Jimbo Fisher lives in Tallahassee. But even in returning to Florida State’s campus on Friday, he admitted it was surreal to be back preparing for a rivalry game — this time as an ACC Network analyst.
“It’s surreal,” Fisher told a group of media who over FSU. “When I got up this morning, I said, ‘I’m going to a Florida State-Miami game.’ The hair on my neck stood up. I got a little antsy.”
Fisher coached at FSU for 10 years, from 2007-17, first as an offensive coordinator, then head-coach-in-waiting and finally head coach from 2010. He won a national title in 2013, in the middle of a three-year run of capturing ACC championships, but left for greener pastures and Texas A&M in December 2017.
After going 45-25 at Texas A&M, Fisher was dismissed late in a 6-4 season in 2023. He sat out the next year but jumped back in this offseason, connecting with ESPN and ACC Network executives about a job as an analyst. His hiring was announced in July.
Fisher is back on FSU’s campus as part of the “ACC Huddle” shows that will originate from outside Doak Campbell Stadium and Dick Howser Stadium on Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m.
“I always loved Florida State,” Fisher said. “Florida State was home. It’s very surreal. I got butterflies. The antsy in your stomach of coming back because it meant so much to you.”
Below are five takeaways from what Fisher said on Friday before the “ACC Huddle” show began.
Fisher on FSU’s team in 2025
Fisher was very complimentary about what he has seen from the Seminoles through four games this fall. Note that he drops a “we” within an answer about FSU’s loss to Virginia.
“I like this team. I really do,” Fisher said. “Unfortunately, I know they had a tough setback last week. I was shocked a little bit how we gave up some yards rushing. But at the same time that happens sometimes. You can’t have great victories without a little adversity. This is a talented football team. Offensively, they’re dynamic. They’re very unique in the teams, when they run all the quarterback run stuff, usually can’t throw it very well. This team can do both. And it’s got guys that can get on the edge on the speed sweeps, which makes you defend. You’re big at receiver, you can block. …
“Defensively, last game was an anomaly. They played well at Alabama. They got playmakers. The safeties were good. The corners were playing well. They’re big up front. They got a good kicking game. It’s a very good football team. They’re fun to watch.”
Fisher on what makes Tommy Castellanos special
Fisher was known for identifying, recruiting and developing quarterbacks at FSU, a group that included first-round NFL draft picks Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel and Jameis Winston. As someone who played the position and coached it for decades, Fisher appreciates what he’s seeing from Boston College transfer Tommy Castellanos.
“It’s fun to watch him,” Fisher said. “He’s dynamic. A lot of your guys that win with their feet are very, very below average with their arm. He’s not. And the guys that can really throw it are below average (as a runner). He has both. And he has the weapons around him, and they’re using him the right way. I think Gus is doing a great job with him. He’s got confidence, not arrogance. And he’s playing with it.
Picking an FSU-Miami winner
Fisher didn’t hide his love of FSU in his interview on Friday. He said FSU had to get out to a good start on offense, “keep the score even to ahead to where Miami can’t dictate the game by the pound and ground and eat the clock” that the Hurricanes can do.
“We’re in Tallahassee. We’ve had wide left, we’ve had wide right, we’re going to get wide middle, right down the middle and the Noles are going to win it on a late field goal,” Fisher said, laughing and doing the chop.
FSU’s new football building
Fisher had not yet taken a tour of FSU’s new football-only facility, which is nearing completion. The Seminoles will move in during the bye week after the Stanford game on Oct. 18. Fisher smiled when asked about the new building, which is adjacent to the indoor practice facility and FSU’s practice fields.
“I think it's huge for the program,” Fisher said. “I think for recruiting, for development. For the amount of room you have to have for the expanded staffs. We were just confined in the old ways. You had to have that for the personnel to get your job done. That's the nature of the business.”
The ACC’s revenue disparity
Fisher also had a lengthy answer to a question from the Osceola about the challenges of being a head coach in the ACC compared to the SEC. He has, of course, lived both lives. ACC programs now have a revenue disparity of $30 million to $40 million compared to SEC and Big Ten programs.
“Here's my question to the people in charge: Who has college football's best interest at heart. Can anybody name one?” Fisher asked rhetorically. “You can't name a person who has football's best interest. And that's what scares me in this whole thing. …
“There's a bigger picture here that we're missing because nobody has college football's best interest at heart - not one person. They say they do. But it's their best interest based off what my best interest is, whatever conference. And that's their job. I get it. I'm not blaming anyone. But to make a long story short about your money discrepancies, it's not fair and it's wrong. However you look at it.”
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