Florida State handled Central Arkansas on Saturday, but the 34-7 final didn’t do much to calm anything down around the program.
That’s the problem when a school like FSU lines up against an FCS opponent: those games are supposed to be the easy breathers, the kind where the starters are out before the third quarter gets interesting and the only real suspense is how quickly the scoreboard gets rolling. Instead, the Seminoles came away with a result that looked comfortable on paper and still raised eyebrows everywhere else.
Central Arkansas spent more than 39 minutes with the ball and finished with only two fewer first downs than Florida State, 24-22. The Bears also ran 25 more plays, 73-48.
FSU’s offense, to its credit, was efficient and explosive, averaging 8.7 yards per play. The defense, meanwhile, allowed 3.4 yards per play.
But the overall picture still wasn’t the kind of dominant showing that tends to come with this sort of matchup.
Central Arkansas didn’t exactly go quietly, either. Its first two drives each lasted seven plays, and Florida State’s defense managed only one three-and-out, which came in the middle of the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Seminole offense got moving immediately, scoring on its first four drives to build a 24-0 lead and finding the end zone on six of its first seven possessions.
Even so, the defense’s inability to force short drives mattered. Florida State ended up with just eight true possessions before the ninth was basically a kneel-down to run out the clock.
The bigger concern is what all of this says about the weeks ahead. Through four games, there hasn’t been much from this Florida State team - even against lesser opponents - that suggests it’s ready for what’s coming next.
That stretch includes a home game against Virginia, which played in the ACC championship game last season, a short-rest matchup with Louisville, a road rivalry game against Miami, and a meeting with Clemson, a team that has shown signs of life over the last few weeks just as Dabo Swinney had started to get counted out.
At this point, it would be a surprise if Norvell is still in charge when the Seminoles head to Boston College on Nov. 7.
And that’s where the concern really lands: when a win over an FCS team doesn’t need a grain of salt to explain away the performance, things are already in a rough place.
In Other News...
Mike Norvell Just Raised New Questions About FSUs Missing Players
After Florida States win over Central Arkansas, Mike Norvell did not leave much doubt that the Seminoles are juggling more than just the usual injury concerns as they turn toward Virginia. He said some players were held out for accountability reasons, while others are dealing with injuries that could shape who is available this weekend, a reminder that the final stretch of September is already bringing roster management into focus.
The encouraging part for Florida State is that Norvell expects the team to be close to full strength, but the real picture will not come into view until the official availability report drops Wednesday. For a Seminoles team trying to keep momentum after the win, the next question is not just who is healthy, but which absences were about discipline, and whether those situations linger into a conference matchup that will demand a cleaner full-strength effort. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A Troubling Ashlynd Barker Problem
Florida States secondary has been leaning on Ashlynd Barker in a way that says as much about the Seminoles depth chart as it does about the safety himself. Safeties coach Evan Cooper confirmed Barker has been playing with a broken bone in his forearm, and the fact that he has stayed on the field speaks to both his toughness and the strain FSU has been under in the back end.
The bigger issue is what it says about the choices Florida State has had to make under Mike Norvell. With injuries piling up in the secondary and not enough proven options behind him, Barkers situation has become a flashing warning light for a roster that has too little margin for error. It is the kind of setup that can keep helping in the short term while raising bigger questions about how sustainable it really is. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Gets A Crucial Chance To Answer Last Years Collapse
Florida State heads into Week 5 at 2-2, and the margin for error is already feeling thin around Tallahassee. After a rocky start and plenty of scrutiny on Mike Norvells future, the Seminoles now get a chance against Virginia to steady the season and show they can still move themselves back into the ACC race.
Virginia comes in with only one loss, which only sharpens the challenge for Florida State. For a team that has dealt with concerns about player development and portal activity, this is more than just another conference game - it is a chance to answer the disappointment of last years collapse with something a little more convincing. [Read more 🡒]