Tag: florida state

Oct 12, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn arrives before the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Report: UCF HC Gus Malzahn to become Florida State OC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Gus Malzahn is leaving his post as UCF’s head coach to reunite with Florida State coach Mike Norvell as the Seminoles’ offensive coordinator, ESPN reported on Saturday.

Norvell, who served as a graduate assistant under Malzahn at Tulsa in 2007-08, relinquished his role as FSU’s primary playcaller amid a staff shakeup this season.

Florida State, 1-7 in the Athletic Coast Conference this season, entered Saturday’s season finale against Florida at 2-9 and ranked No. 131 in the nation in total offense.

UCF also endured a tough 2024 season, going 4-8 after losing eight of its last nine games. During Malzahn’s four-year tenure, the Knights went 28-24, including 5-13 in the Big 12 Conference the last two seasons.

Malzahn, 59, is 105-62 in 13 seasons as a college head coach, highlighted by a 68-35 mark in eight seasons at Auburn — which included a BCS title game appearance in 2013. He served as offensive coordinator and playcaller when the Tigers won the national title in 2010.

Malzahn will be tasked with revitalizing a Florida State offense that helped produce a 13-1 campaign in 2023, when the Seminoles were denied a spot in the College Football Playoff. Over the last three seasons at UCF, his rushing attack has been in the Top 10 in the nation.

In his 19 seasons as a college head coach or offensive coordinator, Malzahn’s teams have averaged 447.7 yards per game, and three of his teams eclipsed 7,000 yards in a season.

–Field Level Media

Florida Gators defensive back Trikweze Bridges (7), Florida Gators wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11), Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) and Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh (13) celebrateat Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The Gators defeated the Rebels 24-17 [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

Revived Florida focuses on finish in trip to Florida State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida is coming off arguably its biggest win of the season, upsetting Ole Miss while rival Florida State needed any kind of win and secured that last week by beating Charleston Southern.

Ending the season on a high note by winning the annual rivalry on Saturday night in Tallahassee, Fla., is the goal for these programs, but Florida stands an opportunity to further improve its bowl standing as a parting gift.

Florida leads the all-time series 37-28-2, but the Seminoles have won the past two meetings by nine points or fewer.

But this season, although they have experienced their ups and downs, things have gone markedly better for the Gators (6-5) than the Seminoles (2-9).

Napier had been thought to be on the hot seat since the start of the season. Everything changed in November.

With the support of his administration, Napier revived the Gators. Consecutive victories over ranked SEC foes LSU and Ole Miss the past two weeks have Florida’s outlook on the sunny side.

The Gators beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 led by DJ Lagway, who threw a pair of touchdown passes in the 24-17 victory.

A win over the rival Seminoles in a year they are favored to do so would be huge heading into a subsequent bowl game.

“It was complimentary ball,” Napier said. “We had a lot of comments about the game afterwards. So, you know, we have no time to play around here, because we’re turning the page.”

Florida State is fresh off its best offensive performance by far of this season, albeit against the lowly FCS-level Bucs, who finished their season 1-11.

The Seminoles scored a season-high 41 points, which was 20 more than their previous high, and snapped a six-game losing streak.

Quarterback Luke Kromenhoek completed 13 of 20 passes for 209 yards and threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions. The performance earned him the chance to start again in Saturday’s game per Florida State coach Mike Norvell.

“To be able to have three touchdown passes, he made a lot of good decisions,” Norvell said during his Monday press conference. “There’s some throws that he missed, some parts of different reads and progressions where I think he’s going to continue to even become that much more efficient around it.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Charleston Southern Buccaneers quarterback Kaleb Jackson (15) is tackled by Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Byron Turner Jr. (54) during the first quarter at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Florida State pounds Charleston Southern for second victory of season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

True freshman Luke Kromenhoek threw three touchdown passes and Caziah Holmes ran for two more as host Florida State routed Charleston Southern 41-7 on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Seminoles (2-9) convincingly snapped a six-game losing streak and ensured that the Buccaneers (1-11) would finish theirs on a 10-game skid.

