A month into Florida State’s season, the numbers tell a pretty clear story: the Seminoles have had some fight on offense, but the defense has been hit hard enough to drag the whole operation down.
FSU is 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the ACC, with the lone win coming against New Mexico State, 34-17. Since then, the Seminoles dropped a 27-24 game to SMU and fell 50-36 at Alabama. The mixed results have left plenty of uncertainty around the program, and the statistical picture matches that uneasy start.
One place Florida State has found some traction is on the ground. The Seminoles are averaging 170 rushing yards per game, and they just put up 94 rushing yards against Alabama - the most the Crimson Tide have allowed in a game this season. Running the ball has been a clear emphasis, and so far it has been one of the few consistent positives.
The passing game, though, has not been nearly as clean. Ashton Daniels ranks last among qualified quarterbacks in average time to throw. He has delivered some explosive plays, but too many snaps have ended with the ball in his hands too long.
Defensively, the numbers are even rougher. Florida State has given up 1,471 yards in three games, with more than 1,000 of those coming in the last two contests against SMU and Alabama. The Seminoles are allowing 490.3 yards per game, and opponents have been converting on third down at an ugly rate, going 22-for-43 for 51%.
The schedule now moves forward with Central Arkansas on Sept. 26, followed by Virginia on Oct. 3.
After that comes a run through Louisville, Miami, Clemson, Boston College, Pittsburgh and NC State before the regular season ends against Florida on Nov. 27.
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 🡒]