The focus has shifted from questions about Mike Norvell’s job status to questions of whether the Seminoles can get the job done — against a rival and on the road.
After two years of road misery, which includes four ACC losses in 2025, Florida State (5-6) has a major shot at not just ending the streak but finding redemption in a wild season with a victory over Florida (3-8) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2). FSU has not beaten a rival since a victory at Florida in November 2023, and a win over the Gators would make the Seminoles bowl-eligible while providing some positive momentum going into December and the offseason.
“Big game for us, trying to push to go get your sixth win obviously in a rivalry game,” Norvell said Monday. “You're going on the road. Everything that's surrounding this game, it's huge. That's going to be every bit of our focus.
“As we came into work yesterday, I thought the guys understand that. They've got the right attitude, the right approach. I know they're continuing to invest and working to get better and pushing each other, challenging each other, picking each other up in times when it's needed.”
FSU started fast this fall with an upset of Alabama to begin the season 3-0 but then fell to 3-4 after a stunning loss on Oct. 18 at Stanford, a 17-point underdog. Two days later, the first statement from FSU athletics director broadly outlined a “comprehensive assessment” of the program and Norvell. The Seminoles are now 5-6 after a loss at NC State, with a second statement on Sunday confirming that Norvell will return in 2026.
What changes are to come for Florida State this offseason have not been clearly outlined by administrators or Norvell. But one theory now that a decision has been made: The Seminoles could play more loose now that they aren’t trying to “win for Norvell” on Saturday at Florida. Could it put them at ease and allow the Seminoles to focus on practice and the game?
“I love coaching these guys, and all I can go off is the actions that they have, but this team plays hard for us,” Norvell said. “We've got great relationships. We've got a lot of young players that I believe have tremendous upsides in front of them, and for them to have a sense of the stability, to say that there's pressure around it of what's it going to be, what's it going to look like, I mean, yes, it's life.
“They're not naive to everything of the worries of what could be or what might happen, but, like I told them, the concerns of all things that are out there, just go be it this week, go do it this week, have fun playing this game, have fun preparing, and let your best go show up.”
Front office changes to come?
FSU’s statement on Sunday did not address what changes are to come. But reading the tea leaves, it’s not a leap to see that changes will be made to FSU’s front office.
“We will address performance deficiencies in the program,” FSU Board of Trustees chairman Peter Collins said in the statement. “These deficiencies may include structural changes to the very large and complex program FSU football has become, and these areas are where we will focus and invest.”
Those lines in particular have been parsed, and on Sunday the Osceola reinforced the need for a thorough examination of FSU’s front office staff and general manager Darrick Yray as well as assistant coaches and off-field staff. Norvell didn’t mention any specific changes to come on Monday, but he had some interesting big-picture responses about how the role of front office staff has evolved since he arrived in December 2019.
“Just big picture, the world has changed in college athletics,” Norvell said. “It's not even close to what it was — transfer portal, NIL, rev share, all the dynamics that come with that. So when you look at what you have and the structure and the setup, the different dynamics of player acquisition, evaluation, availability, all of it, it's expanded beyond anything you would have thought of six years ago.”
With the early signing day approaching on Dec. 3, FSU fans shouldn’t expect changes soon to the front office staff. But considering that Norvell brought in six new assistant coaches before the 2025 season, it’s realistic to expect FSU’s front office to be a focus in the offseason.
“That's part of all things you evaluate,” Norvell said. “Are we structured, positioned to be the best that we can be in this new age and this new world? Things that you look at, things that you evaluate, and we'll continue to push towards that as the season is over and as we transition into what's ahead.”
Taking a redshirt in 2025?
With one game to go, FSU coaches and younger players are mindful of the participation report. Among those are freshman defensive tackle Kevin Wynn and sophomore running back Kam Davis, who have played in four games.
Wynn has one tackle in four games, with 17 snaps against Wake being his season-high (he did not play in FSU’s last three games). Davis has eight carries for 51 yards and a touchdown this season.
“Those are a couple guys that we're looking to keep at the four games,” Norvell said. “ … With Kevin Wynn, he missed the early part of the season due to injury, and it kind of got to that where if it's only going to be a handful of plays, I think we've seen some good emergence in the guys on that defensive front, but didn't want him to just play that fifth or sixth game without it being a good workload. He's still been practicing, pushing, doing everything he needs.”
Norvell also said Davis has “dealt with injury for the better part” of the year, but he added that the running back has “done a good job for us.”
Freshman quarterback Kevin Sperry has also played in three games.
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