Florida State has not had much to celebrate during one of its worst seasons in program history. But on Saturday, the Seminoles overcame a rough start and put together one of their more complete efforts of the season.

Florida State had not scored more than 21 points in a game prior to Saturday’s contest and its 175 rushing yards more than doubled its average (80.5 per game) this season. No single runner had over 40 yards, but seven rushers combined for that output on 34 attempts. The Seminoles entered the game ranked 130th out of 133 FBS teams in rushing offense.

Holmes, a senior, finished with three carries for 38 yards, including touchdown runs of 3 and 18 yards.

Kromenhoek gave Florida State a sliver of hope for its quarterback future as he completed 13 of 20 passes for 209 yards and no interceptions. He threw TD passes for Amaree Williams, Ja’Khi Douglas and Hykeem Williams.

The highlight was a 71-yard touchdown pass to Douglas on the first play from scrimmage of the second half to put the Seminoles ahead 24-0. Douglas finished with 82 yards receiving on three catches, and 10 different Florida State players caught passes for 240 total yards.

The Seminoles went 6 of 10 on third downs after averaging only a 25 percent conversion rate all season. Their defense held Charleston Southern to 275 total yards (57 rushing) and forced two turnovers.

Florida State was unable to hang on to the shutout, however, as Bucs quarterback Kaleb Jackson found Landon Sauers for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Jackson completed 22 of 32 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Bucs defense recorded three sacks led by Davion Williams, who had eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

The Seminoles will conclude their season next Saturday at home against rival Florida.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell reacts before the game against the Clemson Tigers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Florida State, Charleston Southern push for positives in forgettable season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

As they draw toward what is already one of the worst seasons in program history, Florida State isn’t done yet as the Seminoles host Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Seminoles (1-9) have lost six in a row and one more loss would match their worst record after 11 games since going 1-10 in 1974. Florida State’s worst record ever was a winless 0-11 season in 1973.

“What they’ve been able to do this year obviously as a football team, our performance is nowhere near what any of us expect or what we desire,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “So we go back and evaluate where our potential disconnects, where can we have maybe a bigger point of emphasis to get the
desired result that we want, and that comes in every area.”

A loss to a struggling FCS program in Charleston Southern (1-10) could make things even worse for Florida State. During the bye week following a dismal 52-3 loss at Notre Dame, the Seminoles made sweeping changes to Norvell’s staff, releasing offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and longtime receivers coach Ron Dugans.

FSU just had its worst season in conference play since joining the ACC, going 1-7. After hosting the Buccaneers, the Seminoles close out the season at home against rival Florida.

“I thought the guys have handled the changes, some of the changes there just around the program. I think guys have handled it really well,” Norvell said. “Obviously, everybody has feelings about that, coaches, players, all of us, just anytime you do have change, but I thought they did an outstanding job of coming in, focusing on the moment, continuing to push and work, and just looking to play our best game here this week and going to be able to put that on display.”

The Bucs are coming off a deflating 16-13 overtime loss to Eastern Illinois despite their defense recording a season-high seven sacks. It clinched Charleston Southern its first winless season in Big South/Ohio Valley Conference play since 2011.

The Bucs also had a pair of interceptions by Leon Thomas and Ja’Kobe North while Dylan Manuel had a sack and recovered a fumble which was forced by Darrius Bell, who also had a sack.

“Our guys, this season, they have fought and have bled and given us everything we could ask for,” Charleston Southern coach Gabe Giardina said. “I feel bad for them because this is a difficult way to lose.”

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin HS football players participate in a tug-of-war during a pep rally before a high school football game against Atlantic Coast on August 30, 2024. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]

Four-star QB joins FSU recruiting exodus, to visit Florida

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Nineteen months after pledging his commitment to Florida State, four-star recruit and Elite 11 quarterback Tramell Jones instead jumped into the current of talent flowing out of Tallahassee.

A top-25 overall recruit and top-five dual threat quarterback at most major recruiting outlets, Jones is a senior at Jacksonville’s Mandarin High School. He’s on the list of reported recruits attending Florida’s game Saturday against LSU along with prep teammate and five-star wide receiver recruit Jaime Ffrench.

