The pressure is mounting for Florida State football to be successful in 2026. Head coach Mike Norvell is feeling the hot seat talk from a variety of individuals, and the fan base just wants the program to be back to the "good old days".
The Seminoles have gone a combined 7-17 record in the past two years, so change needs to occur in a hurry. Given that teams like Virginia and Duke made it to the ACC Championship Game last season, it should be a sign that Florida State can be successful if it puts in the work.
However, it has to be frustrating that the fan base had to ensure Miami made it to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Indiana. The Hurricanes and head coach Mario Cristobal ended up losing to the Hoosiers, but the experts are giving Miami more credit than they have had in over twenty years.
Florida State fans have to feel sick to their stomach that Miami is included in this College Football Playoff prediction
We are such a long way away from the college football season starting up again. However, college football junkies cannot wait for the sport to start back. With that said, the Seminole faithful just want to see a bowl game appearance at this point, having six losing seasons in eight years.
CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford dropped his way-too-early college football bowl predictions, where he listed Miami as the number-one seed in the College Football Playoff bracket (you can read the whole article here).
This isn't an article completely disrespecting the Hurricanes, but their squad will be welcoming in a new quarterback in Duke transfer Darian Mensah, who they tampered with to come to Coral Gables. Miami will have a couple of tough games in 2026, such as Clemson on the road, Florida State at home, and Notre Dame on the road.
Head coach Mike Norvell has to find a way to get his magic back to beat the Hurricanes because the Seminoles need the good news to start rolling in after Miami's success recently. Crawford also projected Florida State to play Illinois in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
The 2025 Duke's Mayo Bowl featured an 8-4 Minnesota and 6-6 Virginia Tech, so the Seminole fan base probably wouldn't be thrilled with getting that postseason destination.