked like a difference-maker, but the inconsistency was hard to ignore.
The numbers tell the story. Castellanos posted a 197.51 passer rating in wins, which ranked fourth nationally.
But in losses? That number dropped to 125.2, good for 41st.
His road struggles were even more pronounced, with a 118.0 rating that ranked 91st in the country. Florida State didn’t win a single road game, and Castellanos’ up-and-down play was a big reason why.
His emotional highs and lows seemed to ripple through the offense. When things were clicking, he could be electric.
But when the wheels came off, they came off hard. There’s talent here, but also a clear ceiling if the passing game doesn’t evolve.
Running Back Rotation: Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen
One of the more puzzling aspects of the season was how Florida State handled its backfield. Six different running backs saw regular action, but the rotation felt erratic and lacked rhythm.
The most head-scratching part? The limited usage of Kromah.
An offseason prize and a player who showed real flashes, Kromah finished the year with just 72 touches. For a team that lacked a go-to option and leaned on a committee approach, that’s a tough pill to swallow - especially when Kromah looked like he had the tools to be a feature back.
Gus Malzahn acknowledged the absence of a true bellcow, but the by-committee strategy never quite found its footing. It felt more like a rotation out of uncertainty than one built around maximizing matchups.
The Malzahn Offense: Improvement, But Not Enough
Yes, the offense was better than it was a year ago. But that’s a low bar, and the inconsistencies were still glaring - especially in critical moments.
On the road, the Seminoles struggled mightily. They scored just 93 total points away from home and ranked 51st out of 68 Power Four teams in points per game in those contests. That’s not going to cut it.
The offense had its moments, but when matched up against quality defenses, it often sputtered. The highs weren’t high enough, and the lows were far too low. With another scheme overhaul looming in 2026, it’s hard to see this version of the offense as a sustainable foundation.
Defensive Scheme Fit: A Tough Year for Tony White’s 3-3-5
Year 1 under defensive coordinator Tony White and his 3-3-5 hybrid scheme didn’t yield many success stories. A few players stood out - Jackson and the Desirs up front, Ja’Bril Rawls at corner, and Ashlynd Barker at boundary safety (before a shoulder injury slowed him down). But beyond that, the defense struggled to find consistent fits.
The scheme relies on versatility and discipline, and it became clear that many of the inherited pieces weren’t ideal matches. White will likely get the chance to bring in more of his own personnel, but the unit needs a reset at nearly every level.
Transfer Portal Misses: A Costly Swing and Miss
Florida State went heavy in the portal on defense - nine transfers brought in to shore up the unit. Only two of them (Deante McCray and Stefon Thompson) provided real value, and even then, they were more high-end depth than full-time difference-makers.
The rest? Underwhelming.
Jerry Wilson, James Williams, and Jayson Jenkins were supposed to be impact players. Instead, they struggled to make their presence felt.
Deamonate Diggs, a pass rusher with upside, was inefficient before a neck injury ended his season. Elijah Herring, who carried a 59.3 PFF grade, ended up as the team’s lowest-graded linebacker.
When you invest heavily in the portal, you expect returns - especially from players with All-ACC potential. But FSU’s defensive portal class simply didn’t deliver.
Bottom Line: Florida State enters the offseason with a lot to fix. The CEO model needs refining, the quarterback room needs stability, the offense needs identity, and the defense needs an infusion of talent that actually fits the scheme.
For Mike Norvell, the margin for error is shrinking. The next few months will be critical - not just for 2026, but for the trajectory of the entire program.