Florida State is heading into Week 7 with far bigger questions than just what happens against No. 3 Miami.
Yes, the Seminoles are walking into their toughest game of the season. And yes, they’ll be massive underdogs against a Hurricanes team that has looked virtually unstoppable on offense. But the more pressing issue is the one hanging over Mike Norvell’s future, and that conversation can’t really wait until after kickoff.
Week 7 has been circled for a while as the point when a decision about Norvell might finally come down. The problem is that the decision already feels overdue.
Florida State has now gone through two straight losing seasons, and a 3-3 start to the 2026 season did nothing to calm the storm. This was supposed to be a year where confidence returned, the players looked sharper, and the coaching improved from top to bottom. Instead, the Seminoles have looked like six different teams in six games, and there’s no clear answer for which version actually defines them.
There is a real difference in roster spending between Florida State and a contender like Miami, and that matters. But that explanation only goes so far.
The Seminoles have also taken ugly losses to teams like Louisville, who are spending the same amount. That’s where the excuses start to run thin.
At some point, the blame has to land somewhere other than the payroll. More expensive rosters would not erase the dysfunction Florida State has shown this season, and the results suggest deeper issues with the way the team has been built and coached.
Keeping Norvell would not be a small move, either. Some experts have placed the price tag at $68 million, which makes any change a major financial decision.
But Florida State can’t let the cost be the only thing driving the choice. Three straight losing seasons would carry real consequences for recruiting and fan viewership, and the Seminoles could be staring at a terrible position entering the 2027 season if Norvell stays after another rough year.
The rest of 2026 already looks like a lost cause. The 3-3 start drained the momentum from the season and exposed the remaining holes in the roster. A bowl push would require a major turnaround, and that does not look likely given the team’s inconsistency.
If Florida State does decide to keep Norvell, that move should come with real conditions attached. The school would need to invest more aggressively in the roster, because right now the Seminoles have been working in the bargain sections of the transfer portal. And the program would also need to hire someone who can keep building the NIL infrastructure already in place.
Just handing Norvell more money would not automatically fix the problem. Without a clearer plan for how to use those resources, there’s no reason to expect the results to change.
If Florida State believes the current roster should be better than it has been, then Norvell has to own that failure. But the administration also has to recognize the broader reality around the sport: there are more teams struggling to win with rosters below $30 million in power conferences than there are teams thriving with them.
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FSU Heads Into Miami With A Roster Problem That Keeps Growing
Florida State heads into its rivalry trip to Miami already dealing with a roster that has thinned out in a hurry. The Seminoles updated availability report ruled out linebacker Noah LaVallee and added several others to the unavailable list or the probable group, a reminder that the late-season grind has started to bite at a bad time for a team trying to keep its footing in a big-game setting.
The larger concern for FSU is not just the names missing, but the way the absences are stacking up across the lineup. The Seminoles will be without at least nine players for the game, including two potential starters working back from injuries, leaving the coaching staff to keep adjusting as kickoff approaches and the rivalry stage gets even less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State May Have Found A Freshman Center It Needs Right Away
Florida States unofficial preseason stop in Birmingham offered an early look at how quickly a young roster can start to come together, and true freshman center Marcis Ponder made a strong first impression against Auburn. In the Seminoles 82-71 win on Oct. 14, Ponder led the way with a double-double, finishing with 13 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks while giving the frontcourt the kind of presence every coach wants to see in October.
Luke Loucks came away encouraged by what he saw from Ponder, pointing to the freshmans physicality and the progress he has already made since arriving on campus. For a Florida State team searching for reliable size and rim protection, that kind of early showing matters, especially when it comes from a player who is just beginning his college career. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces A Brutal Test In This Miami Rivalry Matchup
A trip into rivalry week rarely needs any extra juice, but Miami has supplied plenty on the ground. The No. 3 Hurricanes have leaned hard into a rushing attack that averages 220 yards per game, and running back Mark Fletcher Jr. said the groups identity is built around physicality and the lessons it has taken from recent games. For Florida State, that is the kind of formula that can wear on a defense before the night is over.
Miami will try to carry that same edge into the matchup with the Seminoles, where establishing the run has a chance to shape everything else the Hurricanes want to do. If the ground game stays on schedule, Florida State could spend a long evening trying to slow a downhill offense that believes it has found its personality at exactly the right time. [Read more 🡒]