Jones’ recruitment is now open to others beyond the Gators. He is scheduled to announce his college choice at Mandarin on Dec. 6.

Ffrench decommitted from Texas on Wednesday.

He initially committed to Alabama but pulled back when Nick Saban announced his retirement. Ffrench was courted by Ohio State, LSU and Miami before giving the Longhorns a verbal commitment at a ceremony on Aug. 30.

Ffrench is the No. 14 overall prospect and third-ranked wide receiver according to On3.

Jones said on a Jacksonville radio show earlier this week that he wasn’t flipping from Florida State and explained why he was still supportive of Seminoles coach Mike Norvall.

“Because he showed us our vision. He was there before,” Jones said. “He’s got to where he talked about. He was 13-0. He’s got to where he wanted to go. This is just a little stump in the road for him. I think that the comeback is going to be even greater.”

The Seminoles are 1-9 this season, 1-7 in the ACC, after going 13-1 in 2023.

Florida State already lost a number of recruits ranked in the top tier of the 2025 class, including Myron Charles, Javion Hilson, Malik Clark, Daylan McCutcheon and CJ Wiley.

–Field Level Media

Florida State offensive coordinator Alex Atkins (right) coaches his offensive line up during an FSU spring football practice of the 2023 season on Friday, March 10, 2023. Alex Atkins3 1 Of 1

Florida State fires 3 assistants, including OC, DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell fired three members of his coaching staff on Sunday, one day after the Seminoles were steamrolled 52-3 by No. 10 Notre Dame.

Norvell fired offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans.

“I appreciate the work these three men have provided over the last five years with me at Florida State,” Norvell said. “They are all great men with families who also have poured into our program. We had many great moments together here, and I have never doubted their passion for our players and for Florida State.

“Unfortunately, we have not upheld the Florida State standard with our results on the field this season. I did not make any of these decisions lightly, but I felt changes needed to be made to elevate our program back to where we all desire it to be.”

Linebackers coach Randy Shannon will serve as defensive coordinator after sharing the duties with Fuller. Other duties will be shared among various coaches.

Florida State is last among 133 FBS schools in scoring offense (13.3 points per game) and next-to-last in total offense (258.9 yards per game). On the other side of the ball, the Seminoles are 101st in scoring defense (29.8) and 99th in total defense (398.8).

Florida State stands 1-9 overall and 1-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Its lone win came against Cal on Sept. 21. The Seminoles have dropped six straight games since that victory.

Last season, Florida State went 13-1 and barely missed a College Football Playoff spot in the four-team system. The Seminoles lost 63-3 to Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

Florida State has a bye this week. It hosts FCS program Charleston Southern on Nov. 23 and closes the season against Florida on Nov. 30.

The Seminoles are on pace to notch their fewest wins in a full season since going 3-8 in 1975.

Norvell is 32-26 in his five seasons as Florida State’s head coach.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kedren Young (21) celebrates a rushing touchdown during the second half against the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Marcus Freeman warns No. 10 Notre Dame: Prepare for fight from Florida State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 10 Notre Dame is touted as a heavy favorite when it hosts Florida State on Saturday night in South Bend, Ind.

Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman offered a warning to his team this week: games are not played on paper.

Notre Dame (7-1) was a 26-point favorite to start the week according to oddsmakers, riding a six-game winning streak and Florida State (1-8) is mired in a five-game losing streak. Freeman said in studying the opponent there is still plenty of talent on the Seminoles’ roster that shows up on game tape.

“It’s a very talented football team, and it doesn’t take long to turn on the film and realize how talented they are,” Freeman said. “They might be one of the most talented teams we face all year, and that’s just what the film tells you. Their record doesn’t reflect their talent.

“They’ve had to deal with some injuries, especially at QB, and that has affected the outcome of their games. Our team must, and we will, respect the challenge Saturday night here.”

Florida State entered the season with a top-10 ranking and aspirations to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff. Those dreams quickly were dashed by three straight losses to start the season, followed by a 14-9 win against Cal, followed by five straight losses.

