Mike Norvell’s hold on the Florida State job already feels shaky, and Saturday night didn’t do much to calm anybody in Tallahassee.
Florida State opened the season with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State at Doak Campbell Stadium, but the result came with plenty of warning signs. The Seminoles are 1-0, sure, yet the performance did little to ease the frustration that has built around a program coming off back-to-back losing seasons and four losses in six years under Norvell.
The game itself left a messy impression. New Mexico State, a middling Group of Six opponent, stayed close enough that Florida State never fully put it away. Even a third-quarter trick-play touchdown that slipped through the hands of TK King could have changed the tone, but the Seminoles still struggled to separate.
A rebuilt offensive line with five new starters had trouble keeping pressure off quarterback Ashton Daniels. Daniels also revived concerns about his ball security with an ugly interception, and while the offense had moments of efficiency, he held the ball too long, didn’t offer much as a downfield passer, and the red-zone play-calling again raised questions that lingered from last season.
Defensively, the issues were just as obvious. Tony White still hasn’t solved the communication problems in the secondary, and Ja’Bril Rawls had a rough night that included giving up a deep touchdown and drawing a bad unnecessary roughness penalty. The defensive line, which Florida State people had talked up all summer, didn’t do enough to bother New Mexico State quarterback Trey Hedden.
That front was also expensive in an offseason where the budget was tight. The Desir twins, Darryll and Mandrell, entered the portal before returning for a significant payday, but neither sophomore looked like a difference-maker Saturday night.
White’s spot-drop zone also left too many easy throws underneath, and Florida State rotated through enough defensive backs to create even more coverage busts. New Mexico State finished with 272 passing yards and converted 10 of 17 third downs.
Hedden took advantage, and the concern only grows when the schedule turns sharper. SMU’s Kevin Jennings and Alabama’s former five-star Keelon Russell could be even harder for this defense to handle.
That’s what makes the next two weeks so important. If Florida State comes out looking this disjointed against SMU in Week 1 or Alabama in Week 3, the discussion around Norvell could turn fast. With a 7-17 record over the last two seasons, a bad start built on an ugly showing against a bottom-half G6 team would leave little argument for patience.
The expectation around Tallahassee has been that October - with Louisville, Miami, and Clemson lined up in conference play - would be the stretch that decides Norvell’s fate. But after what unfolded in Week 0, there’s a real chance the timeline gets moved up.
In Other News...
Florida State Fans Now Face A Troubling Devin Carter Injury Question
Devin Carter has become the latest Florida State injury storyline to watch, and this one carries more uncertainty than the usual day-to-day practice update. A public Instagram post from his father, Dexter Carter, said the wide receiver has been dealing with fractures to four lumbar transverse processes, and it painted a picture of a player pushing through significant pain while still trying to stay involved. For a Seminoles offense that values depth and continuity, any extended absence at receiver is worth monitoring closely.
Mike Norvell confirmed Carter is currently unavailable because of injury, but stopped short of adding much detail beyond that. The public account has left fans with more questions than answers, especially after the post said the injury worsened when Carter was hit while wearing a no-contact jersey. For now, Florida State is left waiting on the next update, and Carters timeline remains one of the more unsettling unknowns around the program. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Fans Heading To Doak Face A Game Day Traffic Squeeze
Florida States 2026 football opener at Doak Campbell Stadium will arrive with more than the usual first-game buzz, as fans heading to the final Saturday in August will also have to navigate a tightened traffic plan around campus. The Tallahassee Police Department and Florida State University have already laid out parking guidance, recommended routes and adjusted traffic flow for the day, with the SeminoleSafe App set up as a real-time resource for updates before and after kickoff.
The added wrinkle is the calendar, with Florida A&M also scheduled to play at home on the same day, a setup that could stack traffic across the city and make the approach to Doak more crowded than usual. For Seminole fans, that means leaving extra time, paying close attention to the universitys guidance and expecting a busier-than-normal game day even before the seasons first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Daniels Rumor Puts Florida State's Week 0 Commitment In Focus
As Florida State turns the page toward its season opener, the quarterback picture has settled in a way that leaves little room for interpretation. Ashton Daniels was named the starter in the spring and held that spot through fall camp, and the Seminoles official depth chart made it clear he is still in line to open the year under center.
Still, the chatter around Daniels surfaced enough for David Pollack to ask about it publicly, which says something about how closely people are watching the Seminoles first real decision point of the season. For Florida State, the important part is that the rumor never turned into a camp battle, and the Week 0 commitment appears to be exactly what the staff said it was all along. [Read more 🡒]