Following their historic victory over Alabama, which appeared to set the stage for a legendary season under Mike Norvell, Florida State had been riding high on confidence. By September, the Seminoles were unbeaten, in the top ten, and full of confidence. This explains why the blunder at Virginia, a wild double-overtime defeat that sent Cavalier fans flooding the field, struck so hard. All of a sudden, the AD had to step in, not to raise alarms, but to reassure everyone that this program is still moving forward, even if things go a little bumpy along the way.

In a recent X post, FSU Seminoles dropped some of the clips from their podcast where FSU AD Michael Alford was quick to point out the victory over Alabama as proof that Mike Norvell’s season is still on track. “What has been a great start? You saw the momentum we got from the Alabama game, and you’ve been so pleased with the changes that we’ve made to the program,” he said. It was a major win, not only because it was a victory over the Crimson Tide, but also because it came after a 2-10 season in 2024. Norvell’s $80 million extension felt validated after they defeated Nick Saban‘s successor in Week 1.

Gus Malzahn and Adam White, both hired this year, came at a combined price tag of $10.8 million, with Malzahn on a three-year, $6 million deal and White on a three-year, $4.8 million contract, signaling FSU’s heavy investment in reshaping Norvell’s staff. On offense, the AD singled out Gus’ early fingerprints, “You see just offensively what Gus has come in and been able to do in just a mindset. You see the mindset change on the team.” What he meant was shown in that Alabama game, as the Seminoles scored 31 points and looked effective against Ryan Grubb‘s first Alabama scheme. Alford continues to believe that the offensive direction is valid despite criticism that tune-ups against Kent State and East Texas A&M may have hidden certain flaws.

On defense, he relied on Adam White’s advancements. “What Coach White’s been able to come in and do defensively, that aggressive style of defense has really made a difference for us,” he said. This is why the Virginia collapse hurt; the Crimson Tide’s momentum seemed to be damaged by their 46-38 loss in double overtime. Alford did, however, highlight resilience as what matters most. “Things weren’t going well. We did not play our best game at all, made some mistakes, but you saw them fight, you saw them continue to fight, continue to believe, and that’s something that really stood out to me,” he added. The AD framed the upcoming Miami game as a sign of growth, stating that “You go to practice and you just see the upbeat of the team, something different than last year… I think that’s going to help us in the long run.”

Virginia setback shifts FSU’s College GameDay day plans as ACC Huddle steps in

Despite having a 3-0 start, Florida State’s double-overtime loss to Virginia threw an obstacle into what had been a smooth story of momentum and development. Before the fumble, the Seminoles were set to host ESPN’s College GameDay for their crucial matchup with Miami. The focus abruptly shifted: FSU would not receive the Saban soundbites, the McAfee antics, or the national pregame circus. Instead, ACC Network’s ACC Huddle stepped in to fill the void, giving Seminoles fans something to rally around, even if it didn’t provide the full GameDay experience.

FSU AD Michael Alford swiftly used social media to diffuse the situation and recast it. He announced that “We are excited to welcome the ACC Huddle & ACC Network back to Tallahassee for one of the best rivalries in CFB.” He added that it is “a tremendous opportunity for our program & fans to show the nation the unconquered spirit that makes the Seminoles brand special.” The Seminoles and Hurricanes have played close games for years, and this Saturday would be no exception. Alford made it clear that pride, passion, and history would carry the rivalry’s weight even in the absence of GameDay.

The defeat to Virginia changed the season’s perception and forced the use of controlled messaging, so it was more than just a mark on the clean record for FSU. The emphasis now is on bouncing back and showing the team’s ability to withstand pressure, particularly when facing a Miami team with a seven-point lead and with a balanced attack. With quarterback Thomas Castellanos at the forefront, Seminoles fans are being urged to put the Virginia blunder behind them and show resilience on and off the field while creating a memorable ACC Huddle visit.