Seminoles coach Mike Norvell will try to pick his team up after their latest setback, a 35-11 loss at home against North Carolina a week ago. If outsiders are surprised by Florida State’s 1-8 record, Norvell knows the feeling.

“I am shocked (about) where we are,” Norvell said this week. “It was not expected.”

The offseason will bring major changes to the program, Norvell said. But for now, he wants to see which players show up and compete starting with a high-profile primetime showcase at Notre Dame.

“I can tell you that there’s going to be a change in what we’ve seen from this year to this next year coming up,” he said. “But right now, my entire focus is going to be on what’s ahead for these next three games, to go be the best we can be.”

The Seminoles will try to slow down a versatile Notre Dame offense.

Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard has passed for 1,360 yards and eight touchdowns, and he has rushed for 539 yards and 11 scores.

Jeremiyah Love has rushed for a team-high 564 yards to go along with nine touchdowns, and Beaux Collins is the team’s leading receiver with 28 catches for 359 yards and a pair of scores.

Florida State will counter with Brock Glenn at quarterback, and Luke Kromenhoek will serve as Glenn’s backup. Glenn, who is starting in place of injured signal-caller D.J. Uiagalelei, completed six of 11 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown last week against North Carolina.

Lawrance Toafili is Florida State’s top running back with 303 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Ja’Khi Douglas has a team-high 25 catches for 404 yards and three scores.

Florida State leads the all-time series 6-5. The Fighting Irish won the last matchup 41-38 on Sept. 5, 2021.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tarheels running back Omarian Hampton (28) runs the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during the first quarter at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Myers-Imagn Images

Omarion Hampton powers North Carolina to win at Florida State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Running back Omarion Hampton scored five touchdowns and North Carolina picked up a 35-11 road victory against Florida State on Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.

It marked the first time in Hall of Fame coach Mack Brown’s career that he directed a victory against his alma mater.

Hampton reached the end zone four times on running plays as he rolled up 172 yards on the ground with 32 carries. He eclipsed the 3,000-yard rushing mark for his career.

He also scored on a 49-yard pass from quarterback Jacolby Criswell, who finished with 211 yards on 13-for-17 passing. Hampton had 93 yards on three catches.

The Tar Heels (5-4, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) turned in a strong defensive performance for the second week in a row, following a four-game losing streak with a pair of dominant triumphs.

Florida State (1-8, 1-7) had 201 yards of total offense compared to North Carolina’s 500.

Brock Glenn threw a 28-yard pass to Ja’Khi Doulgas in the third quarter for the Seminoles’ only touchdown, with Lawayne McCoy’s two-point conversion run closing the gap to 21-11.

Glenn finished 6-for-11 for 123 yards in the air. Backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek threw interceptions on back-to-back series in the second half.

The Seminoles scored first on Ryan Fitzgerald’s 56-yard field goal. Then they came up with a big defensive play, stopping North Carolina on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Later in the half, Hampton bowled in on a third-and-goal from a yard out to put the Tar Heels on top. Hampton’s 2-yard run with 1:57 left in the first half helped stretch the lead to 14-3 at the end of a 93-yard drive.

Hampton, a preseason All-American, scored on third-quarter runs of 31 and 1 yards as twice the Tar Heels navigated 75 yards for touchdowns.

Alijah Huzzie and Will Hardy grabbed the interceptions for North Carolina’s defense. Beau Atkinson recorded 3 1/2 sacks.

Three of North Carolina’s victories this year have come on the road.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) runs with the football against the Florida State Seminoles during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

No. 6 Miami dominates hapless Florida State to improve to 8-0

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cam Ward threw for 208 yards and also caught a touchdown pass as the sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes remained unbeaten with a 36-14 win over the visiting Florida State Seminoles in an ACC matchup on Saturday night.

Hurricanes running back Damien Martinez rushed for 148 yards with a 9.9-yard average and two touchdowns.

Miami (8-0, 4-0), which entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring (48.3), was forced to settle for three Andres Borregales field goals.

