The 2024 season has begun in disastrous fashion for Florida State, as the Seminoles are off to an unexpected 0-2 start.
Coming off an undefeated regular season and an ACC title last year, expectations were sky-high for the Noles, but things have quickly fallen apart in Tallahassee
Head coach Mike Norvell and his team opened the season with a surprising loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland, where they were heavily favored.
Just a week later, they dropped their home opener to Boston College, once again as clear favorites. This loss was especially shocking considering the circumstances and how much was at stake.
The back-to-back defeats have raised serious concerns about the team’s ability to live up to preseason hype, especially after a significant investment in NIL deals.
A major focus of Florida State’s offseason was on bolstering its defensive line. It’s been reported that Norvell and the program poured nearly $2 million into the starting unit as part of the program’s broader $12 million NIL budget.
“The team has struggled despite the Noles making a big investment in their defensive line this year with almost $2 million going to their starting front in what is an NIL team budget of around $12 million, a source briefed on FSU’s NIL strategy,” The Athletic reported.
The defensive line, once considered the strength of this Seminoles squad, has been outplayed in both matchups.
Georgia Tech managed to create offensive push in Week Zero, surprising many, and Boston College followed suit, further exposing Florida State’s vulnerabilities.
The reality, after two games, is that this Seminoles team is not performing at nearly the level many expected.
What’s most concerning about the Noles defensive line is the fact that they came out lifeless and played with very little energy or urgency against Boston College.
Now knowing that the starting unit earns nearly $2 million makes matters a whole lot worse for Seminole fans who were hoping to make a run at the national title this season.
Adding salt to the wound for loyal Florida State fans was the shocking news that their world-famous War Chant will be permanently replaced by “club music” on third downs at home games. (Talk about an out-of-touch decision.)
With a history of success and significant resources, Florida State should be a dominant force in the ACC, a conference that lags behind powerhouses like the SEC and Big Ten.
Talks of leaving the ACC for a stronger conference have swirled around the program, but as many have pointed out, failing to succeed in the ACC could mean Florida State would struggle even more in a tougher league.
Now, sitting at 0-2 in ACC play, Florida State’s chances of making a return to the ACC Championship Game or the College Football Playoff are slim.
Even if the Seminoles manage to win the rest of their games, their fate may not be in their own hands.
More realistically, the team is now aiming just to become bowl-eligible, which would still be a major letdown after the hype surrounding them just weeks ago.
The Seminoles will use their upcoming bye week to regroup after this brutal start.
They’ll return to action with a Saturday home game against Memphis in Week 3, a game that now feels like an absolute must-win.
What are your thoughts on the report that Norvell spent nearly $2 million of their $12 million NIL budget on the defensive line? … How disappointing has the group been to this point?
In the bigger picture, do you think Florida State will be able to turn things around and make a run at a playoff spot?
Or is this a team that has truly fallen off the tracks? … Is Norvell’s job in jeopardy???