By Rowan Fisher-ShottonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Florida State Seminoles enter the final week of the regular season at 5-6, needing a win against rival Florida to secure bowl eligibility.
Their latest defeat, a 21-11 loss at NC State, highlighted recurring mistakes, including two muffed punts in the fourth quarter.
Over the past two college football seasons, FSU has dropped 13 ACC games, a stark contrast to the heights of 2023 when the team finished 13-0 and won the ACC title.
"No, we have not lived up to expectations," coach Mike Norvell said after the loss to NC State. "We're a fully capable football team. That's not good enough. And it's not been good enough for the six losses that we have."
Despite a sharp decline from recent seasons, Florida State is expected to keep coach Mike Norvell for the 2026 season, according to Yahoo Sports.
Norvell has pledged to make big changes in player evaluation and the recruiting department going forward.
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Florida State's 2023 season unraveled when quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending leg injury late in November.
Despite beating Florida and Louisville to close out the year, the College Football Playoff committee excluded the Seminoles from the four-team playoff.
The fallout has been immediate, as FSU collapsed to 2-10 in 2024, one of the worst campaigns in school history, and is now on the verge of finishing this season with another losing record.
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Norvell, who previously led Memphis to a Cotton Bowl appearance in 2019, has faced mounting pressure in Tallahassee.
After back-to-back double-digit win seasons in 2022 and 2023, Norvell’s career record at FSU stands at 38-33.
FSU’s four-game losing streak in October dropped the team to 3-4 and fueled calls for Norvell’s dismissal.
Saturday’s miscues at NC State only intensified the pressure.
One obstacle to firing Norvell this year is his contract, extended in 2023 through 2031, which carries a hefty buyout of more than $58 million if dismissed before season’s end.
Despite fan outcry and public calls for Norvell’s job, the Seminoles are choosing patience, betting he can turn things around.
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