FSU's Loss to Miami Puts Norvell's Future in Focus

On a day when five AP Top 10 teams lost, including No. 1 Georgia to Ashton Daniels' former team, Auburn, Florida State had a chance to make it six with a win over No. 3 Miami, but fell 43-35.

Two overtimes, more than 1,000 combined yards, multiple replay reviews and several explosive plays turned the matchup into an instant classic. In the end, however, the Seminoles were left searching for answers once again.

After another heartbreaking loss, one question remains: When will Florida State finally find a way to win these close games?

It was a wet night to start the game in South Beach, but after the rain let up, the offense took over. Daniels had his best night passing, throwing for four touchdowns and 298 yards. Duce Robinson finally had the game so many wanted, but it still wasn’t enough for the Seminoles to get their first road win in over 1,000 days.

But unfortunately for Mike Norvell, it wasn’t just the game that was lost.

Florida State lost Ousmane Kromah after the Seminoles' leading rusher was carted off just before halftime in an air cast.

Norvell's decisions on fourth down also proved costly.

Norvell came up short on fourth down twice during regulation, choosing to roll the dice inside Miami’s 10-yard line on both occasions. Both attempts failed, leaving a potential six points on the field and raising questions about his decision-making.

"We had the fourth downs near the goal line. In this game, you never know how things are gonna unfold," Norvell said. "Those are decisions that are tough decisions. And unfortunately, we haven't been good enough in them here the last two weeks."

By passing up chip-shot field goals, the Seminoles missed opportunities to put points on the board before halftime. Those decisions could have made the difference, potentially allowing Florida State to secure the victory in regulation rather than gambling with overtime.

While in-state rivals are finding success, Florida State remains stagnant.

While Florida State deserves credit for battling in a game in which the Seminoles entered as more than 19-point underdogs, the performance still leaves fans wanting more. Making matters worse, fans must watch in-state rival Miami find success and position itself for another run at the national championship.

Meanwhile, Florida appears to be heading in the right direction after a 27-24 win over Texas, securing another top-25 victory in Jon Sumrall’s first season.

With Florida State heading into a bye and the easier part of the schedule ahead, Board of Trustees President Richard McCullough and interim Athletic Director Bruce Warwick must decide Norvell's future.

Do they fire him now or give him an opportunity to stack wins against a more manageable schedule, potentially creating a false sense that the program is heading in the right direction?

It's a decision that could shape the direction of the program for years to come. Giving Norvell more time could produce wins, but should a late-season turnaround be enough to erase the struggles that have plagued Florida State since the start of the 2024 season?

How much longer can fans wait for a product that lives up to the standard of Florida State football? Fans have invested their time, money and loyalty, and they deserve consistent results. At what point will the administration do whatever is necessary to give fans the return on investment they expect?