Florida State’s 2026 outlook is starting to take shape, and the first two months of the season could tell the whole story.
If the three Seminoles representing FSU at ACC kickoff all deliver strong seasons, the ceiling looks like an 8- or 9-win year in 2026. That path won’t come easy, either. ESPN’s FPI has FSU’s schedule ranked among the top 25 toughest in the country, which means the Seminoles will need to be sharp from the jump if they want the kind of season they’re aiming for.
One area that could decide how things look when November arrives is the secondary. FSU is set to start redshirt juniors and seniors in the defensive back room, but there are also a number of first- and second-year players who are going to need snaps this fall. That mix makes the back end one of the most important units on the roster.
On the coaching side, Florida State has added Tom Herman to the staff for the 2026-2027 season. Mike Norvell has resumed play-calling after Gus Malzahn’s retirement, and the addition of Herman gives him another veteran voice with play-calling experience in the room. It’s a late offseason move, with fall camp less than a month away, but it’s also a clear sign Norvell wanted more support on offense after Malzahn’s abrupt retirement in February.
Recruiting has its own set of concerns, and the offensive line stands out immediately. 247 graded FSU’s class by position, and the offensive line grade is hard to argue with. The problem is obvious: FSU hosted just one official visitor at the position all summer, DaJohn Yarborough, and couldn’t land him. Yarborough ended up choosing Cal.
That misses the mark in a major way, especially with Herb Hand’s recruiting track record at this level not yet showing consistent results. The timing makes it even more troubling, because all five offensive line starters are new entering 2026. Until the Seminoles create some real momentum there, that grade isn’t likely to change.
The defensive line, by contrast, drew a much more favorable review. Given the state of the program and how important defensive line recruiting is in the South, FSU did well to land quality prospects there.
LeJeune is the headliner, a Top247 four-star who picked FSU over Cal and Washington after a long recruitment. The Seminoles were his first offer nearly two years ago. The one caveat is that Cal is still involved to some degree, so there’s at least a question about whether he stays locked in until December.
FSU also has one defensive back committed, and there’s a real chance the Seminoles add their most talented target on the board when top-100 safety Ta’Shawn Poole makes his decision on Friday.
The roster-building hasn’t slowed elsewhere, either. FSU continues to reload after bringing in the top-rated class in the portal.
Men’s basketball is still grinding through the offseason, but Florida State does have the 22nd-best odds to win the 2027 national title.
Around the pro ranks, Jamie Arnold has been turning heads in the Oakland Athletics’ farm system at the AA level.
And in the NFL, Brian Burns landed at No. 43 on ProFootballNetwork’s top 100 players list after another strong season. Burns, who was acquired by the Giants after the 2023 season following a down year, has looked like a different player in New York. In both of his seasons with the team, he’s finished in at least the top eight in PFN EDGE Impact Scoring, including a No. 3 overall mark and a 90.9 score in 2025.
His 16.5 sacks last season were a career high and ranked second in the NFL. Since entering the league in 2019, Burns’ 71.0 sacks are the fifth-most by any player in that span. He also ranked sixth among edge rushers with an 86.0 run-defense score last year.
In Other News...
Florida State's Tom Herman Move Feels Bigger Than Anyone Expected
Florida State is reportedly adding Tom Herman to its coaching staff for the 2026 season, bringing in a familiar name with head-coaching experience and a background that includes a stop at Florida Atlantic and a stint as an offensive analyst for the Chicago Bears. The move gives the Seminoles another veteran voice on the offensive side, and it comes at a time when every staffing decision around the program is being watched a little more closely than usual.
Hermans arrival also lands against a backdrop of uncertainty around Mike Norvells future, which is why the hire is drawing more attention than a standard offseason addition. Even without a final public label on Hermans role, the optics of bringing in someone with his resume suggest Florida State wants options in place as it looks ahead, and that alone makes this one worth following well beyond the initial announcement. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Roster Update Signals A Stronger Leaner Team Before Fall Camp
Florida States latest roster refresh offers an early look at how the Seminoles have spent the offseason before fall camp opens later this month. The updated list shows weight changes for 53 players since spring, a sign that the program has been monitoring bodies closely as it tries to get the roster into better shape for the grind ahead.
The numbers point to a team that is both adding size and trimming down in spots, with eight players up by more than 10 pounds and four down by more than 10. Those shifts are spread across position groups and classes, and the details should give coaches a useful snapshot of who is arriving in better condition, who is still filling out, and which names will be worth watching once camp begins. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Made An Early Move For A Major QB Target
Florida States second and final Elite Camp before the recruiting dead period gave the staff one more chance to make an impression on a growing list of quarterbacks, and Chandler Dyson was among the most notable names on campus. The four-star prospect in the 2028 class recently visited Tallahassee and got a chance to throw in front of Mike Norvell and quarterbacks coach Austin Tucker, a timely look after Florida State had only just entered his recruitment.
Dyson already has a long list of suitors, with offers from programs such as LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, South Carolina and Syracuse, and he has also made recent stops at LSU, Ole Miss and South Carolina. For Florida State, the early appeal is obvious: landing in the conversation this soon matters, and the Seminoles will now try to turn that camp visit into a stronger foothold as the recruitment keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]