Mike Norvell is heading into a season that feels like it could define his Florida State tenure, and he’s projecting confidence on the surface. He’s praised the returning players, the newcomers and the lessons he believes the Seminoles took from the last two difficult seasons.
But the way he’s running the program tells a different story.
Florida State used to be one of the most open programs in the country for media access. For the first five seasons of Norvell’s time in Tallahassee, writers covering the team could watch most spring and preseason practices in full, and they were allowed to see three complete practices per week. That changed before the 2025 season, when FSU moved into the lower tier of programs when it comes to practice viewing access.
That decision was questionable enough on its own. The media was there during Norvell’s rebuild, through the 13-0 season and through the 2-10 2024 season, so there’s no real evidence that access had anything to do with what happened on the field.
Now Norvell has gone even further. On Monday, he announced that FSU will not release any depth charts in 2026.
Some schools wait until the first game to reveal that information, trying to keep opponents guessing. But completely refusing to release depth charts is still well outside the norm.
Norvell framed the move as something meant to help the players, not as a response to outside scrutiny.
“Right now, guys know where they are. Every player wants more.
That’s what it should be,” he said. “You should want to be the starter.
You should want to be the guy that plays the most plays. … But also, on the flip side of it, if we come out with a depth chart today that says, well, this is what it looks like.
Throughout the course of the week, there’s ups, downs, whatever that might be. Somebody puts themselves in position, well, the best players are going to play.
“Just, go have a great week. Whatever personnel groupings, if you’re a starter in, then you’re a starter. If you’re not, then continue to work and get better and put yourself in that position.”
Still, it’s hard to buy that explanation at face value. The players already have a sense of the depth chart from being in preseason camp, even if that information isn’t being shared publicly anymore.
Florida State has also trimmed back another piece of access. Inside Seminole Football will be a studio show this season instead of an in-person event, and Monday’s first edition came with an audio delay.
The contrast inside Tallahassee is striking. Luke Loucks, now in his second year as men’s basketball coach, has become the more media-friendly face in town, offering practice access almost whenever requested and communicating openly.
Norvell once proved that transparency could work. Florida State’s return to relevance was built, at least in part, on openness and the idea that restricting access was not a required edge. That approach lined up with the 19-game winning streak that ran through the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Now, with pressure rising, the program has moved in the opposite direction. Norvell appears to be shrinking the window of information as much as he can, as if every little bit of secrecy might count as an advantage.
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Florida State added a fresh corporate wrinkle to one of college footballs most watched rivalries this week, announcing Progressive Insurance as the presenting sponsor of the Florida State-Miami game. The deal was unveiled in a press release Aug. 27, just before the Seminoles open the season, and it comes with more than a simple title change for a marquee matchup that already carries plenty of baggage and attention.
Progressives logo will also be painted on the 25-yard line at Bobby Bowden Field for every home game, with additional in-stadium signage and activations planned throughout the year. For fans who care about the look and feel of a Saturday in Tallahassee, it is another sign of how much the game-day experience continues to evolve, especially when one of the sports biggest annual rivalries is involved. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Freshman Is Pushing For An Early Role Fans Will Notice
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Lopez has drawn praise for his work ethic, willingness to learn and ability to track down contested catches, with teammates and coaches noticing the way he carries himself. His background in basketball has also helped shape his football skill set, giving him another layer of versatility as he pushes to carve out a role fans will likely start noticing sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Gets A Huge Return As One Opener Concern Lingers
Florida State is getting a major boost back at receiver, with Duce Robinson choosing to return for the 2026 season after a 1,000-yard campaign in 2025 following his transfer from Southern Cal. Robinson said he knows there are parts of his game he can sharpen, and he has been working with Mike Norvell and Tim Harris Jr. to keep building on what became a breakout year in Tallahassee.
The bigger immediate concern now sits on the other side of the depth chart, where Norvell offered a less certain injury picture for the upcoming opener. He said some players could end up being game-time decisions, including true freshman Devin Carter, leaving Florida State with at least one late-week question even as it celebrates Robinson's return. [Read more 🡒]