Florida State is back home, back at the podium and trying to stop the slide.
Mike Norvell met with reporters Wednesday as the Seminoles opened their Week 4 prep for Central Arkansas, with FSU trying to shake off consecutive losses to SMU and Alabama. The next chance to reset comes Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium, where kickoff is set for 3 p.m. in a sold-out building.
Norvell is expected to dig into the issues from the first three games, along with any injury updates and the key fixes Florida State needs as it turns the page. The Seminoles enter the week at 1-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play after the road loss at Alabama.
The schedule now gives FSU a chance to steady itself before October brings a much tougher stretch. After Central Arkansas, Florida State stays home for Virginia on Oct. 3, then heads to Louisville on Oct. 9 and Miami on Oct. 17 before a bye on Oct.
- Clemson comes to Tallahassee on Oct.
Florida State’s 2026 schedule opened with a 27-24 loss to SMU on Sept. 7, followed by the bye week, then the 50-36 defeat at Alabama on Sept. 19. The Seminoles now look to get back on track against Central Arkansas before the heart of the schedule arrives.
Here’s the rest of the slate:
Sept. 26: vs. Central Arkansas, 3 p.m.
Oct. 3: vs. Virginia, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2, ACC Network)
Oct. 9: at Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN, Friday)
Oct. 17: at Miami, TBD
Oct. 24: Bye
Oct. 31: vs. Clemson, TBD
Nov. 7: at Boston College, TBD
Nov. 13: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (ESPN, Friday)
Nov. 21: vs. NC State, TBD
Nov. 27: vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m. (ABC, Friday)
In Other News...
Florida States Passing Struggles Put One Norvell Staff Decision Under Fire
Florida States passing game has become one of the more frustrating parts of an uneven season, and the discussion around it has started to focus as much on coaching structure as on quarterback play. The Seminoles entered the year with Austin Tucker handling the quarterbacks room, a notable setup for a former wide receiver who had not previously coached the position, and the production has not taken a step forward.
With the offense ranking 65th in the FBS and Ashton Daniels sitting at four touchdown passes and four interceptions, the scrutiny around that decision has only grown. Inside the staff, there are other options with more direct quarterback experience, including Tom Herman and Brady White, which makes the current arrangement look even more unusual as Florida State searches for answers through the air. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Could Finally Get Answer On Its Backup QB Battle
Florida State has spent the first three games of the 2026 season looking competitive, but the more intriguing development may be happening behind the starter. Ashton Daniels has handled every snap in the most recent game, while the Seminoles have kept the backup quarterback picture open between Malachi Marshall and Kevin Sperry. Marshall has been taking second-team reps in pregame, a sign that the staff is at least sorting out the depth chart while the games still matter.
Central Arkansas arrives on the schedule Sept. 26, and that matchup could finally give the Seminoles a chance to see what they have behind Daniels. If Florida State does turn to its backups, it would offer a real evaluation point in a battle that has been mostly fought in practice and pregame work so far. For a team that has stayed competitive early, the next question is less about the starter and more about who is ready if the Seminoles need the next man up. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A New Reason To Watch Ta'Shawn Poole Closely
Ta'Shawn Poole turned in one of the more eye-catching nights on a Georgia high school field this fall, and it came at a good time for a player Florida State will want to keep tabs on. In Howards 49-43 regional win over Baldwin, Poole set a Georgia state record with six touchdown catches while piling up 245 receiving yards, a performance that put his name squarely on the radar.
The outburst also came with some grit behind it, because Howard was coming off losses to Valdosta and Perry before finally breaking through. Poole also chipped in seven tackles and a tackle for loss, underscoring how much he affects the game on both sides of the ball, and he and his teammates made clear afterward that the lesson was about learning to keep fighting until the end. [Read more 🡒]