Florida State entered the weekend as 32.5-point favorites at home versus New Mexico State. The Seminoles left with a 34-17 win. Did the result leave us with more questions than answers? All eyes were on Ashton Daniels. I do not think fans were expecting a Heisman run; they were definitely hoping to see more than what Tommy Castellanos provided last season.
After Saturday, an incomplete performance is apropos, as he looked awkward and nervous at times. He looked slower than advertised, and a better opponent might have buried the Noles. Mike Norvell got away with playing it safe against an inferior opponent, but at what cost? With SMU on deck, is confidence in the Seminoles higher than it was when Seminole Nation woke up on Saturday morning?
The Good
Red zone Efficiency. Florida State went 6-6 with four touchdowns and two field-goal attempts. The red zone might as well have been an enemy for the team last season. Gus Malzahn’s offense had no issues moving the ball up and down the field in 2025, but became impotent at times in scoring range, leading to a 95th-place finish last season in red zone percentage, per ncaa.com.
Norvell dialed up some creative screens and utilized running back Samuel Singleton Jr., who led the team in receiving. Overall, the run game looked good, especially in the second half. That right side of the line needs extra attention in practice this week.
The Bad
Third-down defense. The Aggies converted on 10 of their 17 third-down opportunities per CBSSports. This was where Rylan Kennedy was supposed to make his mark. After all the Desir twins drama, with the duo entering the transfer portal only to return to Tallahassee, these were opportunities to make statements.
On the other side of the ball, pass blocking was not much better. This is only game one, so there is grace for chemistry, but the next two games will test their mettle. This is one of the pitfalls of relying on the transfer portal. The trenches become a crapshoot, and for a coach on the hot seat, their development could not be more critical!
The Ugly
The secondary. New Mexico State’s first touchdown was something to marvel at if you were an Aggie, but it was agonizing for Seminole fans. After all the hype and excitement in Ja’Bril Rawls’ return, it showed coaching flaws and potential defensive limitations. He did not force the receiver into the middle of the field, and this is where having an Earl Little Jr. proves paramount.
It happens; it's just one play, right? Yes, but then there was the miscommunication on fourth down in the second quarter between TK King and Trey Hedden that would have made halftime very nerve-wracking. Eventually, there was a point in the third quarter where Doak sounded quieter than Miami Gardens when the Canes play anyone other than Florida, FSU, or Notre Dame.
Preparation. After the past few years, you would think FSU would come out Week Zero/One with some urgency. My number one question about Mike Norvell has nothing to do with X’s and O’s or football acumen. It is: can he reach his players? After 63-3, the team came out feckless and got upset in Ireland. Last year’s opener with Bama can be viewed as a contradiction of that outing, but then the season went down the drain. If not now, what do you expect as SMU comes calling this week? Guess we will find out.
The Final Spear
It is a long season. The margins of error will be small and narrow. I do not want to overreact to Virginia’s win over NC State, but the defensive competition will only improve. We saw talent at Doak Campbell this weekend, but misguided talent is as effective as no talent. There were flashes of what the team could become, but it may take the yellow-brick road to get there. If the lines do not improve, then another disappointing season is likely. This is not about whether FSU beats SMU; it is about how they win or lose. A lot of fans came into Saturday optimistic: now it’s time to earn our confidence.
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