FSU football: Why eight wins should be expectation in 2022
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football heads into a pivotal 2022 season with Mike Norvell and the coaching staff. The Noles got off to an 0-4 start last season but finished the final eight-game stretch with a 5-3 record to finish 5-7.
It was the fourth consecutive losing season under three different head coaches. Despite the losing record and an unforgivable loss against Jacksonville state, there was progress on the field although it didn’t show up much in the overall record.
Mike Norvell had to tap into the transfer portal heavily to be competitive on the field instead of relying on underdeveloped players that were not physically ready to play.
The days of getting their doors blown off by 30 points were a thing of the past, and FSU arguably should have or could have won four of the five games they lost.
They played the equivalent of nearly four games without starting QB Jordan Travis. Any team that has to play without their starting quarterback will experience some drop-off. It wasn’t an easy schedule, but the defense played well enough to finish the first four games 2-2.
The team hit its stride and began to form an identity after the loss against Louisville. I said before the 2021 season that the team’s starting 22 was good enough to win 6-7 games if they could avoid injuries at key positions.
Of course, injuries to Travis and along the offensive line coupled with a relatively poor passing attack contributed to another losing season. However, Mike Norvell has continued to churn the roster, raising the floor regarding talent level.
That, among other reasons, is why the expectation of eight wins isn’t far-fetched. Let’s get into it.