TALLAHASSEE — Florida State dropped to 1-10 in the ACC the past two seasons with Saturday’s loss to Pittsburgh.
Fans have expectations of success against conference opponents based on the Seminoles’ history with legendary coach Bobby Bowden and national championship coach Jimbo Fisher, but the Seminoles haven’t won an ACC game in more than a year — since a September 2024 home win over California. The pressure is on coach Mike Norvell to direct a turnaround, beginning Saturday at Stanford (10:30 p.m. on ESPN).
“I care about every past player that has come before, the past coaches, what it is to be as a Florida State Seminole, the expectations of this program,” Norvell said. “There’s nobody that wants it more than I want it.”
Here are three pressing questions as FSU (3-3, 0-3 ACC) prepares for Stanford (2-4, 1-2):
Can the Seminoles block out all the noise?
Welcome to the “next biggest game” of the Norvell Era. And after a bye week? There will be another “next biggest game.” Norvell and the Seminoles are in a no-win situation from a perception standpoint — FSU is a 17-point favorite at Stanford and should be a favorite in a Nov. 1 home game vs. Wake Forest.
FSU’s fans won’t give the team much credit for a win over Stanford, but that’s because of the amount of debt Norvell has run up through various losses — to then-FCS Jacksonville State in 2021, a 2-10 record in 2024 and the Pitt loss on Saturday.
The FSU-Stanford game is more about the mindset and less about the physical. FSU players will need to block out external noise — fans and media calling for Norvell’s firing — and focus on limiting mistakes, improving the pass rush and preparing to travel across the country. It’s the latest kickoff time for the Seminoles since they played San Diego State in 1977.
If the Seminoles are shorthanded on offense, can they still run?
Gus Malzahn’s offense at UCF was the No. 5 in rush offense in 2023 and ’24. The Seminoles are, yes, No. 5 in rush offense (274.5) at the midpoint of 2025 with Malzahn as FSU’s offensive coordinator.
Top perimeter blockers like receiver Duce Robinson and tight end Randy Pittman are questionable for Saturday. The Seminoles still ran for 170 yards (4.2 yards per carry) in the loss to Pitt, although Caziah Holmes’ fourth-quarter fumble at the FSU 49-yard line halted momentum.
The good news for FSU: Virginia ran for 206 yards (4.9 yards per carry) in a 48-20 victory in September and SMU ran for 123 yards (5.3 yards per carry) in a 34-10 win on Saturday. FSU wants to run and should be able to do so.
How many defensive changes can Tony White make in a week?
White was intense and passionate in speaking with the media Sunday night. He discussed pass-rush breakdowns and the third-down defense. And he stated emphatically that he would make tweaks to his 3-3-5 scheme.
“I got to tone it down,” White said. “I got to tone back the packages. Make sure that they know what to do and they know how to do it.”
White also said “we lost the game on third downs.” Among them: A third-and-11 on a Pitt touchdown drive in the first half and a third-and-14 in the second half that resulted in Mason Heintschel’s touchdown pass to Desmond Reid. If the scheme is simplified and the Seminoles can pressure Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson on third downs, it’s a sign of progress.
