The calendar this winter shifts the challenges of roster management.

National Signing Day is early - Dec. 3 - and arrives just four days after college teams play their regular-season finales. That doesn't leave much time, and perhaps not enough at all, for openings like those at LSU, Florida, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Arkansas to be filled — especially if those schools seek to land a coach who is currently employed as a head coach or coordinator.

While the NCAA pushed back the opening of the transfer portal window to Jan. 2, the signing period for high school and junior college signees has moved up. As recently as 2023, it was Dec. 20. That would allow new coach hires a few extra weeks to not just hire assistants and support staff but also host prospects on official visits before the signing period.

Mike Norvell was hired as FSU's coach on Dec. 8, 2019 and he had 10 days until the early signing day on Dec. 18.

And when Willie Taggart was hired as FSU's coach on Dec. 5, 2017, he had a few more days until the early signing day on Dec. 20.

Norvell and FSU's staff have a top-15 class, including five-star Chauncey Kennon (pictured above). He used part of the bye week to hit the road recruiting.

"It was good to get on the road, get out recruiting there this past weekend for the coaches to get within the state and obviously out to see a lot of top targets," Norvell said Monday. "... It still comes down to the fit. It still comes down to where these guys see themselves in the best situation, the best place. There's a lot of excitement for the opportunity that's ahead and what they can be within this program."

If FSU (3-4) defeats Wake Forest (5-2) on Saturday night, the Seminoles could begin to find stability as November begins. And with five games remaining against unranked teams, it's plausible FSU stacks wins and becomes bowl-eligible.

That could leave an impression on prospects who are watching how FSU finishes. Commitments will want to have their verbal decisions affirmed by what they see (or don't) in the season's final five weeks. Targets will also visit and could be swayed by what they see (or don't).

But if FSU administrators make a move and dismiss Norvell, whether that's earlier in November or after the Florida game, the window to announce a hire and allow him to recruit is narrow — if at all.

On the plus side, the transfer portal window has been pushed back and gives coaches more time to evaluate outside of the traditional December bowls (practices and games). The 2024 portal winter portal window was Dec. 9-28. Now the winter window is Jan. 2-16.

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