Expectations in Tallahassee used to mean championship banners and playoff talks. Now? They’re whispered with caution. Coming off a brutal 2024 campaign where Florida State nosedived to a 2-10 record, optimism has been replaced by wariness. The Seminoles were supposed to be the ACC’s crown jewel last fall. Instead, they stumbled through the wreckage of poor execution, inconsistency, and injuries. So this offseason, HC Mike Norvell hit the reset button with authority. Entering the portal, revamping the coaching staff, and staking his next chapter on a QB: Thomas Castellanos.

Castellanos, the former Boston College passer, wasn’t pushed—he was benched. When Bill O’Brien took over and handed the keys to someone else, Tommy Castellanos took his talents elsewhere. That’s where Gus Malzahn comes in.

Florida State’s decision to bring on Malzahn as OC was more than a hire. Noles247 insider Brendan Sonnone broke it down on Cover 3: “I think from a fit perspective, Tommy Castellanos does make a lot of sense with what Gus Malzahn wants to do and what some of his best offenses have been.”

Sonnone pointed out a common misconception. “There’s some pushback that it has to be a running quarterback, but you look at what his best offenses have been—generally, you’ve had someone who’s had to be a pretty dynamic runner, and Tommy Castellanos has shown that in his career.” The numbers back it up.

Thomas Castellanos rushed for 1366 yards in 2023. That season, he was a one-man highlight reel—cutting defenders, improvising on broken plays, and keeping defenses in panic mode. But “last year at Boston College, some of the running efficiency stuff wasn’t anywhere as good as it was the year before,” Sonnone added. “There was a head coaching change, a drastic scheme change, more of an emphasis on him passing the ball.”

Now Malzahn will try to find that elusive blend—short-to-intermediate passing efficiency paired with the same electricity on the ground. Sonnone thinks the potential is real: “If you can get him to where, okay, he’s more efficient passing the football like he was last season… and then blend it with some of the dynamic athleticism… then you might have something that fits pretty well there.” A lower-body injury cut his 2024 season short, but his dual-threat résumé was already enough to make him a coveted addition. Florida State pounced. Mike Norvell and company saw something others overlooked. A QB with the burst to break a game open and the experience to run a modern offense.

This isn’t just plug-and-play though. It’s a full-on reboot. Malzahn’s offenses, at their peak, are movement-heavy and stress every inch of the field. “I do think this is going to be like a quintessential Gus Malzahn offense,” Sonnone said. “All the jet motion… a lot of speed at wide receiver.” He noted that Malzahn recruited Castellanos out of high school—as a quarterback, not just an athlete. There’s history and belief there. And if Florida State’s beefed-up offensive line holds up, there’s a chance this offense doesn’t just return to relevance—it sets fire to the stat sheets.

Mike Norvell isn’t keeping his cards close to the vest either. When asked what he wants out of Castellanos this year, he cut straight to the chase: “Our expectations are for him to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country.” That’s not lip service. That’s a challenge—wrapped in confidence and urgency. And if Norvell’s hire of Malzahn is any indicator, he believes they have the tools to make that happen.

“I’m extremely excited to have Gus Malzahn join our staff at Florida State,” Norvell said. “He has one of the most innovative minds in college football… His offenses have consistently showcased a tremendous running game combined with explosive plays through the air.” His OC and QB are set, but will Norvell’s seat stay cool?

Mike Norvell’s 8-win lifeline

Let’s be real—Mike Norvell is walking a tightrope in Tallahassee. The FSU coach enters 2025 with serious pressure to deliver, and the margin for error is razor thin. Despite a two-win season, a $63 million buyout kept him safe, but 2025 might not be so forgiving. According to Cover 3’s Bud Elliott, the expectations are crystal clear: get wins or get warm. “There does seem like there’s a lot of opportunity if this team actually hits for upside in the remaining eight games, and maybe I maybe you pull an upset in those other four.”

Elliott asked Noles247’s insider the burning question: “If the goal this year is to avoid that scorching hot seat for ’26 for Mike Norvell, what’s the number that has him going into ’26 not on a scorching hot seat?” The answer? “Eight. Seven or eight.”

It’s not just about the win total, though. As Brendan Sonnone noted, “some of it depends on what it looks like, injuries, stuff like that. But…eight’s the cutoff for me of like you now have something to sell.” In other words, anything less than eight wins and the pitchforks might come out.

The Florida State Seminoles’ 2025 schedule is no cakewalk. They face teams like Alabama, Miami, Clemson, and Florida. Winning those other eight games? It’s a must. The biggest spotlight of the season hits on August 30, when the ‘Noles host Alabama at Doak Campbell. Fans might be skeptical, but Norvell knows this game—and this season—could determine whether he’s still the guy.