Florida State’s football faithful are still reeling from a 2025 2–10 collapse that no one saw coming.
Now, with sweeping changes and a new look on offense, the Seminoles are hoping to turn the page. But does this offseason signal a true revival, or just cautious steps forward?
How Did Florida State Fall This Far?
Florida State entered 2024 with sky-high expectations, projected for 9.5 wins by Vegas and boasting a top-15 roster in the 247 Team Talent Composite. Instead, the Seminoles finished 2–10, their third-worst record ever and the largest negative gap between preseason projections and actual results in the modern era.
The offense, once a strength, became a glaring weakness. The Seminoles ranked 127th nationally in completion percentage on passes over 20 yards (just 24.0%), and their ground game averaged a mere 0.7 yards before contact, the lowest in the FBS.
The defense, which had carried FSU to an ACC title in 2023, also regressed sharply. Pressure rates plummeted from 39.9% (9th nationally) in 2023 to just 32.8% (56th) in 2024, as the unit struggled to replace departed stars like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske.
As head coach Mike Norvell said, “Anytime you have a season like last year, it’s extremely disappointing. I’m disappointed in it but you don’t get caught up dwelling on the things that happened. You look at the things that we’ve done coming off of last year, some of the new additions, whether it’s coaching staff, players…”
In response, Norvell overhauled his approach to roster building. “I wanted production this year,” he told ESPN. “I wasn’t going to rely on potential”. That philosophy guided the transfer portal strategy, targeting proven contributors rather than untested upside.
Will FSU’s Offseason Additions Be Enough?
The most headline-grabbing move was hiring Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator. Malzahn’s offenses have averaged 447.7 yards per game over 19 seasons, but his recent results at UCF were mixed, and some analysts question whether his “offensive wizardry” will translate in 2025.
Sources: UCF head coach Gus Malzahn is resigning to become the new offensive coordinator at Florida State, sources told ESPN. His UCF tenure will end after four years at 28-24. pic.twitter.com/XHlEFY91T2
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 30, 2024
More promising may be the addition of offensive line coach Herb Hand and four veteran transfer linemen with a combined 105 career starts, aiming to fix a unit that was disastrous in 2024.
The receiver position remains a concern: three key players departed, and while transfers Squirrel White and Duce Robinson bring experience, both have struggled with injuries. At quarterback, Boston College transfer Thomas Castellanos arrives with starting experience and familiarity with Malzahn’s system.
KEEP READING: Analyst Josh Pate Questions What Success Looks Like for Florida State Under Mike Norvell
Despite these moves, skepticism lingers. As one analysis put it, FSU’s outlook is more promising because of the addition of Herb Hand as the offensive line coach rather than just Malzahn’s arrival.
The offensive line was the team’s weakest area last season, and Hand, who joined from UCF with Malzahn and is highly respected, could be the pivotal figure in improving FSU’s offense.
After a historically bad season, Florida State’s offseason signals a cautious reset, not a full-scale revival. The staff and roster changes address glaring weaknesses, but the road back to national relevance will require more than one offseason’s work. For now, Seminole fans should hope for progress and keep expectations in check.
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