Florida State ended the 2025 season with a humiliating loss against the rival Florida Gators, and fans head into the offseason with a bitter taste in their mouths for the second consecutive season. Most fans want Mike Norvell fired, and that’s not happening, but the program will undergo some major structural shifts, according to the FSU administration.
FSU has gone 7-17 over the past two seasons, with only four wins against Power Four teams. It looks like FSU will hope to get Mike Norvell off to a positive start in 2026 by scheduling New Mexico State for the home opener, Noles247 according to reporter Chris Nee.
New Mexico State finished the 2025 season 4-8 and 2-6 in conference play and was 3-9 overall in 2024. Needless to say, it’s a game that FSU football should win handily, and that’s good for all parties involved, especially the local Tallahassee economy that depends on FSU heavily to generate revenue.
FSU last opened a season facing a non-Power Four opponent in 2022, when they hosted Duquesne before facing LSU in the second game. A game like this will help work out any kinks with new or young players, especially if FSU has changes at either coordinator.
It’s not clear who FSU will face in the second game, but it will likely be a ACC opponent. The hope is that it's someone like Boston College, though that's a road game in 2026.
The third game will be a road trip to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama, who’ll be looking for revenge after FSU opened the 2025 season with a dominant win over the Crimson Tide.
We'll learn more about the dates of more games in the spring, but opening with a potential win in 2026 is a good thing.