The past two years in Tallahassee have been strange, to say the least. FSU started last year with a bang by beating #8 Alabama by 14 points, but most of the season after that point did not go their way.
The Seminoles went 5-7, with close losses:
• in 2OT to #16 Virginia
• by 6 to #2 Miami
• by 3 to Pitt
• stopped at the goal line on the final play and lost by 7 to Stanford
They were vastly improved from 2024 and were close to having a solid season, but went 0-4 in those one score games (which occurred in 4 consecutive weeks).
With Gus Malzahn’s retirement, FSU promoted passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. to OC (FSU offense was 6th in FBS in yards per game and had a 1,000-yard receiver in Duce Robinson last year).
2026 Offense:
• Auburn transfer QB Ashton Daniels
• Texas transfer RB Quintrevion Wisner
• Return RB Ousmane Kromah
• Return RB Sam Singleton Jr.
• Return star WR Duce Robinson
• Return WR Micahi Danzy
• Return WR Jayvan Boggs
• 4🌟 WR recruit Jasen Lopez
• 4🌟 WR recruit Devin Carter
• ECU transfer TE Desirrio Riles
• Return TE Landen Thomas
Offensive line:
• 4🌟 Auburn transfer Xavier Chaplin (started 37 straight games for Virginia Tech & Auburn)
• Troy transfer Paul Bowling (started all 12 games for Troy last year, 752 snaps)
• Purdue transfer Bradyn Welch-Joiner (started all 12 games for Purdue last year)
• Bowling Green transfer Nate Pabst (started 38 straight games, Second-Team All MAC)
• Returning OL Andre Otto (played in 24 games over last two years)
Heading into year 2 under defensive coordinator Tony White.
2026 Defense:
• UNC transfer LB Mikai Gbayor
• Southern Miss transfer LB Chris Jones
• USA DB transfer Nehemiah Chandler
• Return star DB Ja’Bril Rawls
• Return DB KJ Kirkland
• Return DB Ashlynd Barker
• 4🌟 DB recruit Chuck Kennon
• Return DL Mandrell Desir (led team in TFL)
• Texas A&M transfer DL Rylan Kennedy
• Return DL Daniel Lyons
• Return DL Deante McCray
• 2025 4🌟 DL Kevin Wynn (No. 9 DL)
Will this be the year that Florida State returns to the national stage gets back to their program’s standard?