Florida State is set up to get a chance to clean things up in a hurry.
The Seminoles will host Central Arkansas on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, and the betting market is treating this one like a mismatch. FanDuel opened Florida State as a 44.5-point favorite, with the Over/Under at 60.5 points. The Bears were listed at +8000 on the MoneyLine, while FSU’s odds were not listed.
That kind of number makes sense when you look at where both teams are right now. Florida State has stumbled through the first quarter of the season, but this is the lone FCS opponent on its 2026 schedule, and it comes against a Central Arkansas team that just took a 27-9 road loss to Southeast Missouri State.
In that defeat, Central Arkansas was outscored 17-3 in the fourth quarter, managed only 266 total yards, and finished 12-for-27 passing for 98 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. For a Florida State defense looking to reset, that’s the kind of stat line that stands out fast.
The Bears are 2-2, and their results have been split sharply between strong offense and offensive drought. They’ve been held to 14 points or fewer in both losses, but in their two wins they’ve scored at least 36 points. So far, Central Arkansas is averaging 238.3 rushing yards per game and 168.8 passing yards per game, and it has produced 14 total touchdowns - seven through the air and seven on the ground.
Defensively, the Bears have allowed 28.3 points per game and 328.3 total yards per game. They’ve also created some disruption, forcing eight turnovers with six interceptions.
At the center of everything is quarterback Donovyn Omolo, the Central Missouri transfer who has started all four games. He’s completed 64 of 100 passes for 671 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. The passing production has been uneven - Omolo has topped 200 yards just once in four outings - but he’s also been a major part of the run game, carrying 47 times for 360 yards and two scores.
Omolo leads the team in rushing, but he’s not carrying the load alone. Running back Jalen Washington has added 37 carries for 298 yards and two touchdowns, with most of that damage coming against Central Oklahoma, when he ran for 202 yards.
Florida State has also got a little history tied to the matchup through head coach Mike Norvell. He played his college football at Central Arkansas, began his coaching career there as a graduate assistant, and was inducted into the program’s Hall of Fame in 2015. Norvell is still in the top 10 in Central Arkansas history for career receptions with 213 and receiving yards with 2,611.
Florida State and Central Arkansas meet on Saturday, September 26, with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
The Seminoles are 1-2 against the spread this season and failed to cover against New Mexico State and SMU.
In Other News...
Florida State Suddenly Has A Backfield Concern Fans Feared After Alabama
Florida States win over Alabama came with a familiar kind of late-summer worry attached to it, and the Seminoles are now facing it again in the backfield. Running back Samuel Singleton Jr. went down with a leg injury in that game and is expected to miss multiple contests, a setback that puts more pressure on the depth chart just as the seasons first real tests begin to stack up.
The timing is especially tricky because Florida State has been building momentum across the department, from volleyballs five-set ACC-opening win over Miami to the womens basketball schedule news and Rylee Blades ACC cross country honor. But the injury is the sort of development that can change the feel of a football season quickly, and it leaves the Seminoles waiting to see how they piece together carries while one of their backs recovers. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvell Faces An FSU Problem A Win Wont Fix
Mike Norvell is back in the familiar place of trying to steady Florida State amid a storm of scrutiny, and the problem around the program has grown beyond any single Saturday. The Seminoles have been under a harsh spotlight because of recent struggles, and the conversation has shifted from whether they can win to whether any one result is enough to change how the team is being judged.
Norvell is finding that even a convincing victory does not necessarily move the needle, while a tight win over a weaker opponent can bring a fresh round of criticism. That leaves Florida State with a tougher assignment than simply adding to the win column: the Seminoles need a stretch of consistent, strong play before the narrative around the program starts to bend. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State May Have Found A Needed Answer Up Front
Florida State got a useful glimpse of a developing answer up front against Alabama, and it came from a name that had been building momentum behind the scenes. Kevin Wynn, a second-year defensive tackle, logged a career-high 16 snaps in the opener, finished with two tackles and posted the highest PFF grade on the Seminoles defense. For a group looking to tighten up its run defense, that kind of interior presence matters, especially when it comes from a player still working his way into a bigger role.
Mike Norvell and Tony White have both pointed to Wynns power and progression, and the added conditioning shows up in the way he is moving after recovering from injury. Wynn has also trimmed his weight to improve his athleticism, a sign Florida State believes his ceiling is still rising. If he keeps trending in that direction, the Seminoles may have found a much-needed piece in the middle of the defense. [Read more 🡒]