Florida State has "struggled" to get 2-2 on the season. Inconsistent offense and a poor defense has derailed confidence in the Seminoles football program on the national relevancy scale. The question remains; can Florida State get to six wins and earn a bowl berth?
Florida State is 2-2 after four games this season. The meat of their conference schedule begins on Saturday, Oct. 3, when the Seminoles host 2025 ACC runner-up Virginia.
With inconsistency and questions still surrounding coach Mike Norvell and his Seminoles, the question remains; can the Seminoles somehow get to at least six wins and become eligible for a bowl berth?
Virginia (3-1, 1-0 in the ACC) leads the ACC in pass defense, and has allowed just 130.3 yards through the air and only two touchdown passes against them through four games. The Cavaliers have also intercepted six passes, and rank among the best teams defensively in college football. That does not bode well for the Seminoles and quarterback Ashton Daniels. Florida State is a +1.5-point underdog on their home field.
The teams on Florida State’s remaining schedule are a combined 24-8 so far this season. Particularly, last season’s national runner-up and current No. 4 Miami Hurricanes are cruising at 4-0 with no evidence of slowing down behind quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Malachi Toney, but still have to face a trio of current undefeated teams in Pitt, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.
Pitt is currently ranked No. 4 in rushing defense and No. 3 scoring defense, and No. 6 in total offense and No. 5 in passing offense. They could negatively affect Florida State on both sides of the ball.
In-state rival Florida is undefeated at 4-0 under new head coach Jon Sumrall, beat No. 4 Ole Miss by four touchdowns, and has scored 214 points in four games for an average of 53.5 points per game, good enough for No. 2 in the country.
With running back Jaden Baugh leaving scorched earth in his wake on his way to the end zone (600 yards rushing, 11 TDs), and Buster Faulkner calling plays as offensive coordinator, the Gators are formidable.
Needless to say, the remainder of the schedule is a gauntlet.
Florida State has struggled to put together complete games against Power 4 teams and ranked opponents. The second half collapse against then-No. 10 Alabama is a good example, after leading 21-6 in the first half.
The struggles are real. Daniels has thrown almost as many interceptions (5) as he has touchdown passes (6). Daniels has thrown four of his five INTs in the last two games. He has averaged 232 yards per game through the air, and has completed 59.8 percent of his passes through four games.
The defensive woes are just as concerning, as the Seminoles are ranked in the bottom third of the FBS in total defense, pass defense, opponents’ 3rd down conversions, and opponents’ red zone conversions.
With an inconsistent quarterback and a defense with more holes than the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, the chances of the Seminoles earning a bowl bid are slim to none. Another reason why going bowling may not happen is that Florida State, under Norvell, has not displayed that killer instinct that dominant Florida State teams of the past have inflicted on their opponents.
Also, Norvell has “coached” the Seminoles to a 9-20 record since the Orange Bowl loss to Georgia in 2023, and has not made changes to his depth chart or his coaching staff because of underperformance, midseason or otherwise.
Norvell is at the head of the line at the coaching carousel, with his butt on fire every moment of the day. Unless Norvell and Florida State execute an extraordinary turnaround and run the table on the rest of their schedule, or get to at least six wins with an upset sprinkled in, the sun will set on another disappointing season. And, Norvell and the Seminoles will be watching bowl games from the couch.
