This was no happy birthday for Mike Norvell.
The FSU head football coach turned 44 and all he got for it was his eighth straight loss in ACC competition, a 34-31 defeat to Pittsburgh that put the Seminoles at .500. This loss douses a bucket of cold water on FSU's football season, which looked promising three weeks ago after wins over Alabama, East Texas A&M and Kent State.
Florida State has suffered its third straight loss after starting the season 3-0.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 11, 2025
Saturday's loss to Pitt marks the Seminoles' eighth straight ACC loss, dating back to last season.
Is Mike Norvell back on the hot seat? pic.twitter.com/K5hzCz19wZ
Norvell shoulders the blame
After consecutive losses to Virginia and Miami, Norvell spoke earlier this week about how impressed he was with the way the Seminoles responded in practice this week. FSU came into Saturday ranked No. 25 and were double-digit favorites against a Pitt team starting with a freshman quarterback, Mason Heintschel, making his second start.
"The things you expected to see coming off of the week of work....were not applied well enough. Ultimately, too many mistakes. We had our opportunities, found ourselves in situations to be able to capitalize and then obviously found ourselves in challenging spots during the game. And we didn't do enough to overcome the negative plays," Norvell said.
This is the fifth time in six seasons that a Norvell-coached FSU team has a three-game losing streak.
""At the end of the day, you've got three straight weeks where we've finished the game with a one possession loss. Ultimately, it all falls on my shoulders because we're not getting it done.""Mike Norvell
Defense continues to get exposed
Mike Norvell is visibly upset leaving the field after Florida State's 34-31 loss against Pitt.
— Taylor Viles (@TVilesWCTV) October 11, 2025
If I can read lips, it looks like he voiced his frustration to Defensive Coordinator Tony White. The Seminoles have allowed 108 points during their three game losing streak.@WCTV pic.twitter.com/vTFvVCIwdF
The FSU defense struggled in the first quarter, giving up two long touchdown drives, but the unit recovered in the second quarter behind interceptions from Earl Little Jr. and Edwin Joseph. Defensive coordinator Tony White decided to go all-in by bringing pressure and had success at times, but it also left FSU's linebackers to cover Pitt running back Desmond Reid out of the backfield. Reid burned the Seminoles with eight catches for 155 yards.
"Obviously, we didn't play very well on that side of the ball. There are things, as coaches, we have to look at. And there were some opportunities where we've got to be better with the guys we have on the field,'" Norvell said. "We knew the running back, he can be a challenge with the receiver that he is out of the backfield. They caught us in a few coverages. We allowed way too much space today."
Heintschel threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers rolled up 476 yards of offense. They outscored FSU 20-3 in the second half.
Tommy Castellanos threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns, two to Micahi Danzy, who had seven catches for 133 yards. FSU was without tight end Randy Pittman and wide receivers Squirrel White and Jayvan Boggs to start the game and Duce Robinson was injured late in the first half and did not return.