Florida State did not release a depth chart ahead of its Aug. 29 opener against New Mexico State.
“The thought is, ‘Let it be season-long,’” FSU coach Mike Norvell said the other day.
File that under the “Worrying About The Wrong Things Department.”
Me thinks FSU’s second opponent, SMU on Labor Day Night, will figure out who is and isn’t playing without the help of a sheet of paper, so Norvell’s decision is more about paranoia than gamesmanship.
What Norvell should be worried about is the on-field product — 3-6, 5-7, 10-3, 13-1, 2-10 and 5-7 with him as the big whistle. He is under fire and FSU is on the cusp of significant fan apathy, if not already there.
Thing is, Norvell may be a part of the solution. FSU should feel good about three components
of its operation.
Norvell is back calling the plays. Good.
Receiver Duce Robinson is an elite player capable of carrying an offense. Good.
And quarterback Ashton Daniels should be better-equipped to make the passing game formidable. Good.
Let’s start with Norvell. He called the plays during FSU’s last great season (2023); last year, he gave up the role to offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who lasted one season (retired).
On the coaching hot seat? Take over the play calling. At least if it doesn’t work, you can say every option was exhausted.
Robinson is in his second year at FSU after two seasons at USC. In 2025, he caught 56 passes for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns.
Robinson should be a high-volume player. He had six games of at least five catches last year; he should have at least five catches in every game this year.
Daniels, a transfer from Auburn (Stanford before that), was named the starter after spring practice, which was kind of odd at time, but it’s grown on me because it allowed him to take a vocal leadership role and work with the skill position players knowing he would be The Guy.
Tommy Castellanos tried hard last year at quarterback, but had only 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions and completed 58.3% of his attempts. Daniels completed 62.7% of his attempts for Stanford in 2024 (up from 58.8% as a freshman).
If the offense is productive, it means FSU will be at least be interesting. Let’s go with a final record of 6-6.
About the Jaguars
1. Udinski’s call sheet photo: It was great to get an email from former Times-Union photographer Will Dickey about Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski’s call sheet picture on Aug. 21 against the Carolina Panthers. Dickey was watching the game on television and wrote, “I saw the photo on the sheet and immediately recognized it (as) a photo of mine taken in 2011 of the St. Johns River from Round March Point.”
2. RIP Pro Bowl: The Pro Bowl and Pro Bowl Games are no longer. Thank goodness. The Pro Bowl had become a glorified flag football game and the Pro Bowl Games didn’t draw enough interest for what it probably cost to hold. The league will name 88 Pro Bowl players each year. The NFL got this one right.
3. Preseason problem: The Jaguars mercifully wrapped up their three-game preseason on Aug. 28 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. How to make this better if teams are adamant about not playing their starters at all or for just a few snaps? When the schedule expands to 18 games — and the union should agree to it in exchange for an expanded regular-season roster to 60 players and a higher salary cap — the preseason will be cut to two games. Owners should reduce ticket prices in half, conduct mass giveaways to those who don’t have season tickets and offer significantly discounted concessions and merchandise. Reward the fans who show an interest in attending an exhibition.
Allen Robinson retires
Former Jaguars receiver Allen Robinson announced his retirementthis week after sitting out the 2025 season. He was the Jaguars’ second-round pick (No. 61 overall) in 2014 and his best season was 2015 (80 catches for 1,400 yards), when his 14 touchdown catches tied for the NFL lead.
The Jaguars and Robinson started contract extension talks in July 2017, but his Jacksonville career ended when he tore his ACL in Week 1 at Houston. The threat of Hurricane Irma forced the Jaguars to stay in Houston for two extra nights and my endearing-but-unfortunate memory of A-Rob is waving to him across the lobby of the team hotel. On crutches, he nodded back before getting in a car for an MRI to confirm the injury.
Robinson spent four years with the Chicago Bears (season of 98 catches-1,147 yards and 102 catches-1,250 yards) before spending one year apiece with the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions.
It is a great “What if?”
What if Robinson didn’t get hurt? Would he have helped save quarterback Blake Bortles’ job in 2018? Would he have stopped the Jaguars’ revolving door at receiver?
Robinson led the Jaguars in catches in 2015-16; over the last nine years, the team’s leading receiver (not tight end or running back) in catches has been different: Marquise Lee, Dede Westbrook, D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, Marvin Jones, Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley, Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington.
Extra points
1. Conferences band together: Mark it down, folks, we found something the Power 4 football conferences could finally agree on — not allowing players who previously signed NFL contracts to re-enter the college game. The Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12 (plus the Mountain West from the Group of 6 ranks) all made their declarations, which was common sense. I don’t blame the players for trying to find a loophole. I don’t blame the coaches for expressing interest in said players. I blame the judges who think they're the story.
2. Philo first up at UF: Kudos to Florida coach Jon Sumrall for announcing his starting quarterback (Aaron Philo) on Aug. 24, 12 days ahead of the Gators’ Sept. 5 opener against Florida Atlantic. No leaks. No delays. Jacksonville’s Tramell Jones (Mandarin High) will be the back-up, but his journey isn’t completed — I would make sure to get him playing time against FAU and Campbell in Weeks 1-2 so he can be ready if Sumrall wants to change things up.
3. Solid MLB debut for JU alum: Colorado Rockies pitcher Mason Adams became the 15th Jacksonville University alum to play in MLB when he debuted against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 25. Adams, 26, started and pitched four innings (one run, three hits and five strikeouts) in a 3-1 Rockies win. Adams pitched for JU in 2021-22 and was a 13th round pick by the Chicago White Sox. He underwent Tommy John elbow surgery on April 2, 2025, but returned this year to start 15 games at four levels of the White Sox organization before he was traded to Colorado on Aug. 3.
Saturday selections
New Mexico State (plus 30 1/2) at Florida State: The Aggies won a Power 4 road game three years ago at Auburn (31-10), which says more about the state of the Tigers back then than anything. FSU 52-14.
North Carolina (plus 9 1/2) vs. TCU: I would love to pick the in-disarray Tar Heels because TCU felt the best way to handle a crisis (locker room brawl) was to ban the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter who unearthed the details from covering the team. But, well, North Carolina is not good. TCU 27-17.
San Jose State (plus 38 1/2) at No. 14 USC: The goal for USC should be modest — avoid three regular-season losses and it should make the playoff. The three key games are home match-ups against Oregon and Ohio State and a mid-November trip to Indiana. USC 44-10.
N.C. State (plus 4) at Virginia: This game was originally scheduled to be played in Rio de Janeiro until issues arose, likely led by, “Why the heck are we opening the season in Brazil?” A really good Week 0 match-up. Virginia 30-24.
Memphis (plus 4 1/2) at UNLV: Can Dan Mullen get another Power 4 job if the Rebels match or even exceed his 10-4 debut last season? UNLV is one of the Mountain West Conference favorites. UNLV 41-35.
2025 college record: 36-32.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays (4-7 p.m.).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Reasons for FSU optimism? Start with Seminoles' offense
