Florida State football did not have the season that it wanted in 2025, as it finished with a 5-7 record and ended with a bad taste in their mouths to a struggling arch-rival Florida Gators squad. With that said, the expectations were heightened after the win over Alabama.
It was probably the worst that could have happened to the Seminoles, as fans already inserted them into the College Football Playoff. The public will overhype anything, but it sure seemed like Florida State turned a corner after the 2-10 disaster of 2024.
They even had quarterback Thomas Castellanos call out the Crimson Tide by saying that Nick Saban couldn't save them. This is an Alabama team that has been wildly successful throughout the years.
With that said, Castellanos was a senior according to the depth chart due to the fact that he played in a conference championship game during his freshman year at UCF. The signal-caller elected to go to the NCAA to for another year of eligibility, and it was rejected.
As a result, the quarterback is trying to appeal for another season. The expectation is that if Castellanos is eligible for 2026, he will be back in Tallahassee.
It looks like offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn could be back at Florida State for another year, and the Seminoles have quarterbacks on the roster such as Kevin Sperry, Brock Glenn, and Jaden O'Neal. Those options are solid, but are they better than Castellanos?
Some fans would argue that the former four-star prospect Kevin Sperry should be the choice for Florida State in 2026. There is a ton riding on this season for head football coach Mike Norvell since the Seminoles have had four losing seasons in six years under his tenure. It should also be explained that whoever the quarterback is, they will have an entirely new offensive line.
There are massive limitations in Castellanos's passing game, where the middle of the field isn't used much, and he lacks intermediate accuracy at times. However, it should be noted that there were flashes at times when he was able to utilize his legs (when healthy).
Overall, the coaching staff should carefully monitor the Castellanos (if he does get the waiver) because it could put out Sperry in today's landscape of college football. All in all, Florida State football just needs to win football games, regardless of who the quarterback is.