By Ethan Jones:
It was yet another heartbreaking weekend in Tallahassee as Florida State football dropped its third straight game, this time to the Pitt Panthers, losing 34–31 at home. Despite the early noon kickoff, Seminole fans showed up in full force, hopeful that the team would rebound after back-to-back losses to Virginia and rival Miami. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Florida State’s defensive struggles were once again on full display, allowing a season-high 476 yards of total offense, 321 of which came through the air. What makes this performance even more alarming is that it came against Pitt’s freshman quarterback, Mason Heintschel, who had little trouble dissecting the Seminole defense. With virtually no pressure in the pocket, Heintschel looked poised and comfortable, exploiting FSU’s secondary all afternoon.
To add insult to injury, Florida State’s defense, as a result of losing the last three games, has now dropped to being ranked 100th out of 134 FBS schools. In addition, linebacker Justin Cryer has a 40.9 PFF coverage grade, which ranks as the eighth-lowest grade of any linebacker at the Power Four level in the entire country.
As a result of Florida State’s struggles, many within the Seminole community are left wondering what happened. The team went from starting 3–0, upsetting highly ranked Alabama and reaching as high as No. 7 in the country, to now sitting at 3–3, unranked, and facing the possibility of missing a bowl game. As the losses pile up, many of the Seminole faithful are looking for answers, and for someone to blame.
Head coach Mike Norvell has become the focal point of that frustration. In his six years at Florida State, Norvell holds a 36–30 record with two bowl appearances and only two winning seasons. His tenure has also included several historically low moments for the program. These include the largest bowl loss in program history (63–3), the worst season since 1974 when FSU went 2–10, and the first-ever loss to an FCS school when the Seminoles fell to Jacksonville State in 2021.
Many fans within the Florida State faithful are calling for change and want head coach Mike Norvell to be fired. However, that move would come at a steep cost, Norvell’s buyout currently sits at $58.67 million.
Looking ahead, Florida State will try to stop the bleeding this Saturday night as they travel out west to face Stanford. It marks the Seminoles’ first trip to the West Coast since the 2014 College Football Playoff Semifinal against Oregon, and their first regular-season game out west since a matchup with USC in 1997. For a program that began the season with playoff hopes, the next few weeks will be critical — not just for salvaging a bowl berth, but perhaps for the future of the coaching staff as well.
Florida State opens this game as 18-point favorites, as Stanford has struggled and currently sits at 2–4. Some keys for Florida State to secure a win include protecting the football to avoid giving Stanford extra possessions, exposing the Cardinal’s defensive weaknesses, as they have allowed 30 or more points in multiple games, and staying disciplined by avoiding penalties and mental lapses. These will be crucial if the Seminoles hope to get back on track.
Florida State will kick off this game on Saturday at 10:30 PM as they look to earn their first conference win of the season. One thing is certain: no matter the highs or lows, the Seminole faithful will continue their support.
Thank you for reading, this has been Ethan Jones with your Florida State football coverage.
