Tag: florida state

Nov 29, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn looks on before a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Florida State OC Gus Malzahn retires after 35 years of coaching

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn announced his retirement Monday after 35 years in coaching.

The former Auburn, University of Central Florida and Arkansas State head coach spent just one season with the Seminoles in 2025.

“After 35 years, it’s time for me to step away from coaching,” Malzahn said in a statement. “I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life. I want to thank Coach (Mike) Norvell for giving me the opportunity to coach at such a prestigious program.”

Norvell promoted co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Tim Harris to replace Malzahn, 60.

Florida State led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing (218.7 yards per game) and total offense (472.1) in Malzahn’s lone season as the play-caller in Tallahassee.

Malzahn compiled a 105-62 record as head coach at Arkansas State (2012), Auburn (2013-20) and UCF (2021-24), including a 3-7 record in bowl games.

During his first season at Auburn in 2013, the Tigers lost 34-31 to Florida State in the BCS Championship game and finished 12-2. Malzahn was named the national and SEC Coach of the Year.

Malzahn coached in the high school ranks from 1991-2005 before becoming the offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2006. After two seasons as an assistant coach at Tulsa (2007-08), he joined Auburn as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2009-11. In 2010, Tigers quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and Auburn completed a 14-0 season with a national championship.

–Field Level Media

Florida State WR Duce Robinson to forgo NFL draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State wide receiver Duce Robinson will forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return for another season with the Seminoles, he announced Thursday.

“This has truly been one of the best years of my life,” he said in an Instagram post. “I’m really excited to be able to be a Seminole again in 2026.”

Robinson was an All-ACC first-team selection in his first season in Tallahassee, catching 56 passes for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts) in 2025.

Robinson posted five 100-yard games for the Seminoles (5-7), including a season-high 173 yards and two scores on five catches in a 77-3 win against East Texas A&M on Sept. 6.

The 6-foot-6, 223-pound junior from Phoenix played his first two seasons at Southern California before transferring to Florida State. He had 39 receptions for 747 yards and seven TDs in 23 games for the Trojans.

–Field Level Media

FSU QB Thomas Castellanos drops appeal, enters draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has dropped his petition for another year of eligibility and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.

“To my family, friends, coaches, and teammates and everyone who has supported me along this journey, thank you for believing in me and pushing me to become the man I am today,” he posted Tuesday on X.

Castellanos started 12 games for the Seminoles in 2025 following two seasons at Boston College (2023-24) and one at UCF (2022).

He had appealed for an extra season based on only appearing in five games as a freshman reserve for the Knights in 2022, including as an injury replacement in the then-American Athletic Conference championship game.

Just Win Management Group, the agency that aided Castellanos during his legal battle with the NCAA, supported his decision to move on.

“While the unique facts and circumstances surrounding the petition for an additional year of eligibility did create a path of viability, after careful review and consideration, we fully support Mr. Castellanos’ decision to forego that continued pursuit and focus his attention on preparing for the 2026 NFL draft,” the agency said in a statement.

Castellanos started every game for the Seminoles (5-7) in 2025, connecting on 58.3% of passes for 2,760 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for a team-high 557 yards and nine scores.

–Field Level Media

ACC reveals ‘26 schedule: Some play 9 league games, others 8

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Atlantic Coast Conference revealed Tuesday that not all 17 of its football members will make the move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026.

Instead, 12 teams will play nine games while Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina will have eight games in what the league called a “transition year” to its new scheduling policy.

The ACC said in a news release that the unique format for 2026 was “designed to balance competitive equity, honor existing nonconference game contracts and account for the league’s unique 17-team footprint.”

Beginning in 2027, 16 teams will play a nine-game ACC schedule and also be required to schedule one other Power 4 opponent. Because of the odd number of member institutions, one team each season will be scheduled for eight ACC games and must schedule two Power 4 opponents elsewhere.

“Today’s announcement of our 2026 football league opponents is another significant and intentional step forward for ACC Football,” commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. “Transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule strengthens our competitive framework, aligns us with the other Power Four conferences and provides greater consistency for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. This phased approach reflects our commitment to competitive equity, scheduling flexibility and delivering a premier football product across all 17 institutions.”

