​As the dog days of summer drift by, anticipation for college football swells and so does the hunger for what the 2026 season might bring. While the appetite for Florida State football might not be as voracious as it has been in some recent years, the Seminoles enter the 2026 campaign brimming with intrigue. The offseason was defined by a flurry of significant staff changes, front-office additions, and a broad roster overhaul. The retirement of Gus Malzahn opened the door to a major shift as head coach Mike Norvell reclaimed the play-calling duties, teaming with newly promoted offensive coordinator Tim Harris.
This arrangement puts Norvell’s future in his own hands. Florida State has underperformed since the peak of 2023, posting a 7-17 record across the last two seasons and going winless on the road since a November 2023 victory over Florida. That stretch has amplified the pressure on Norvell, whose buyout—exceeding $50 million—could loom large if the Seminoles fail to meet expectations once again.
The Seminoles practiced in the lead-up to the season with the bulk of preseason camps nationwide set to begin in early August ahead of Week 0/1. Several questions loom as the team prepares to answer them on the field. A primary issue, of course, is the quarterback position. Ashton Daniels was named the starting quarterback after a brief spring competition with redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry. Daniels, a redshirt-senior transfer from Auburn, was viewed as the likely starter from the moment he arrived, so his elevation to the role was not unexpected. Now the challenge is proving that Florida State’s investment in him will translate into consistent wins.
Daniels’ arrival sparked mixed reactions among the fanbase, but within the program there is a firm belief in his abilities and in the talent surrounding him. Daniels spent three seasons at Stanford, two of which included starts, and he spent last season at Auburn, appearing in four games with three starts. In a recent stretch of four appearances, he completed 68 of 119 passes for 797 yards and three touchdowns while also contributing 280 rushing yards and two rushing scores. He delivered standout performances at the end of the season, including a game against Vanderbilt in which he passed for 353 yards with two touchdowns and added 89 rushing yards and two more scores in an overtime loss. He followed that with another strong outing against Alabama, throwing for 259 yards and a touchdown while adding 108 rushing yards.
The Seminoles are counting on Daniels to maintain that upward trajectory and to be the catalyst for a consistently productive offense. They have a capable supporting cast to help him do so. Receivers such as Duce Robinson and Micahi Danzy provide playmaking ability, while the backfield features Tre Wisnor and Ousmane Kromah, among others, offering a mix of speed and decisiveness. The talent is evident across the positions; the task now is to translate that potential into game-changing performances week after week.
Ultimately, the onus is on Daniels and the rest of the offense to execute Norvell’s system with precision. The rapport and trust between quarterback and his targets will be forged over the course of preseason camp, and the Seminoles’ offensive unit must arrive ready to deliver a high level of execution once the season begins. With a Week 0 kickoff on the horizon, Florida State will be judged not just by the talent it possesses, but by how well that talent is harnessed and deployed in real competition. The 2026 campaign promises to be a defining chapter for Norvell, his staff, and a program seeking to reassert itself as a formidable force in college football.