Florida State opened the season with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State, but the box score didn’t settle much of anything. The Seminoles were 32.5-point favorites at home and handled the result, yet the performance left plenty of room for doubt - especially with SMU up next.
All eyes were on Ashton Daniels, and the debut was anything but clean. He did not look like a player about to launch a Heisman campaign, and he certainly didn’t give fans the kind of upgrade they were hoping for after Tommy Castellanos last season.
Daniels looked awkward and nervous at times, and he appeared slower than advertised. Against a stronger opponent, that kind of outing could have turned ugly fast.
Mike Norvell played it conservatively against an inferior team, but the question now is what that approach cost Florida State heading into a tougher test.
There were some encouraging signs, starting with red zone efficiency. Florida State finished 6-for-6 in the red zone, with four touchdowns and two field-goal attempts.
That was a major step forward for an offense that struggled badly in scoring territory last season, when Gus Malzahn’s group could move the ball but often stalled once it got close. The Seminoles ranked 95th in red zone percentage last year, per ncaa.com, so Saturday’s work inside the 20 stood out.
Norvell also leaned on some creative screens and got Samuel Singleton Jr. involved, with the running back leading the team in receiving. The run game looked solid overall, especially after halftime. The right side of the line, though, is clearly going to need extra work this week.
The problems showed up on third down. New Mexico State converted 10 of 17 third-down chances, per CBSSports, and that’s not the kind of number Florida State wanted to see from a defense that expected more impact from Rylan Kennedy. With all the Desir twins drama - the pair entered the transfer portal and then returned to Tallahassee - those were exactly the kinds of snaps that were supposed to produce statements.
Pass protection wasn’t much cleaner. It’s only Week 0, so there’s some room for chemistry to develop, but the next two games will ask more of this group. That’s one of the risks of building through the transfer portal: the trenches can turn into a gamble, and for a coach who needs results, that development matters a lot.
The most worrying part of the night came in the secondary. New Mexico State’s first touchdown was a rough one for Florida State to watch, even if Aggie fans loved it.
With all the buzz around Ja’Bril Rawls’ return, the play exposed both coaching issues and possible defensive limits. Rawls did not force the receiver toward the middle of the field, and that’s the sort of situation where Earl Little Jr. becomes especially important.
It was not just that one snap, either. There was also the miscommunication on fourth down in the second quarter between TK King and Trey Hedden, the kind of breakdown that can make halftime feel a lot longer than it should. By the third quarter, the atmosphere had already dipped enough that Doak sounded quieter than Miami Gardens when the Canes play anyone other than Florida, FSU, or Notre Dame.
That brings the focus back to preparation. After the last few years, Florida State was supposed to come out of Week 0 or Week 1 with urgency.
The biggest question around Mike Norvell isn’t about X’s and O’s or whether he understands football. It’s whether he can get through to his team.
After 63-3, the Seminoles looked flat and got upset in Ireland. Last year’s opener against Bama offered a counterpoint, but the season still fell apart.
If Florida State wasn’t ready now, with SMU coming this week, when exactly would it be?
It’s still early, and the season is long. The margins are going to stay thin.
The defensive competition is only going to get better, and Florida State showed enough talent at Doak Campbell to suggest there’s something to work with. But talent that’s out of sync can be just as damaging as no talent at all.
There were flashes of what this team could become, but the road to get there may be a long one. If the lines don’t improve, another disappointing season is on the table.
This isn’t really about whether Florida State beats SMU. It’s about how it looks doing it.
A lot of fans entered Saturday feeling good. Now the Seminoles have to earn that confidence.
In Other News...
Sam Singleton Just Gave Florida State A Weapon It May Need
Sam Singleton Jr. gave Florida State something it can always use and not always find: a back who can tilt the field in more than one way. In the Seminoles 34-17 win over New Mexico State, he piled up 164 all-purpose yards, scored twice and made his presence felt as both a runner and a returner, including a pair of kickoff returns that helped swing field position. Coach Mike Norvell pointed to Singletons versatility and the way he affected the game in multiple phases, and Pro Football Focus also came away impressed with his offensive work.
For a Florida State offense still sorting out where its biggest weekly advantages will come from, that kind of performance matters beyond the box score. Singletons blend of burst, efficiency and special-teams value gives the Seminoles a cleaner path to creating favorable situations, especially when games tighten and hidden yardage starts to matter. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-game spark or the start of a role that keeps expanding as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Already Has An O-Line Problem It Cant Ignore
Florida States offensive line was always going to be a work in progress in 2026, with five new starters trying to settle in and especially a fresh battle developing on the right side. Chimdia Nwaiwu got the opening nod at right tackle, while Nate Pabst and Paul Bowling have also been part of the discussion, and the early weeks have already shown how important that spot is for an offense trying to find its footing.
Nwaiwus first start brought enough pressure and issues in the run game to make the decision far less straightforward than the staff likely hoped. With SMU next on the schedule, Florida State is already weighing whether to stay patient or make a change and see if Bowling offers a better answer at right tackle, a choice that could shape how the rest of the line settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A Secondary Problem At The Worst Time
Florida State opened the season with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State, but the celebration came with a clear defensive concern hanging over it. The Seminoles secondary had too many issues staying connected in coverage, and New Mexico State was able to find space through the air more often than Florida State would like to see this early in the year.
Mike Norvell pointed to communication and execution problems after the game, which makes the timing especially uncomfortable with SMU next on the schedule. The Mustangs bring a passing attack that can punish busted assignments, so Florida States back end will need a cleaner performance fast if it wants the opener to be remembered for the win and not the warning signs. [Read more 🡒]