Is 2026 the Year Florida St. Football Gets Back to Relevancy?
Three years have passed since the heated debate about the undefeated Florida State Seminoles being left out of the College Football Playoff, and it’s clear that decision still affects the program. The 2023 FSU team went into the postseason undefeated, but they lost their starting quarterback, Jordan Travis, who was having a great year and was a big reason for their success. A few weeks before the College Football Playoffs, he got injured, which ruined the expectations for FSU. Instead, the committee chose an Alabama team that had one loss, sparking outrage across college football. FSU ended up facing Georgia in the Orange Bowl and lost 63-3, marking the start of a tough two-season stretch.
The Noles tried to bounce back the next year by bringing in quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, but he ended up being one of several disappointments in their 2024 season. They started the year ranked 10th but quickly fell out of the spotlight after losing to Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Memphis in the first three weeks. They finished 2-10, and many fans wanted head coach Mike Norvell fired. However, the administration decided to stick with him, remembering the 13-win season he delivered just a year earlier, so he returned for 2025. The Seminoles started strong, beating eighth-ranked Alabama at home 31-17, which was a big boost for both their record and team morale after such a rough season. Unfortunately, the momentum didn’t last. After winning their first three games, they lost the next four and ended up with a 5-7 record. Even so, their coach kept his job, leaving fans with plenty of questions. This year, FSU brought in 23 transfers, and some are expected to make a big difference. One is former Longhorn running back Tre Wisner, who played a key role in Texas’ offense in 2024 but was sidelined in 2025 and only played in nine games. For protection, offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin from Auburn is set to help Wisner gain yards this fall and support his former quarterback, Ashton Daniels, who also transferred to FSU and recently won the job as the starter.
Looking at their schedule, FSU will face tough tests against Louisville, Alabama, and Miami. This team has surprised people before, even without a star-studded roster, and this year’s group is similar to the 2023 squad. FSU has a tough ACC schedule, but it’s far too soon to count them out; college football is always full of surprises. With so many possible outcomes and a coach who knows his job is at stake, we might see FSU return to its former glory.