The league announced its decision to join the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC with a nine-game conference schedule back on Sept. 22.

The ACC also said in its release that its tiebreaker policy will be updated and announced sometime before the 2026 season.

The league caught flak for 7-5 Duke winning a five-way tiebreaker among 6-2 ACC teams to qualify for the championship game against Virginia. The unranked Blue Devils upset the Cavaliers for the conference title, and come College Football Playoff selection time, two Group of Five champions — Tulane and James Madison — were ranked higher than Duke and got in the field as the No. 11 and 12 seeds.

–Field Level Media

Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos petitions NCAA for extra season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos is petitioning the NCAA to reconsider his request for an extra season of eligibility.

Castellanos contends he should be granted a fifth season since he played in only five games in 2022 as a freshman third-stringer at UCF. One was a spot appearance as an injury replacement in the American Athletic Conference championship game.

Castellanos started for Boston College as a sophomore and junior, then transferred again to join the Seminoles for the 2025 season.

“Just weeks after Tommy’s participating (in the 2022 AAC title game), the NCAA issued a blanket waiver allowing future players in his exact situation to maintain their redshirt status,” Darren Heitner, the attorney representing Castellanos as he appeals, said in a statement Friday.

Heitner added, “Players today can participate in four regular-season games plus a conference championship game without losing eligibility.”

Castellanos completed 2 of 8 passes for seven yards as UCF fell 45-28 to Tulane in the 2022 AAC championship. The Knights tabbed him to fill in for John Rhys Plumlee, who exited with a hamstring injury, because backup Mikey Keene had opted out of postseason play to preserve his own redshirt status as he mulled a transfer.

“(Castellanos) played only because of circumstances beyond his control,” Heitner said. “(He) is being penalized for the timing. Considering the postseason exception that now exists, this case demands a fair resolution.”

Castellanos started every game for Florida State in 2025, connecting on 58.3% of passes for 2,760 yards and a 15-9 touchdown-interception split, as coach Mike Norvell’s team limped to a 5-7 record and lost six of eight ACC matchups.

The dual-threat quarterback totaled 557 yards and nine scores on the ground as Florida State’s leading rusher.

The Seminoles decided to bring back Norvell for a seventh year at the helm despite another losing season. They went 2-10 (1-7 ACC) in 2024 before Castellanos’ transfer.

–Field Level Media

Jadan Baugh’s historic outing leads Florida to rivalry win over Florida State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida’s Jadan Baugh eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in a dominating, career-best outing, and the Gators deprived rival Florida State of a bowl berth by rocking the Seminoles 40-21 on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.

Baugh carried 38 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns, and DJ Lagway was 15 of 24 for 168 yards with three touchdowns and an interception as the Gators (4-8, 2-6 SEC) finally won in November.

With an interim coach and falling out of the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes this weekend, Florida snapped a four-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, Florida State (5-7, 2-6 ACC) needed another win for a bowl appearance, but the ACC school never led and lost for the third time in four games.

Tommy Castellanos went 17 of 28 for 240 yards with two TD passes and a pick; he also rushed for 77 yards and a score. Lawayne McCoy had six receptions for 117 yards and a score.

The Seminoles are now winless on the road for the second straight season; their last road victory, coincidentally, was in Gainesville in 2023.

After the Gators took a 3-0 lead on Trey Smack’s 23-yard kick, Florida’s defense stuffed the visitors’ second series with a turnover on downs, and Lagway soon found J. Michael Sturdivant on a slant for a five-yard score at 2:49 for a 10-0 lead.

However, on third-and-5 in the second quarter, Castellanos hit receiver Micahi Danzy, who hauled in a throw underneath and was shoved into the end zone by his teammates for a 13-yard TD to make it to 10-7 at 13:39.

The home side answered Florida State’s score with a nine-yard play-action pass to Tony Livingston in an epic 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 8:01 of the quarter.

Seminoles defensive back Edwin Joseph picked off Lagway to set up the half’s final score, a four-yard scamper by Castellanos as a short skirmish broke out at the goal line between the north Florida foes in the 17-14 contest.

Baugh had 101 yards in the first half to become the first 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor in 2015.

