Florida State enters the 2026 season at No. 38 in the CBS Sports 138, and the Seminoles’ schedule offers a clear snapshot of what’s ahead.
The preseason rankings, released Wednesday, are CBS Sports’ full top-to-bottom list of every FBS team. The field grew by two this year with the additions of North Dakota State and Sacramento State, and CBS Sports and 247Sports experts will update the order every week during the season based on what happens on the field.
For Florida State, the first month is manageable on paper but not exactly soft. The Seminoles open at home against New Mexico State on Saturday, August 29th, and the Aggies come in at No.
- Labor Day night brings a bigger test when SMU visits Tallahassee; the Mustangs start the year at No.
A bye week follows before Florida State heads to Alabama, which opens at No. 13. Then comes another home game, this one against FCS opponent Central Arkansas, which does not appear in the rankings.
October is where the schedule tightens fast. Florida State opens the month by hosting No.
37 Virginia, then goes on the road for a Friday night matchup at No. 25 Louisville.
The next week sends the Seminoles to No. 7 Miami, the highest-ranked opponent on their slate, before a bye week and a home date with No.
27 Clemson.
November keeps the pressure on. Florida State travels to No.
76 Boston College and then No. 35 Pitt, before finishing the regular-season stretch with games against No.
45 NC State and No. 22 Florida.
Among those opponents, Miami is the toughest matchup on paper, while New Mexico State is the lowest-ranked opponent Florida State will face at the FBS level.
There were also a couple of notable movers in the rankings. Florida moved up 49 spots from where it finished last year, while Virginia dropped 20 spots from its previous finish.
In Other News...
Florida State Suddenly Has A Secondary Problem Tony White Must Solve
Florida States secondary took an early hit with Karson Hobbs out for the season after suffering a torn ACL, a blow that lands hardest at nickel, where the Seminoles had been counting on steadier depth. The timing matters because defensive coordinator Tony White is already piecing together a new-look back end, and Hobbs absence removes one of the players who could have helped stabilize the rotation.
Now the pressure shifts to Duke transfer MaKhi Jones, who is expected to open as the starter at nickel while the rest of the depth chart behind him remains unsettled. White has options to shuffle personnel and adjust roles, but the injury leaves Florida State with another secondary question to solve before the season even gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A New Quarterback Battle Fans Need To Watch
Fall camp has put a fresh spotlight on Florida States quarterback room, and junior transfer Malachi Marshall is quickly becoming one of the names to watch behind Ashton Daniels. Marshall enrolled in May and has used the offseason and early practices to make an impression on Mike Norvell, who has taken note of both his arm talent and the work he has put into learning the offense.
The larger battle is for the backup job, and it is still very much up for grabs as the season nears. Sophomore Kevin Sperry has been in the mix, but Marshalls push has added another layer of intrigue to a competition that remains open, giving the Seminoles one more thing to sort out before the first snap counts for real. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Defense Is Setting The Tone As Norvell Faces Tough Camp Calls
Florida State wrapped its second fall camp scrimmage with the defense making a clear early impression, and Mike Norvell said that side of the ball was the one setting the tone. The Seminoles logged multiple tackles for loss and pressures, with Mandrell, Darryll Desir, Jalen Anderson, Omar Graham Jr. and Charles Lester III drawing specific praise as the unit continued to show up around the ball.
The offense had its share of bright spots too, with Ashton Daniels helping spark several explosive plays and Sam Singleton Jr. and Ousmane Kromah contributing in the run game. Receivers Duce Robinson and TaeShaun Gelsey also flashed, while freshman Jasen Lopez made a positive showing, leaving Norvell with a camp full of useful evaluation points as the staff keeps sorting through tough decisions. [Read more 🡒]