The Florida State Seminoles are heading into their Week 9 bye on a four-game losing streak. Earlier this season, the team climbed as high as No. 7 in the rankings and secured a notable victory over then-No. 8 Alabama, winning 31-17 in the opening week.
Despite that early success, a string of four consecutive defeats in ACC competition has put head coach Mike Norvell under intense scrutiny from fans.
On Monday, FSU athletic director Michael Alford issued a statement expressing confidence in Norvell to lead the team through the rest of the regular season. However, he noted that a “comprehensive assessment” would be conducted before the 2026 season.
The Seminoles have five games left in their regular season, starting with a matchup against 4-2 Wake Forest on November 1 at home.
According to On3, Norvell issued a stern message to his players ahead of their November schedule, emphasizing the need for focus and high-level performance to avoid upsets by less talented teams.
“I believe in this team,” Norvell said. “I do believe in the talent that we have. I believe in the young men, the coaches, the way that we will finish. But, it’s I know what we’re capable of, and I also know that we’re capable of giving others opportunities if we’re not our best.”
“We’ve got to go out there and play complementary Florida State football, being the best we can be. We’re still going to see some close games. Some ups and downs are gonna show up,” Norvell said. “But if we’ll stay true to that, I’m very, very confident in what the final result will be as we continue to move forward.”
The Seminoles’ most disappointing defeat came in Week 8, falling 20-13 to a Stanford team with a 2-4 record and an interim head coach.
While FSU managed to upset Alabama and came close to defeating then-No. 3 Miami, they’ve struggled to secure wins against less formidable opponents like Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Stanford.
With five games remaining, the Seminoles aim to achieve an 8-4 record, but even that may not secure Norvell’s position in Tallahassee.
