Florida State entered Week 6 with plenty of confidence after a strong win over Virginia the week prior, but all of the momentum the team had built was wiped away against Louisville. The Cardinals dominantly crush the Seminoles and quickly took the team back to square one.
Week 5 originally looked like a turning point for Florida State, after posting ten sacks and watching quarterback Ashton Daniels make program history with five rushing touchdowns. However, Florida State looked like the team that lost to SMU and Alabama all over again despite facing an injury-riddled Louisville team. The loss brings on plenty of questions, and time is running out for the Seminoles to find answers.
1. Would it be worth it to keep coach Mike Norvell around until the end of the 2026 season?
Now that the loss to Louisville has been finalized, Florida State has an important decision to make regarding the future of coach Mike Norvell. The experiment and chances to dig himself out of the hole he created clearly have not worked, and expecting a better result moving forward is insanity. Norvell has had the chances, he has had the support, and the results are still not there in Tallahassee.
At this point, it may make more sense to ditch Norvell and pay the buyout as soon as possible to avoid any further damage. There have been plenty of rumors swirling that suggest Norvell will be fired after the Week 7 game against Miami, and frankly, that would be the best decision Florida State can make.
If Norvell sticks around for the entirety of the 2026 season without a chance to redeem himself, then Florida State would be entering into a lose-lose situation. The sooner the two sides move in separate directions, the sooner positive changes can come to Tallahassee.
2. Where could this current Florida State team go with a different coaching staff?
With Norvell likely hitting the curb at some point this season, there has to be a huge group of fans wondering just where this current roster could go under new leadership. Florida State will likely lose a portion of this current roster to the transfer portal, meaning the next coach would be dealing with a different team. But, if someone were to take over the current roster, where could Florida State finish the year?
The reality is that, as bad as the coaching staff might be at the moment, the roster is also just not where it should be. Florida State is allowing a total of 410.2 yards and 25.3 points per game this season, which is not solely a coaching issue. Without Week 5 added into the equation, Florida State's totals increase dramatically.
The numerous breakdowns in coverage, unforced interceptions, and blown assignments are not necessarily the fault of the coaching staff. Norvell put himself in a bad position ahead of the season by forming a roster that is not competitive enough to battle the top of the ACC, and some of the holes were exposed against Louisville.
3. Is the 2026 season salvageable?
After a very difficult loss to Louisville exposed where the program is currently at, the Seminoles need to find a way to make the 2026 season worth it. Another losing season would not only cement the firing of Norvell, but would also potentially ward off some intriguing recruiting options.
Losing is never a good look for a program, but there are times when recruits and players accept that the team is at least moving in the right direction. Florida State has looked disastrous on the field, and with multiple self-implosions this season, there are not a lot of positives to take away from the field.
At some point, someone needs to figure out whether or not there is even a way to finish the 2026 season on a positive note. If Florida State truly cannot escape a losing record, then there is no real reason to keep much of the current staff around after the Week 7 game against Miami.
4. What will the potential end-of-the-year roster losses look like?
With a 3-3 record at the moment and a good chance that Florida State only wins one or two more games moving forward, the focus of the program needs to shift to retention and a new transfer portal strategy. Even with an improved second half of the season, a looming potential coaching change and some bad losses will likely result in a chunk of the roster departing.
There is nothing Florida State can do at the moment to bring back some of the projected departures, but there needs to be a plan in place for the end of the season. Talented players like Ousmane Kromah could be set to hit the portal, and losses of that caliber would set up the 2027 team poorly for potentially a different coach.
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