Lagway led Florida 40 yards in three plays after a turnover on downs and regained the 10-point lead with a three-yard pass to Hayden Hansen at 9:47. Baugh created separation with a 22-yard run at 2:55 to increase it to 31-14.

Smack hit from 54 for the first points of the 4th quarter. Then, Castellanos found McCoy from 17 yards out with 3:07 left.
Baugh’s TD run was the final score of the contest.

–Field Level Media

Florida State retaining Mike Norvell for 2026 season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mike Norvell will remain as Florida State’s head coach into the 2026 season, the school announced Sunday afternoon.

With support from Seminoles’ leadership, Norvell has pledged to institute fundamental changes in specific areas to improve performance to meet the school’s championship standard, the school’s press release said.

“FSU Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins, Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford, and I are in complete agreement that changes are needed for our program to improve,” FSU president Richard McCullough said in a statement. “Coach Norvell embraces our support in that process and agrees that success must be achieved. He continues to demonstrate an unwavering belief in this program’s future, and so do we. This decision reflects a unified commitment to competing in the rapidly evolving landscape of college football, while maintaining continuity within the program.”

The Seminoles fell to 5-6 Friday night with a 21-11 loss at North Carolina State in Norvell’s sixth season leading the program. He has a 38-33 record over his time at Florida State, but has lost 17 of the last 24 games since the 2023 Seminoles were left out of the College Football Playoff with a 13-0 record.

Norvell signed an eight-year extension that pays him over $10 million annually in February 2024 when he was being courted as a potential replacement for Nick Saban at Alabama. If Norvell was fired at this moment, he would be owed a $54 million buyout, a likely contributing factor in the decision to bring him back in 2026.

A crowded coaching carousel with vacancies already open for weeks at Penn State, LSU, Florida and Auburn, among others, also could have gone into the decision.

“This program has been built on belief, sacrifice, and putting the team first,” Norvell said in a statement. “That set of values has always guided my actions, and those of our players. The driving motivation behind this is to make certain that we are doing everything properly to obtain and retain elite players, add critical pieces, and sustain long-term success. I love Florida State, and I am fully committed to this program, and our shared goals.”

Norvell brought in new offensive and defensive coordinators in Gus Malzahn and Tony White after last year’s 2-10 season. It sounds like more changes on his staff will now be on the way over the next few weeks.

“Our responsibility is to do what gives Florida State the strongest competitive position – not just today, but for years to come,” Alford said in a statement. “Florida State has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in its football program over the past few years with high expectations. Chairman Collins, President McCullough and I are aligned in partnering with Coach and improving our ability to compete for championships. Our mission is unwavering in putting Florida State football at the forefront of college athletics.”

–Field Level Media

N.C. State beats Florida State to become bowl eligibile

Posted on | by Field Level Media

CJ Bailey threw for two touchdowns and kept North Carolina State out of trouble for the most part while the Wolfpack defense, along with strange plays on special teams, took care of the rest in a 21-11 victory over Florida State on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Bailey, who struggled last Saturday in a blowout loss at Miami, completed 18 of 25 throws for 152 yards with no interceptions as NC State (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) became bowl eligible. Running back Hollywood Smothers rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries.

Florida State (5-6, 2-5) must win its regular-season finale Nov. 29 at Florida to gain bowl eligibility.

The Wolfpack held Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos to 203 yards on 16-for-32 passing.

With the Seminoles trailing 14-3, Castellanos connected with Duce Robinson for a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and then it really got interesting.

After NC State’s ensuing possession was halted, a bizarre play turned favorable for the Wolfpack. Punter Caden Noonkester’s punt was so short that it struck a Florida State player in the helmet, bouncing so far back toward the line of scrimmage that Noonkester recovered the ball.

Then the next possession fizzled, so the Wolfpack, still holding a 14-11 lead, punted again, with Squirrel White fumbling on the return and NC State recovering at the Florida State 16-yard line.

This time, the Wolfpack converted on Bailey’s 12-yard throw to Justin Joly in the end zone on a fourth-and-6 play with 1:47 to play.

Robinson, a standout receiver, was targeted several times by Castellanos, but they didn’t connect for a completion until the fourth quarter.

Leading 14-3, the Wolfpack looked poised to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter by moving into Florida State territory. But a third-down sack pushed them out of field goal range, so NC State punted.

