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FSU football updates
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
ESPN projects FSU football to face USF in two bowl games. A 6-6 finish is the minimum for coach Norvell to keep his job.
Background
Florida State's football program has struggled recently, finishing 5-7 in 2025 and missing a bowl game since 2023. As the 2026 season approaches, preseason projections and coach comments are fueling discussion about the team's potential and the future of head coach Mike Norvell.
How it unfolded
- Mon, 24 Aug 2026ESPN released preseason bowl projections, with Mark Schlabach picking FSU for the Gasparilla Bowl and Kyle Bonagura for the Military Bowl, both against USF.
- Tue, 25 Aug 2026Coach Mike Norvell highlighted four true freshmen, including Jasen Lopez and Daylen Green, who could make an early impact.
- Thu, 27 Aug 2026USA TODAY Sports predicted FSU to finish 6-6 overall and 4-4 in ACC play in 2026.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- ESPN analysts project FSU to reach a bowl game, but they differ on which one, both predicting a matchup with USF.
- Analysts
- USA TODAY Sports predicts a 6-6 record, placing FSU in the middle of the pack, which may be the minimum for Norvell to keep his job.
Still unverified
The claim that a 6-6 finish is the minimum for Norvell to keep his job is based on speculation from Sports Illustrated, not an official statement from FSU.