The biggest fall camp storyline to watch for Florida State 2026 power conference opponent

Florida State fall camp is already underway as the Seminoles prepare to take on New Mexico State in Week 0 at Doak Campbell Stadium. However, the rest of college football is still ramping up in training camp, including many of the teams on Florida State’s 2026 schedule. 

So, rather than getting tunnel vision on the Noles, let’s whip around the ACC and even take a peek at FSU’s other Power 4 competition this year. These are the storylines to monitor that could determine how well the Seminoles ultimately fare in a make-or-break season for Mike Norvell. 

Week 1: vs. SMU - Defensive coordinator change

Rhett Lashlee’s SMU resurgence has been centered around his offensive brilliance and the emergence of Kevin Jennings as an ACC superstar. However, the Mustangs didn’t win 20 games over their first two years in the ACC without a strong defense. 

It was so strong, in fact, that former DC Scott Symons landed a job with the Dallas Cowboys. Lashlee elevated linebackers coach Maurice Crum and cornerbacks coach Rick Hunley to co-defensive coordinators, and they’re tasked with rebuilding the defensive line after SMU lost all four starters from last year’s unit. 

Week 3: at Alabama - QB battle

There are plenty of questions in Tuscaloosa: Is Kalen DeBoer built for the SEC? Can the Tide reestablish a run game? It’s even worth asking if DeBoer will be around beyond this season, despite him winning a CFP game last year. 

However, undeniably the biggest question in fall camp is who will be Alabama’s starting quarterback: former five-star Keelon Russell or longtime backup Austin Mack, who followed DeBoer from Washington. It’s likely to be Russell, who will bring a dynamic dual-threat element to the offense, but DeBoer will likely wait to call a clear winner in this one. 

Week 5: vs. Virginia - Can offensive replacements offset defensive regression

It may not have felt this way from the outside, but Virginia’s defensive improvements led to its resurgent nine-win season in 2026. That defense saw major changes this offseason, but nothing like what the offense experienced. UVA will be breaking in a new QB, a full new group of wide receivers, and a new running back. That’s without even mentioning the offensive line. 

The Cavaliers lost their leading passer, leading rusher, and top four leading receivers from last year’s offense. With Beau Pribula named starting QB, it remains to be seen if the offense can improve enough to offset the inevitable defensive regression from a unit that finished No. 14 in points per drive allowed in 2025. 

Week 6: at Louisville - Can Brohm do it again at QB?

Jeff Brohm is college football’s most underrated quarterback guru. But even he can miss sometimes, and he largely did with Miller Moss last season. Now, rather than taking a somewhat proven veteran in the transfer portal as he did with Jack Plummer, Tyler Shough, and Moss, Brohm, he went for a big unknown with Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz. 

Louisville has the most favorable schedule in the ACC and a real path to the College Football Playoff laid out in front of it. None of that matters if Kienholz isn’t ready to hit the ground running in his first year as a starting quarterback. 

Week 7: at Miami - Trench play attrition

Sure, Carson Beck finally protected the football and Mark Fletcher caught fire, but Miami made its improbable CFP run on the back of dominant play in the trenches. Then, Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes had three offensive linemen and two defensive linemen selected in this spring’s draft. Three - right tackle Francis Mauigoa and defensive ends Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor - went in the first round. 

All the talk is about transfer quarterback Darian Mensah and his pairing with Malachi Toney and fellow Duke transfer Cooper Barkate, but in fall camp, Miami needs to settle on a clear defensive line rotation to offset its losses and get five-star true freshman Jackson Cantwell ready to start at left tackle in Week 1. 

Week 9: vs. Clemson - QB competition

The most interesting things about Clemson this year are the offensive coordinator change from Garrett Riley to Chad Morris and the fact that Dabo Swinney may actually be on the hot seat for the first time. At fall camp, though, the biggest storyline will be the QB competition between Christopher Vizzina, who bided his time behind Cade Klubnik, and three-star true freshman Tait Reynolds. 

Reynolds has come out of nowhere to push Vizzina, who is heading into his fourth year at Clemson, for the starting job. But will Swinney be willing to put the fate of a make-or-break season in the hands of a true freshman? It’s hard to say. 

This is a storyline that may continue through the regular season if Vizzina wins the job because he’ll need to play great to keep it with Reynolds breathing down his neck. 

Week 10: at Boston College - How do all the new pieces fit

Boston College went 2-10 in 2025, and one of those wins was over FCS Fordham. Then, Bill O’Brien went with a double coordinator change, naming himself the play-caller on offense and bringing in Ted Roof to run the defense. 

The changes weren’t limited to the coaching staff, however, as 30 scholarship players transferred out. O’Brien replaced them with 27 incoming transfers, so this is a total overhaul heading into Year 3. 

Week 11: at Pitt - How good is Heintschel’s supporting cast

Pitt isn’t one of the most well-resourced programs in the ACC, let alone the country. But the Panthers scraped together enough money to keep Mason Heintschel in town after his breakout true freshman season at quarterback. Now, the questions will be about the quality of the supporting cast around him. 

Pitt allowed 44 sacks last season, as much a reflection of Heintschel’s inexperience as struggles along the offensive line. Now, four starters up front are back along with Penn transfer Netinho Olivieri, who figures to slot in at left tackle. How he and a new-look wide receiver room perform will determine if Heintschel takes a significant step forward in Year 2. 

Week 12: vs. NC State - How does Dave Doeren replace high-profile departures

Dave Doeren has built a reputation for doing more with less, and it’s a good thing because at NC State, that’s always going to be the case. After winning eight games last season, the Wolfpack had enough money to keep quarterback CJ Bailey, but watched as Texas signed All-ACC running back Hollywood Smothers, Alabama added wide receiver Noah Rogers, USC brought in leading receiver Terrell Anderson, and offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak landed with South Carolina. 

Much like Pitt’s situation, NC State fall camp is all about how the pieces fit around the QB they spent big to keep. 

Week 13: vs. Florida - Battles for both starting OT spots

There’s a lot of new in Gainesville, starting with new head coach Jon Sumrall, who came from Tulane this offseason. Georgia Tech transfer Harrison Moore figures to start at center, and Penn State transfer TJ Shanahan will fill one of the guard spots. Other than that, though, the offensive line is largely up for grabs, including both offensive tackle spots. 

There’s real excitement about what another GT transfer, quarterback Aaron Philo, can do in Buster Faulkner’s offense this year, but all of Faulkner’s creativity and Philo’s development will be for naught if the offensive line can’t keep him clean. Those battles are worth watching all fall camp and all season.

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