Florida State then marched 86 yards on 10 plays with Castellanos hooking up with Robinson for the team’s first touchdown of the night. Castellanos threw to Jayvan Boggs for the two-point conversion.

NC State scored late in the first quarter on Bailey’s 23-yard pass play to Terrell Anderson. The Seminoles countered in the opening minute of the second quarter on Jake Weinberg’s 46-yard field goal.

NC State controlled the ball for most of the third quarter, converting that time into points with Will Wilson’s 1-yard scoring run with 4:17 left in the frame.

–Field Level Media

Florida State, NC State battle for bowl eligibility

Posted on | by Field Level Media

There will be quite a bit at stake — just not at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings — when Florida State and North Carolina State meet Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Instead, the winner will achieve bowl eligibility with time running out in the season.

Florida State (5-5, 2-5), which will finish the regular season at Florida on Nov. 29, is winless in three road games this season.

“This year we have not been good enough (in road games),” Seminoles coach Mike Norvell said. “We are looking at every component. There are some modifications that we’re implementing throughout this week and continuing to push so (that) come Friday night on a short week, our best is going to show up.”

To complicate matters, Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh generally has been a difficult venue for Florida State.

“It’s a hostile place to play,” Norvell said.

North Carolina State (5-5, 2-4) has lost three of its last four games, giving up more than 35 points in four consecutive games.

“We got all kinds of injuries, and so guys got to duct tape it up and play for each other,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said.

North Carolina State is trying to recover from Saturday’s 41-7 loss at then-No. 15 Miami.

“They’re coming off a game that’s very uncharacteristic of how they’ve played,” Norvell said.

Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey will look for a bounce-back outing after throwing two interceptions and accounting for a season-low 120 passing yards in the Miami game — which marked the only time this year he didn’t throw for a touchdown.

Florida State has won two of its last three games, including last week’s 34-14 triumph against Virginia Tech. But the Seminoles will be without cornerback Ja’Bril Rawls for the rest of the season because of an undisclosed injury. This means true freshman cornerback Shamar Arnoux will have heightened responsibilities.

“He’s got the right mindset,” Norvell said. “I do think he’s really capable. He’s going to grow up right there in front of our eyes this week.”

–Field Level Media

Thomas Castellanos pilots Florida State past Virginia Tech

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Thomas Castellanos ran for two touchdowns and passed for another to help Florida State defeat Virginia Tech 34-14 Saturday night in Tallahassee, Fla.

Castellanos scored on runs of 1 and 15 yards, and tossed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Duce Robinson (six receptions, 134 yards). The Seminoles (5-5, 2-5 ACC) also received a 1-yard TD run from Randy Pittman Jr., and two field goals from Jake Weinberg.

The victory improved Florida State’s home record to 5-2.

Quarterback Kyron Drones had a 4-yard TD run for the Hokies (3-7, 2-4). It was his ninth rushing TD of the season. Virginia Tech’s other touchdown came on an 8-yard pass from Drones to wide receiver Ayden Greene.

It was scoreless after one quarter, but the Seminoles led 10-7 at halftime and 24-7 entering the fourth quarter.

Florida State opened the scoring when Weinberg kicked a 26-yard field goal with 10:56 remaining in the second quarter, but Virginia Tech grabbed the lead when Drones capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with his 4-yard TD run. John Love’s PAT made it 7-3 with 5:25 remaining in the second quarter.

The Seminoles went in front 10-7 on the 50-yard touchdown pass from Castellanos to Robinson with 3:11 left in the first half.

Florida State extended its lead by scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter. The first TD came when Castellanos scored from a yard away on the opening possession of the second half. It was a 13-play, 63-yard scoring drive, and the PAT made it 17-7 with 9:33 left in the third.

Pittman added a 1-yard TD run with 54 seconds remaining in the quarter that helped stretch Florida State’s advantage to 24-7.

Virginia Tech responded with a 75-yard scoring drive that ended with Greene’s TD catch that helped slice Florida State’s lead to 24-14 with 11:20 to play.

Castellanos ran for his 15-yard TD with 7:31 remaining, and Weinberg ended the scoring on a 34-yard field goal with 4:12 on the clock.

–Field Level Media