Roundtable: Early thoughts on FSU’s 2026 schedule

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Florida State, for the first time in program history, will play four non-Saturday games this season as it looks to bounce back from consecutive losing seasons.

The Seminoles learned their full schedule slate on Monday, with the reveal of dates for each matchup on the schedule. FSU will open conference play on Labor Day vs. SMU, then take on Louisville (Oct. 9), Pitt (Nov. 13) and Florida (No. 27) in Friday games.

As far as in-conference rivals, FSU will face off against Miami (Oct. 17) and Clemson (Oct. 31) in back-to-back matchups, though have a bye week in between.

The full schedule

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What’s there to make of how the schedule shook out for the Seminoles? The Tomahawk Nation staff breaks it down below.

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What are your initial thoughts on Florida State’s 2026 schedule?​

• Jordan Silversmith: Like usual, I don’t think the ACC did FSU any favors. The two in-conference Friday games are away from home. The Seminoles only play four road games in ACC play yet they play a stretch of four of five away from home. The schedule is also front-loaded with games against SMU, Miami, Alabama and Louisville, three of those on the road, all before Halloween.
• Curt Weiler: It’s balanced in its challenge level, in that it’s difficult throughout. Bama Week 3 with SMU the week before. Miami and Clemson consecutively, albeit with a bye in between. NC State and Florida closing out the season for the second straight year, but both at home this season. Two Friday road games in conference play. It’s also a schedule that lines up late for some potential revenge. Five of the final six teams on the schedule beat FSU last season. I’m not sure how confident we are revenge is on the table, but the opportunity is there.
• Tim Alumbaugh: Tough schedule. You say the ACC did FSU no favors? But if you’re not a Norvell fan, maybe they did? Brutal mid-season stretch.
• NoleThruandThru: Can’t spell “Friday games suck” without F-S-U, and of course the ACC penalizes Florida State with three of them. If I’m reading things correctly, FSU is the only team that will have three short weeks prior to a Friday game. Other teams got multiple Fridays in a row or at least one bye week ahead of it. Shocker, right? That said, it could definitely be worse.
• Jon Loesche: No one should be shocked about FSU playing 1/3rd of its schedule on dates other than Saturday. The ACC isn’t going to do FSU any favors when it has one foot out the door of the conference and due to being the only guaranteed ratings draw is going to be the first choice to throw on an unopposed timeslot. I don’t hate the UF game moving back to Black Friday but otherwise meh.
• Perry Kostidakis: That you’re hoping for some regression from at least a few teams on the lineup because otherwise, yeesh, there’s not much opportunity for a breather here. Given Norvell’s team’s propensity for stringing together losing streaks, there’s a chance at things spiraling quickly unless the Seminoles come out swinging — though, a 3-0 start doesn’t guarantee much, as we saw last season.

What’s the hardest three-game stretch?​

• Jordan Silversmith: The hardest three-game stretch is at Louisville, at Miami and then vs. Clemson with a bye mixed in.
• Curt Weiler: I’m with Jordan. It’s at Louisville on Friday followed by Miami and Clemson (with a bye between as a saving grace). Extra rest for the latter two is a plus but will it make a difference?
• Tim Alumbaugh: UVA, UL, Miami. If there wasn’t the bye week, it would be UL, Miami, and Clemson. Either way, FSU could go 0-for-October.
• NoleThruandThru: Virginia, at Louisville on Friday and then at Miami.
• Jon Loesche: Agreed with Curt and Jordan about Louisville, Miami, and Clemson
• Perry Kostidakis: We’re all in agreement here that October is the roughest month overall, and I’ll also go with the Louisville-Miami-Clemson stretch. L&N Federal Credit Union (let’s be real, Papa John) Stadium is a terrifying place, Miami will be looking for its pound of flesh in one of the only games that bring Hurricanes fans to the stadium and FSU is 1-4 vs. Clemson in the Norvell era.

Outside of the cupcakes, what is the No. 1 “must-win” game for FSU?​

• Jordan Silversmith: This may be a surprise but beating SMU at home in a standalone game on national TV will be massive to Norvell and this program. A win, and the Noles go into Tuscaloosa with some confidence and aren’t in the headlines all week. A loss, and FSU would most likely be 1-2 to begin the season and the hot seat will be engulfed in flames before October 1.
• Curt Weiler: It doesn’t speak favorably to where FSU is as a program but I’m going with home against Virginia in Week 6. Lose that game and you’re staring down likely being 2-3 with a harder back-half of the schedule left and the seat starts getting quite warm for Mike Norvell.
• Tim Alumbaugh: After the last two years, any ACC win really.
• NoleThruandThru: I’ll go with Virginia. They’ll be among the favorites to win the conference, and a victory at home over the Hoos gives you some confidence and momentum prior to a short week at Louisville and then a rivalry game in Miami.
• Jon Loesche: SMU. FSU needs an early win on a big stage to quiet the discord surrounding Norvell’s job status. Lose that game and we’re probably talking about an interim coach as early as the Clemson game.
• Perry Kostidakis: It’s a toss-up for me between UVA and SMU, with the latter getting the nod for the same reasoning that Jordan laid out. Losing another matchup vs. the Mustangs (and falling to 1-2 vs. ACC newcomers) would likely have FSU 2-2 heading into the October grind.

How do you feel about the bye week placements?​

• Jordan Silversmith: I like the bye after the Miami game, which will be the obvious spot to make a coaching change if/when needed. Don’t have any problem with a bye before Alabama either.
• Curt Weiler: For once, they are aligned well for Florida State. Before Alabama after a Monday game vs. SMU is ideal for FSU’s small chances in that game. Between Miami and Clemson is good for resting/recovering between the toughest back-to-back games on the schedule and preparing mentally (and physically) for an attainable final stretch of the season if team is better than we think it will be.
• Tim Alumbaugh: If you’re going to get Miami and Clemson back-to-back, a bye is a nice consolation prize. I think the byes are well placed.
• NoleThruandThru: I actually like the bye week placements this season. The first comes after playing a legitimate opponent and the second is neatly placed between the remaining 10 games.
• Jon Loesche: Agreed on all fronts, the byes are well placed.
• Perry Kostidakis: It’s pretty funny that seemingly the one positive thing to take away from the schedule is the placement of bye weeks, but the fact that FSU gets a reprieve early on and in between the back-to-back of Miami-Clemson is as ideal as you can ask for given the circumstances.

Way-too-early record prediction?

• Jordan Silversmith: 5-7, wins against NMSU, CAU, UVA, BC and NCST
• Curt Weiler: 5. 5-7. Like last season, they pull off an upset no one expects but also lose multiple games they shouldn’t be losing. (edited)
• Tim Alumbaugh: Between 4-8 and 6-6, so call it 5-7.
• NoleThruandThru: 4-8. I’m not even confident against NMSU.
• Jon Loesche: 5. Not sure about the record but bad enough Norvell isn’t going to be coaching against UF.
• Perry Kostidakis: 5-7 is how I’m feeling at the moment — 2-2 in September, 1-3 in October, 2-2 in November.

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