Florida State opens the season with a matchup that should tell us a little something about where this team really stands, even if it won’t answer every question hanging over Tallahassee.
The Seminoles get New Mexico State in Week 0 on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST on the CW Network in Doak Campbell Stadium, and the expectation is pretty straightforward: Florida State ought to handle this one. New Mexico State is coming off a 4-8 season and, even with some FCS help added through the transfer portal, is still projected to be among the weakest teams in Conference USA.
That said, this game is less about the opponent and more about what Florida State shows internally. The program is 7-17 over its last two seasons and has not won a road game in that span, and Mike Norvell enters his seventh year in Tallahassee with plenty of pressure attached. The concern starts with the offense, where Norvell is back to calling plays after Gus Malzahn handled that role last year before his surprise retirement in February.
There’s skepticism around the direction of the unit, and it begins with quarterback Ashton Daniels. He’s been a divisive player, though some recent buzz has been positive, including from Brooks Austin.
Still, confidence is the issue. Daniels has even self-diagnosed that as a problem, and Florida State needs him to look steady in the pocket and handle the easy throws.
Nobody is asking him to throw for 300 yards every week, but the Seminoles do need a clean start. His season high is 11 passing touchdowns, and while Stanford wasn’t a strong team, he was still throwing to future NFL players like Elic Ayomanor and Sam Roush.
A rough opener - something like 11/21 for 135 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception - could hit his confidence hard. Even a solid outing, such as 16/23 for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks, would still have to carry over into the Labor Day game against SMU.
For this offense, Daniels’ confidence may end up being the season’s biggest swing point.
Florida State also has major questions on defense, especially up front. The pass rush came and went last year, and while the Seminoles finished with 31 sacks, a lot of that production came from coverage sacks rather than consistent pressure. Opposing quarterbacks often had more than three seconds per dropback.
To try to address that, Florida State brought in Rylan Kennedy from Texas A&M and Jalen Anderson from the JUCO ranks. Kennedy is a career backup who posted 5.5 sacks in 37 games, while Anderson arrives as one of the top EDGE rushers from junior college.
Still, a lot of the burden will fall on the defensive line again, with Mandrell and Daryl Desir, Daniel Lyons, and Deamontae Diggs all needing to step up. The depth behind them is thin enough that even one or two injuries could leave this group as one of the ACC’s weakest fronts.
The offense, at least on paper, posted big numbers last season, averaging 472 yards per game. But that figure drops sharply to 416 if you remove the blowouts against Kent State and East Texas A&M. That’s the difference between being sixth in the nation and 32nd, and the Seminoles also had real problems with turnovers and failed fourth-down tries.
So yes, Florida State may move the ball and score in bunches in this opener. But the real question is whether anything from Saturday carries into the rest of the season. The Seminoles should be too much for New Mexico State, and if they don’t win by at least four scores, that will raise serious concerns fast.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Florida State Gets A Huge Chance With Elite Basketball Target
Florida State footballs season opener against New Mexico State will do more than kick off a new year on the field. The program is using the moment as a recruiting showcase, with the Seminoles set to welcome several high-level basketball prospects to Tallahassee while plenty of attention is already on campus. It is the kind of crossover weekend programs love, giving the staff a chance to sell the full Florida State experience in front of players who could shape the future of another sport.
Headlining the group is 5-star guard Cayden Daughtry, the No. 3 player nationally in the Class of 2027, and he will be making Florida State his first official visit. The Seminoles will also host 4-star forward Moussa Kamissoko and 4-star guard Jarvis Hayes Jr., adding even more talent to a list that makes this an important few days for the mens basketball program. For Florida State, the opportunity is not just to impress one elite target, but to put its name in the conversation early with several prospects who matter. [Read more 🡒]