“Fixed it once. We’ll fix it again.” That’s Mike Norvell’s Monday presser message after Florida State’s 24-10 loss at Clemson. Now, he’s answering doubts. The Seminoles are 4-5 (1-5 in ACC play), and the magic from that 2023 ACC title run feels like it evaporated. But the HC didn’t flinch. He channeled his inner Dabo Swinney, the same guy who beat his squad most recently, and delivered what sounded like a sermon more than a press conference.

On November 10, FSU alum Dustin Lewis shared Mike Norvell’s postgame speech on X where he revealed the trajectory of the program heading into 2026. “I’ve got an elite level of confidence for what’s ahead for this program,” he said firmly, setting the tone early. “I believe in it. I believe in the guys. When I look at our roster, I see the guys. As I mentioned earlier, we’ve won championships here. We’ve done that.” It was classic coach-speak with a Clemson twist. 

Just days before, Dabo Swinney had gone full philosopher after another gut-punch loss to Duke. “It’s not a period, it’s a comma,” he said, reminding Clemson fans. “This is a part of our story. You know what else is part of our story? National championships.” Like the Tigers HC, Mike Norvell leaned on the past to promise a future. Because when you’re 37-32 in six seasons, you need the past to sell hope.

Mike Norvell hasn’t hoisted the crystal football yet, but he’s got one ACC championship in 2020. Still, the playbook feels eerily familiar. A little pain, a little perspective, and a whole lot of trust in the process. The difference is that Dabo Swinney’s hardware backs it up. His blueprint still needs bricks. So while the tone felt like a rally cry, the timing couldn’t be worse. FSU hasn’t won a road game since beating Florida last November. The 2025 season, meant to be a redemption arc after missing the playoff despite an unbeaten 2023, has unraveled into a cautionary tale. 

Mike Norvell shares his feelings about FSU 

Florida State spent millions in the transfer portal, opened the year knocking off No. 6 Alabama 31-17, and strutted into September like a playoff lock. Now, sitting at 4-5, it feels like that Week 1 win happened in another lifetime. Mike Norvell admitted as much after the Clemson loss. “I was excited for what I expected to see tonight,” he said. “There was nothing that came out of the practice that gave me pause of what would show up. I felt like the guys were going to go out there and showcase us, and like I said, there were opportunities, but we weren’t good enough tonight.” 

From the opening snap, the story wrote itself in heartbreak. A fumble near the goal line. Drive-killing drops. Fourth-down heartbreaks. The same mistakes, on repeat, like a bad remix of 2022. Next up is Virginia Tech. The Hokies are 3-6, desperate but dangerous. FSU leads the all-time series 24-13-1, including a 39-17 win in their last meeting. On paper, it should be a rebound. But the Seminoles’ paper promises haven’t meant much lately.

As Mike Norvell said, “Next year will be a new team… I’ve got elite expectations, and we’re going to win a championship here in the very near future.” Maybe this is just another comma in FSU’s story. But right now, it feels like the Seminoles are stuck somewhere between belief and burnout trying to convince themselves that the climb is worth it when the view keeps disappearing in the fog.