Florida State football’s place in the national conversation has changed dramatically in just a few seasons, and FOX Sports’ RJ Young is reflecting that shift in his preseason outlook.
Young ranked the Seminoles No. 73 among all 138 FBS programs entering 2026, a placement that puts Florida State in the middle of the national picture rather than among the sport’s established contenders. The ranking comes as Mike Norvell’s team tries to restore credibility after back-to-back losing seasons and reestablish itself in the ACC race.
“This ain’t the Mike Norvell Florida State you once knew,” Young wrote while assessing the Seminoles. He pointed directly to FSU’s 7-17 record over the past two seasons and the pressure surrounding Norvell entering a pivotal seventh year in Tallahassee.
For a program that was unbeaten through the 2023 regular season, falling this far in a national preseason ranking underscores how much work remains. Young’s evaluation suggests Florida State’s name alone is no longer enough to earn the benefit of the doubt.
Young identified quarterback Ashton Daniels as one of the biggest variables in determining whether Florida State can reverse course. The Auburn Tigers transfer won the starting job during the spring and arrives with considerable experience after previously starting for the Stanford Cardinal. Daniels has appeared in 37 career games with 23 starts, throwing for 4,783 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 1,397 rushing yards and 11 scores.
How quickly Daniels adjusts to another offensive system could go a long way toward determining Florida State’s ceiling. Young wrote that his transition could be the difference between the Seminoles moving back toward the form they displayed in 2023 and another disappointing season that intensifies questions surrounding Norvell’s future.
For a program only three years removed from an ACC championship, the No. 73 ranking illustrates just how much national perception has shifted. Florida State now has the opportunity to change it on the field as Norvell and the Seminoles attempt to make 2026 the beginning of a much-needed rebound.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Florida State lands surprisingly low in national preseason ranking