Florida State may have found the exact kind of game that invites a quarterback shakeup.
After Ashton Daniels put up big numbers against No. 10 Alabama - 377 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns - the Seminoles still walked away with a 50-36 loss, and the reason was sitting right there in the box score: three interceptions. Daniels now has four touchdown passes and four interceptions on the season, and that even split has Florida State looking for a cleaner answer at the position.
The hot-and-cold nature of Daniels’ season has been obvious. Against Alabama, he helped Florida State race out to a 21-6 lead in the second quarter and looked like the kind of quarterback who could keep the Seminoles rolling. But the turnovers flipped the script, and those missed chances kept Florida State from matching the Crimson Tide score for score.
That’s why this week stands out. Florida State is preparing to host Central Arkansas, an FCS opponent and Mike Norvell’s alma mater, and the matchup feels like the kind of spot where Norvell can give his backups meaningful snaps while also seeing whether a change behind center might spark the passing game.
Norvell made clear on Monday that he was pleased with Daniels’ effort against Alabama. In his weekly press conference, he said:
“You look at the interceptions. I mean, you go back and the first pick, I mean it's got to be probably a touchdown, said Norvell.
“The nickel guy picked the ball. Ashton read it so well.
I mean, it's what we thought might happen, but crap happens sometimes, right? But there's not a whole lot of quarterbacks in the history of college football that have gone into that stadium and played the way he played.
And I was really proud of him for that.”
Still, the numbers are hard to ignore. Daniels hasn’t topped 60 percent completion since Week 1 against New Mexico State, when he completed 63 percent of his throws.
He finished at 58.6 percent against Alabama. Over his collegiate career, he has thrown 31 touchdown passes and 26 interceptions.
If Norvell decides to make a move, the question becomes who gets the first crack. Malachi Marshall is the name that jumps off the page.
The JUCO Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, Marshall has the kind of footwork, throwing mechanics, and quick release that make people wonder why he didn’t get a shot sooner. He missed spring practice and didn’t get to campus until summer, but he still turned heads in fall camp.
Kevin Sperry offers familiarity with Norvell’s offense, though he hasn’t produced enough in game action to win the job outright. In his Florida State career, he has played in three games and completed 12 of 17 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
Dean Denobile brings the most proven college production. He was first-team All-Patriot League after throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns at Lafayette last season, and he has 35 career starts along with 6,596 passing yards and 53 touchdowns in three seasons there.
Marshall and Denobile could be a coin flip, but Marshall gets the nod here because of his athleticism and upside. Either way, Florida State needs to find out what it has in the backups before the season forces the issue. One injury - or too many interceptions - can change everything in a hurry.
And with the Seminoles’ passing game ranked 82nd in the FBS in touchdown passes and 11th in the 16-team ACC, this feels like as good a week as any to treat the Central Arkansas game like a controlled test run. If Norvell wants to make a quarterback switch and lean into the right play calls, the chance to get a spark is sitting right in front of him.
In Other News...
Florida States Passing Struggles Put One Norvell Staff Decision Under Fire
Florida States passing game has become one of the more frustrating parts of an uneven season, and the discussion around it has started to focus as much on coaching structure as on quarterback play. The Seminoles entered the year with Austin Tucker handling the quarterbacks room, a notable setup for a former wide receiver who had not previously coached the position, and the production has not taken a step forward.
With the offense ranking 65th in the FBS and Ashton Daniels sitting at four touchdown passes and four interceptions, the scrutiny around that decision has only grown. Inside the staff, there are other options with more direct quarterback experience, including Tom Herman and Brady White, which makes the current arrangement look even more unusual as Florida State searches for answers through the air. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Could Finally Get Answer On Its Backup QB Battle
Florida State has spent the first three games of the 2026 season looking competitive, but the more intriguing development may be happening behind the starter. Ashton Daniels has handled every snap in the most recent game, while the Seminoles have kept the backup quarterback picture open between Malachi Marshall and Kevin Sperry. Marshall has been taking second-team reps in pregame, a sign that the staff is at least sorting out the depth chart while the games still matter.
Central Arkansas arrives on the schedule Sept. 26, and that matchup could finally give the Seminoles a chance to see what they have behind Daniels. If Florida State does turn to its backups, it would offer a real evaluation point in a battle that has been mostly fought in practice and pregame work so far. For a team that has stayed competitive early, the next question is less about the starter and more about who is ready if the Seminoles need the next man up. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A New Reason To Watch Ta'Shawn Poole Closely
Ta'Shawn Poole turned in one of the more eye-catching nights on a Georgia high school field this fall, and it came at a good time for a player Florida State will want to keep tabs on. In Howards 49-43 regional win over Baldwin, Poole set a Georgia state record with six touchdown catches while piling up 245 receiving yards, a performance that put his name squarely on the radar.
The outburst also came with some grit behind it, because Howard was coming off losses to Valdosta and Perry before finally breaking through. Poole also chipped in seven tackles and a tackle for loss, underscoring how much he affects the game on both sides of the ball, and he and his teammates made clear afterward that the lesson was about learning to keep fighting until the end. [Read more 🡒]