Florida State’s Worst Performance of the Year Drives Up Temperature on Norvell’s Hot Seat

One mistake is just that – a mistake. But a season full of mistakes – game after game and drive after drive – is a culture of mistakes. Florida State’s 21-11 loss at North Carolina State on Friday night was emblematic of its 2025 season, and it may spell the end of head coach Mike Norvell’s time in Tallahassee.

The game looked evenly matched for all of two drives, before a comedy of errors in all three phases of the game doomed any hope the Seminoles had before kickoff. FSU was derailed by an offense that racked up penalties, a defense that couldn’t get off the field, and a special teams unit that turned in one of the worst group performances of the year.

In addition to two interceptions and one turnover on downs, the Seminoles had eight penalties on the night, nearly all on the offense, and three of which came after FSU had advanced to the redzone.

FSU’s defense ceded seven third down conversions and two fourth down conversions, allowing the Wolfpack to control the time of possession and create scoring drives. It was fitting when, with the game on the line at 1:47 left in the 4th quarter, the Seminoles defense watched a difficult 4th and 6 turn into a touchdown for NC State’s offense.

And finally, FSU’s woeful special teams hit a new low. The two missed field goals were the least egregious of the errors. Late in the 4th quarter, when FSU still had a chance, back-to-back stops by FSU’s defense were followed by muffed punt returns that gave the ball back to NC State.

The first time, miscommunication led to the punt bouncing off the helmet of a Seminole blocker, which the Wolfpack recovered. After immediately forcing a three-and-out, FSU’s punt returner bobbled the catch on the punt and coughed it right back up to NC State. The Wolfpack took advantage with a touchdown on the ensuing possession, taking a two-score lead with under two minutes to play.

Norvell has talked all season about getting all three phases of the game on the same page. That performance is not what he meant, but it fit the definition. It also fit perfectly with what has been a largely disastrous season for the Seminoles.

It would cost FSU more than $50 million to fire Norvell. It would then take at least that much to also hire his replacement and the new coach’s staff. The university and athletic department were desperate for a reason to keep Norvell. The team just had to show signs of life and progress.

Instead, FSU has only gotten worse, turning in what was, by far, its worst performance of the season in a game that could have secured bowl eligibility. Now, the Seminoles will be depending on a rivalry game on the road against Florida to reach .500 on the year.

The 2025 season has been lost since October, but Norvell was given a chance to show that things were at least trending in the right direction – that the culture was strong. Instead, the culture of mistakes and disappointment has prevailed.

It was fitting that the final play on Saturday night was FSU throwing an interception with no time left on the clock.

Florida State officials have a decision to make. Unfortunately for Norvell, Saturday’s events likely made that decision a lot easier.