Florida State beat New Mexico State 34-17 on Saturday and HC Mike Norvell still spent Sunday getting ripped for it. And Miami fans certainly enjoyed every bit of it.
The Seminoles were 31.5-point favorites at Doak Campbell Stadium and they won by just 17. It was still a double digit win, but there were some major warning signs that FSU might still have not turned the corner.
Week 0 𝐖#Noles WIN ‼️#NoleFamily pic.twitter.com/9YpuF3zm32
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) August 30, 2026
Florida State may have won by 17, but Mike Norvell's seat is just as hot as it was before
New Mexico State was able to move the ball as they converted 10 of 17 third downs, threw for 272 yards and stayed within one score well into the third quarter. The defense didn't really look sharp defending the pass (although they were good against the run).
The FSU offense was pretty solid, but QB Ashton Daniels could have been better. He went 17 of 27 for 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception. RB Samuel Singleton Jr. scored on the ground and through the air, so that was a positive. And Ousmane Kromah ended the game with 115 yards.
But how much would FSU fans have liked to see the Seminoles come out of the gate and punch New Mexico State in the mouth? It was an opportunity served up on a silver platter for the program to make a statement, and they weren't able to do that.
Norvell is in year seven at this point and that undefeated season feels so far in the past. This program can't afford to just sleep walk to a win against a Group of Six team. They must send messages to the fanbase that they have made strides.
Labor Day night is Florida State's next game. The Seminoles will face SMU and that will be the first real test of whether Saturday was rust or the start of another year that ends the same way as the last two seasons.
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