Florida State opens its 2026 season with plenty of attention on Mike Norvell and even more pressure on the Seminoles as they get set to host New Mexico State.
Norvell enters his eighth season at FSU with a 38-34 record, a number that reflects just how dramatic the ride has been. The program surged to a 13-0 start in 2023, then cratered into a historically bad 2-10 season before finishing 5-7 last year.
Now Norvell is back in charge of the play-calling, with Ashton Daniels taking over at quarterback and looking to distribute the ball to Duce Robinson and Micahi Danzy. Daniels started the final four games at Auburn in 2025 after spending three seasons at Stanford.
The Seminoles are expected to lean on their defense this season, and that unit gets an early assignment against a New Mexico State offense trying to find its footing under Tony Sanchez. The Aggies went 4-8 in Sanchez’s second season, and Furman transfer Trey Hedden is set to start at quarterback. New Mexico State’s offense finished 11th out of 12 Conference USA teams in scoring last season.
FSU and New Mexico State meet on Saturday in Week 0 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will air on the CW, with streaming available through Fubo and the ESPN app with a subscription to the Unlimited plan at $31.99 per month.
Florida State is a heavy favorite, and for good reason. New Mexico State did force 24 turnovers in 2025, but it may not have the firepower to stay with Robinson and Danzy even if Daniels and his receivers need a little time to settle in.
The Aggies are built to throw, and they’ll likely be chasing the game, but that approach helped produce an FBS-worst 77.2 rushing yards per game last season. Since Jerry Kill departed after 2023, New Mexico State has also struggled badly against Power 4 opponents, falling 80-12 combined to Tennessee and Texas A&M over the last two seasons.
In Other News...
FSU Opens With One Offensive Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Florida State enters the season carrying the weight of a rough two-year stretch, and the offense is already drawing the kind of scrutiny that comes with a program trying to get back on its feet. Mike Norvell is heading into his seventh year as head coach and has taken back playcalling duties after Gus Malzahns retirement, a move that adds another layer of pressure to a team that has gone 7-17 over the last two seasons and still has not won a road game in that span.
The concern starts with the passing game, where Ashton Daniels confidence is one of the early questions, but it stretches beyond the quarterback room. A shaky pass rush and a roster leaning on inexperienced players make it hard to know how quickly this group can settle in, and the margin for error feels slim for a team trying to change its recent trend. For now, the Seminoles are left hoping the new old playcaller can steady an offense that cannot afford another slow start. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State May Have Fixed A Weakness That Cost Them Last Year
Florida State spent enough of last season dealing with shaky special teams that even small gains there could matter in a big way, and the early signs point to a much steadier operation this fall. The Seminoles brought in kicker Gabe Panikowski from Idaho State and punter Daniel Hughes from New Mexico, giving the staff a pair of newcomers with track records that suggest the floor should be higher this year.
Panikowski arrived with a reputation for accuracy and has carried that over into fall camp, while Hughes comes in after averaging 45.4 yards per punt last season and earning semifinalist recognition for the Ray Guy Award. If both settle in the way Florida State hopes, special teams could shift from a liability into a quiet strength, which is exactly the sort of change that can swing close games over the course of a season. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Added A Proven Backfield Piece Fans Should Notice
Florida State has made another move to bolster its backfield, adding transfer running back Quintrevion Wisner from Texas. Wisner brings a versatile style and a proven track record, giving the Seminoles another experienced option as they continue to shape one of the more intriguing running back groups on the roster.
Wisner is expected to be available for the season opener against New Mexico State, which gives Florida State a chance to see how he fits right away. He joins a deep rotation that already includes Ousmane Kromah and Sam Singleton Jr., and the early challenge will be figuring out how all three are used once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]