Florida State is heading into a much-needed weekend off with more questions than answers following the Week 1 loss. The secondary regressed in a major way against the SMU Mustangs, and to make matters worse, the Seminoles' offense struggled to consistently move the football when the team needed it the most. Plenty can be learned from the loss for Florida State, including an important lesson on choosing how to utilize NIL funds wisely.
A good portion of the Florida State roster is not living up to expectations or past production, and in the modern era of college football, the lack of production comes at a high price. The Seminoles have a total roster value of roughly $24 million, which would give them the 26th most expensive roster in college football.
There may be more room for the program to spend on the roster, but given how some of the top additions through the portal are currently playing, coach Mike Norvell should not be trusted with an increased budget. Florida State may not receive a quality return on the investment made in the following players based on the contrast between the production and the NIL valuation.
QB Ashton Daniels - $800,000
Quarterback is always going to be the most expensive position room, given what a good player can add to the team. Productive quarterbacks like Colton Joseph for Wisconsin can make up to $3 million a season, depending on a variety of factors. Florida State tried to save money in the quarterback market, and Ashton Daniels has not proven himself to be worth the smaller investment at the moment.
Daniels currently has 327 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception through two games with the Seminoles. The quarterback has added another dimension to the offense with his ability to run the football, with 101 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. The issue for Florida State, however, is that the production has not been nearly enough to offset some of the other areas the team has struggled in.
There are certainly plenty of excuses for Daniels between, the play of the offensive line and a lack of true depth at receiver, but execution on the field is everything for a quarterback. Daniels has completed 58% of his passes for an average of 6.5 yards per completion.
Florida State needs a quarterback who can confidently lead the team while looking strong in important spots, but Daniels has not been that person, with a record of 6-21 as a starter. The Seminoles need to live with how the funds were spent now, and Mike Norvell is likely regretting adding expensive depth to the quarterback position when the money could have been spent on a splash pickup.
RB Quintrevion Wisner - $564,000
Another position group that Florida State spent big on ahead of the 2026 season was running back, and one specific investment is currently on the bench. Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner signed a deal worth nearly $650,000 with Florida State that turned him into one of the most expensive running backs in the portal. The overpay for Wisner is a completely different issue, but the big problem is that Norvell did not need to invest that much into one position.
Wisner recorded four carries for 34 yards in Week 0 before hitting the bench for the entire Week 1 clash against SMU. Ousmane Kromah has established himself as a premier running back, and Samuel Singleton Jr. offers a different look out of the backfield. Wisner does not have a true path to the field in Tallahassee, which really makes the overpay a frustrating decision.
DL Jordan Sanders - $262,000
Florida State did not have the most exciting time in the transfer portal during the offseason due to the results on the field and the bleak future for Norvell. Limited additions through the portal means the manner in which the program spends the NIL funds becomes far more scrutinized. Texas State defensive lineman Jordan Sanders joined Florida State with hopes of competing for a true role within the team, but Sanders has been unable to make a true impact in 2026.
The defensive lineman was kept to 18 snaps despite an injury along the line to Darryll Desir ahead of the Week 1 game. There are currently seven defensive linemen ahead of Sanders in terms of snaps played through the first two games, and at nearly $300,000, Sanders is the fourth-most expensive defensive lineman on the team.
Sanders missed a good portion of the preseason practices due to an injury, but has received plenty of praise from the coaching staff for his performances behind the scenes.
OT Chimdia Nwaiwu - $226,000
The offensive line has been a complete wreck in 2026 for Florida State after losing a dozen players in the offseason. Rebuilding quickly can be tough, especially when players who are supposed to be part of the solution become part of the problem. Offensive tackle Chimdia Nwaiwu has been the worst player along the offensive line through two games, forcing Norvell to finally make a change.
The cards are already stacked against the Seminoles on offense, and the play of Nwaiwu has turned the line into an inoperable mess. Calls to have Nwaiwu benched flew around social media after the Week 0 win, and the offensive tackle hitting the bench against SMU confirms the investment has failed.
Florida State has a week to fully evaluate the roster in hopes of putting a far more complete product out on the field against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
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