First and foremost, everyone at ChopChat would like to extend our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas to all our loyal readers and their loved ones. We truly appreciate the time you dedicate to reading our content each day. A quick disclaimer: we hope you don’t get too many strange looks wearing your Florida State football gear at those holiday gatherings.
Florida State football fans had to endure a rough season, as the Seminoles finished with a dismal 2-10 record. This outcome was not what anyone anticipated (unless, of course, you were ESPN’s Paul Finebaum or Greg McElroy), especially after a stellar 13-1 season in 2023. While it’s easy to attribute the struggles to the injury of former quarterback Jordan Travis and missing the College Football Playoff, the problems run much deeper. Fortunately, it seems that head coach Mike Norvell is finally making the changes necessary to put the Seminoles on track for more championship trophies in the near future.
In contrast, the Miami Hurricanes, who have been in the conference for two decades, can’t even claim a conference championship despite high expectations for the 2024 season. Instead, they ended up in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. But let’s shift away from discussing the less fortunate programs. In the spirit of the holiday season, here are three Christmas gifts for Florida State football fans.
TRANSFER PORTAL
I’ve previously stated that Florida State head coach Mike Norvell and Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin were the transfer portal kings of college football. However, after the events of the 2024 season, some had to rethink their rankings. What made Norvell so effective in the portal was his ability to bring in high-quality players who fit his system and culture, with a strong hit rate. Unfortunately, reality set in during 2024, when only around 15% of his transfers panned out to a significant degree (and honestly, that number could have been even lower).
This issue was evident early on, as some began questioning Norvell’s ability to recruit at the high school level. Despite the challenges, Florida State had a highly successful 2025 recruiting cycle, securing several key recruits. In addition to these high school commitments, the Seminoles also brought in transfers like Thomas Castellanos, Duce Robinson, Micah Pettus, Adrian Medley, Gunnar Hansen, James Williams, Randy Pittman, and others.
The focus this year has shifted to production. Florida State isn’t just adding transfers based on their high school rankings but rather selecting players who can make an immediate impact in 2025. The coaching staff, I believe, made smart moves in the offseason to raise the team’s floor and put them in a stronger position moving forward.
BEING RIGHT ABOUT ESPN/HERBSTREIT
I don’t think Florida State football fans will ever fully get over what happened last December, when an undefeated Seminoles team, complete with a Power-Five conference championship, was left out of the College Football Playoff in favor of a one-loss Alabama team. The level of injustice and the clear favoritism shown toward a particular brand and conference is something that will stick with many fans for a long time. It’s a sad state of affairs when, in the current landscape of college football, wins seem to matter less than they should.
Kirk Herbstreit himself pointed out on ESPN that, in the current playoff selection process, wins seem to carry less weight than they should. While I understand that college football and ESPN are, at the end of the day, part of a money-driven industry, it’s hard not to laugh at how blatantly the network pushes its own agenda to fit a narrative. It’s encouraging, though, to see that other college football fans are starting to take notice of this as well.
Yes, Florida State had a rough 2-10 season this year, and they don’t have much of a case for inclusion in the playoff with such a poor performance. However, the principle of fairness in college football still stands. The system needs to be equitable across the board, and not just tailored to a select group of teams.
NEW COACHING STAFF
Florida State’s 2023 season was a major setback, but it also became a pivotal turning point for the program under Mike Norvell. After the dismal 2-10 finish, it was clear that sweeping changes were needed to right the ship and set the foundation for a brighter future. Norvell’s decision to overhaul his coaching staff, including hiring high-profile names like Gus Malzahn, Herb Hand, and others, showed a level of urgency and self-awareness that many fans hadn’t expected.
It’s natural to wonder if Norvell would have made such drastic moves had the team finished with a more respectable 7-5 or 8-4 record. Would he have stuck with the status quo, hoping for improvement, or would he have recognized that something deeper needed to change? In hindsight, the 2-10 season, though painful, might have been the catalyst for a necessary reset—one that not only improves the team’s immediate performance but also rejuvenates its reputation on the recruiting trail.
The fresh infusion of talent and leadership on the coaching staff already seems to be making an impact. These new hires have brought much-needed buzz to the program, and for Florida State fans, that’s a much-needed gift. The hope now is that these changes lead to sustained success and rebuild the program into a perennial contender. The coming seasons will be crucial in determining if this reset can turn into long-term stability for the Seminoles.