Florida State, meanwhile, was held to 248 yards of total offense, 75 of them on its final drive.

Ward, who entered Saturday No. 1 in the FBS in passing yards (363), completed 22-of-35 throws with no touchdowns. In every other game this season, he had at least 300 yards and two TD passes.

Florida State (1-7, 1-6) lost its fourth straight game. The loss also guarantees the Seminoles will have a losing record, and they cannot become bowl-eligible. Miami also broke their three-game losing streak against FSU and now lead this historic rivalry 36-33.

The Hurricanes scored a touchdown on the game’s first possession, traveling 67 yards and capping the march with Mark Fletcher Jr.’s one-yard run. Ward went 4-for-5 for 53 yards on that drive.

Miami made it 14-0 with a 12-play, 95-yard drive that bridged the first and second quarters. The key was converting a third-and-20 with a 21-pass to Martinez, who later scored on a bruising 18-yard run.

FSU cut its deficit to 14-7 on Caziah Holmes’ fourth-and-goal run from the one-yard line with 6:44 left in the second quarter. The key to the drive was FSU’s fourth-and-one conversion from its own 45 as Luke Kromenhoek ran 42 yards on a quarterback sneak in which he appeared to have been stopped at the line of scrimmage but kept going.

Miami scored on the last play of the first half on Borregales’ 20-yard field goal, giving the Hurricanes a 17-7 lead. That capped an 18-play, 88-yard drive that included a fourth-down conversion.

Borregales hit from 42 yards out to end Miami’s first possession of the second half, and he closed the third-quarter scoring with a 45-yarder to give the Hurricanes a 23-7 lead.

Miami put the game away on a trick play with 4:32 left in the fourth quarter as tight end Elijah Arroyo tossed a seven-yard, double-reverse TD pass to Ward.

FSU scored with just 18 seconds left on Brock Glenn’s five-yard pass to Malik Benson.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils defensive end Wesley Williams (97) celebrates a down during the first half of the game against Florida State at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Duke uses defense to notch first-ever win against Florida State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Chandler Rivers’ interception return for a touchdown highlighted Duke’s strong defensive performance Friday night as the Blue Devils defeated Florida State for the first time, winning 23-16 at Durham, N.C.

Star Thomas ran for 88 yards and a touchdown and Todd Pelino kicked three field goals for Duke (6-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), which had lost all 22 previous meetings with Florida State.

The Seminoles (1-6, 1-5) outgained the Blue Devils 291-180 in total yards but sputtered late as their miserable season continued. Florida State reached Duke territory on its last two possessions, which ended with a fumble and failed fourth-down play.

Samuel Singleton Jr. returned the second half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to pull the Seminoles within 17-13. Pelino made it 20-13 on his 44-yard field goal in the third quarter and added a 39-yarder to put the hosts up 23-16 with 8:58 remaining.

Florida State moved to the Blue Devils’ 37-yard line on its ensuing possession before Kam Davis fumbled. The Seminoles got the ball back at their own 41 with 2:41 left but eventually failed on fourth-and-24 from their own 48.

Quarterback Brock Glenn was benched after he committed turnovers on three straight Florida State snaps in the first half. He returned late in the third quarter, finishing 9-for-19 for 110 yards and two interceptions for the Seminoles. Backup Luke Kromenhoek was 3-for-7 for 19 yards.

Maalik Murphy was 12-for-24 for 70 yards for Duke.

The Blue Devils punted on their first four possessions before Rivers stepped in front of Florida State receiver Jalen Brown for an interception and raced 36 yards untouched to the end zone to put the hosts up 7-3.

Glenn fumbled on the next snap, with Duke taking over at the Seminoles’ 36. Thomas later scored from 2 yards out on a fourth-and-1 run.

Ozzie Nicholas’ interception led to Pelino’s 27-yard field goal with 10 minutes left in the first half. Ryan Fitzgerald’s 53-yarder with 1:46 remaining cut the deficit to 17-6.

Fitzgerald opened the scoring with a 23-yard field goal and pulled Florida State within 20-16 on a 38-yarder early in the fourth.

–Field Level Media