FSU football: Should Pittsburgh's success give FSU hope for 2025?

Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi is a respected head coach who's had a lot of success over the years. The Panthers won the ACC in 2021 with an 11-3 record and followed up the next season with a 9-4 record.

However, the Panthers fell off the face of the earth in 2023, finishing 3-9, with one of the worst offenses in college football. The offense ranked No. 108 nationally via FEI advanced metrics, but the defense was respectable with a No. 36 ranking.

Narduzzi fired his offensive coordinator and made a new hire and the Pittsburgh Panthers moved to 7-0 in the 2024 season with a blowout win over the Syracuse Orange Thursday night.

Pitt ranks No. 66 offensively(before the Syracuse game) and No. 48 defensively. They haven't played any good teams, but the offense is substantially better compared to last year.

FSU is in a similar situation this year. They are 1-7 and likely staring at a 2-10 or 3-9 campaign after going 13-1 last season. The biggest issues are on offense, ranking No. 99 nationally, with a No. 45 defensive ranking.

It's not like FSU doesn't have talent, and they have some promising pieces to mold. FSU almost certainly must move to fire Alex Atkins after this season, because the offense and his offensive line unit have been well below sub-par.

Could one move with the right hire make a substantial difference in 2025? FSU opens the season against Alabama, so that's already a major difference compared to Pittsburgh's 2024 schedule. However, FSU has more overall talent than Pittsburgh and has seemed to turn things in the right direction compared to where they were in 2023.

Pat Narduzzi has been willing to make changes and I know some question if Mike Norvell is willing to do the same. I don't think he has any other option, but this should provide a glimmer of hope for FSU in 2025 after a disastrous 2024 season.