It's hard to believe that just three seasons ago, Florida State was a perfect 13-0, undefeated conference champions, and knocking on the door of the College Football Playoff. Fast forward to today, and the Seminoles are sweating out a win against a program that has only managed four winning seasons in the last quarter-century. That's a steep fall from grace, and the college football world took notice.
Last year, FSU opened its season with a stunning upset of Alabama, sending shockwaves through the sport. This year, the stage was set for a much tamer opener at home against New Mexico State, a team that has won just seven games over the past two seasons. But what should have been a comfortable tune-up turned into a nail-biter that left more questions than answers.
The Seminoles jumped out to a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, but the Aggies answered with a touchdown drive. Just before halftime, disaster nearly struck in the most embarrassing way possible: a wide-open receiver dropped a sure touchdown pass in the end zone, saving FSU from what would have been a humiliating score. The Noles managed to extend their lead to 17-7 before the break, but New Mexico State refused to go quietly.
Even when FSU pushed the lead to 17 points in the fourth quarter, the Aggies clawed back with a touchdown, keeping the game uncomfortably close. A late touchdown finally made it 34-17, but the damage was done: the Seminoles had looked anything but championship-caliber, and the fans weren't shy about letting their feelings be known.
Fans Mock Florida State
Social media erupted with criticism, much of it aimed squarely at head coach Mike Norvell. "Mike Norvell should've been canned," one user posted on X. "Mike Norvell not gunna make it through September," another predicted. The jokes kept coming: "Idk firing Mike Norvell might not be enough. They might need to put him in jail for a bit too." And a particularly frustrated fan added, "You almost had me, Mike Norvell. You almost had me thinking this year would be different and maybe you were the guy. GTFO!"
Norvell's tenure has been rough, to say the least. Over the past two seasons, he's posted a 7-17 record, and the program has looked lost for long stretches. Many believe that the moment the athletic department can afford to eat the buyout, Norvell will be shown the door. This performance did nothing to change that narrative.
A win is a win, but not all wins are created equal. The Seminoles now face a brutal stretch: a ranked SMU team next, followed by a road trip to Alabama. If they don't clean things up quickly, things could get very ugly in Tallahassee. Fans are already bracing for the worst, and some are even looking ahead to potential replacements.
The pressure is mounting, and the clock is ticking. Florida State's season is hanging by a thread, and Norvell's job security is looking shakier by the minute. This was supposed to be the year they silenced the doubters. Instead, they've given them even more ammunition.
