Florida State football wrapped up a rollercoaster season with a 5-7 record, despite kicking things off with a thrilling win over Alabama. Expectations were sky-high, with many fans and analysts penciling the Seminoles in as College Football Playoff contenders. But losing seven of the last nine games quickly put a damper on those dreams.
Head coach Mike Norvell now finds himself under the microscope, as he's tasked with steering Florida State back to consistent success. The college football landscape is shifting, with unexpected teams like the Indiana Hoosiers capturing national titles and the Miami Hurricanes making a championship game appearance after a long hiatus.
Norvell is busy this offseason, diving into the transfer portal and high school recruiting to revamp the roster. This strategy has some fans on edge, as it means integrating a slew of new faces once again.
A key storyline for the Seminoles heading into the 2026 season is the quarterback competition. Former Stanford and Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels headlines the transfer class, marking the third consecutive offseason Florida State has sought a quarterback through the portal, following DJ Uiagalelei and Thomas Castellanos.
The battle for the starting spot is expected to be between redshirt senior Ashton Daniels and redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry. Meanwhile, JUCO quarterback Malachi Marshall will join the mix in the summer.
Analyst Josh Pate, on his College Football Show, pointed out that if FanDuel Sportsbook were to set odds on the quarterback race, Daniels would likely be the frontrunner. Many believe Norvell might lean toward the experienced Daniels over Sperry, despite Sperry’s potential as a long-term solution. With the pressure mounting on Norvell to deliver results in 2026, opting for the veteran presence of Daniels could be the strategic move to keep his coaching tenure alive.