Florida State’s trip to Alabama ended with a 50-36 loss, three Ashton Daniels interceptions, and plenty of reasons to question how the Seminoles handled the second half. Mike Norvell, though, isn’t budging on his quarterback.
After the loss at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Norvell kept leaning into Daniels’ upside, pointing to the quarterback’s confidence, his growth, and the fact that he has already thrown three touchdown passes against ranked teams this season. Daniels finished the game with 377 passing yards and accounted for four touchdowns, but the three turnovers loomed large in a game Florida State never fully controlled.
“Yeah, the interceptions had nothing to do with his confidence,” said Norvell. “He has one throw as I said there on Monday, is going to be the tip pass.
I mean the guy made a great play on a scramble trying to throw it over the top and then, the last drive, try to drop his arm angle and it just missed a throw. We want to make sure we're making good decisions.
That's where I think when I watch him, in the decisions that he's made, he's continuing to grow and he's got a lot of confidence. He wants to be better.
When you have a guy that has shown the capabilities to play at a very, very high level and the constant push for more, you know you got the right kind of guy.”
Florida State came into Tuscaloosa 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the ACC, and the loss to the top ten-ranked Crimson Tide exposed the same issues that kept the Seminoles from staying in the fight late. The turnovers were costly, and the defense faded in the second half.
Still, Norvell’s stance has not changed, even with the criticism that Daniels’ three interceptions were poor decisions into tight coverage and wasted chances to put points on the board. Daniels has thrown just three touchdown passes in his last two games against ranked opponents, SMU and Alabama, a stretch that leaves him tied for ninth in the ACC.
The bigger picture around the quarterback situation has only sharpened the debate. Norvell named Daniels his starter after just 15 practices in the spring, before Malachi Marshall arrived on campus and could push for a real quarterback battle. For now, Norvell is staying with Daniels.
That puts Florida State in an interesting spot heading into Saturday’s game against Central Arkansas, Norvell’s alma mater. The Seminoles are heavy -45.5-point favorites against the Bears, who are 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the UAC.
On paper, this is the kind of game Florida State should handle. But it also comes with the usual danger of a trap game, especially with Virginia coming to Tallahassee the following week. If the Seminoles come out flat, they could walk away with the kind of performance that looks comfortable on the scoreboard but does little to prove they are moving forward.
Against Central Arkansas, Daniels and Florida State’s defense will need to be sharp from the start. Anything less, and the same questions from the Alabama loss will be waiting again.
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FSUs Coaching Future May Come Down To One Brutal Money Reality
Florida States football future is no longer just about wins and losses, because any serious conversation about Mike Norvell now runs straight into the money. The Seminoles have poured heavily into facilities and support around the program, and that commitment has made the coaching seat feel even more expensive to touch. Firing Norvell would not be a simple reset, but a major financial decision layered on top of the pressure that comes with trying to keep pace in a demanding era.
Jimbo Fishers name naturally surfaces in that kind of talk because of his history in Tallahassee and the strange economics attached to his situation at Texas A&M. The idea is tempting in a nostalgic, budget-conscious sort of way, but it also underscores how tightly Florida States next move could be tied to buyout math as much as football logic. For a program trying to chart its next step, the real issue may be whether it can afford a change before it can even decide what kind of change it wants. [Read more 🡒]
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ESPNs Kyle Bonagura has already penciled Florida State into the Frisco Bowl against Memphis, which would add an extra layer of intrigue because the Tigers were once coached by Mike Norvell. Memphis is off to a 3-1 start under first-year coach Charles Huff and remains a program with a recent habit of reaching the postseason, so if that projection holds, it would give Seminoles fans a familiar name on the other sideline in a game with a bit more personal texture than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Ceiling May Hinge On One Unresolved Roster Decision
Florida State is heading into the new NCAA season with a very different look, and Luke Loucks enters year two still trying to build on an 18-15 debut. The projected starting five features Anthony Robinson II, Kam Taylor, Shon Abaev, Sebastian Rancik and Marcis Ponder, a group that gives the Seminoles size, athleticism and a fresh base to work from after a mostly new roster overhaul.
The roster picture is already promising on paper because the bench should also bring real depth, with Cooper Schwieger and AJ Swinton among the notable names in the mix. But the biggest swing factor is still unresolved: Alex Steens eligibility remains pending, and for a team trying to raise its ceiling quickly, that one decision could shape how far this group can go. [Read more 🡒]