Klatt Doubts Florida State's Turnaround Prospects

FOX Sports analyst sees 'no light at the end of the tunnel' for struggling Seminoles program.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Following back-to-back disappointing seasons, FOX Sports' Joel Klatt is not optimistic about Florida State's outlook for the 2026 season. Klatt questioned the Seminoles' roster makeup and coaching staff, noting the team's struggles on the road and inability to recover after a strong start to the 2025 campaign. He believes Florida State faces a challenging path to turning things around under head coach Mike Norvell.

Why it matters

Florida State was once among the elite programs in college football, but the Seminoles have fallen on hard times in recent years. Klatt's critical assessment of the team's current state and future prospects reflects the growing concerns about the direction of the once-proud program.

The details

After a 12-0 regular season and ACC championship in 2023, Florida State has gone just 7-17 over the past two years. The Seminoles lost 10 games in 2024, marking just the third time in program history they've had a double-digit loss season. Klatt pointed to the team's 0-9 road record over the last two seasons as a major issue, and he's skeptical that the roster moves and coaching changes will be enough to turn things around in 2026.

  • Florida State finished the 2023 regular season 12-0 before losing in the postseason.
  • The Seminoles went 7-17 over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
  • Florida State started the 2025 season by upsetting No. 8 Alabama, but then lost 7 of its final 9 games and missed the postseason.

The players

Joel Klatt

A FOX Sports analyst and college football commentator.

Mike Norvell

The head football coach of the Florida State Seminoles.

Jordan Travis

The starting quarterback for Florida State in 2023 who was out for the remainder of the season.

Ashton Daniels

A quarterback who has bounced around, previously serving as a backup at Auburn and Stanford.

Gus Malzahn

The former offensive coordinator for Florida State who recently retired.

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What they’re saying

“Florida State was down bad last year, and there really isn't any light at the end of the tunnel.”

— Joel Klatt, FOX Sports Analyst (on3.com)

“What happened after Week 1 when they beat Alabama... it did not go well. Did not go well.”

— Joel Klatt, FOX Sports Analyst (on3.com)

“Is that the answer you want? I don't know.”

— Joel Klatt, FOX Sports Analyst (on3.com)

What’s next

If it wasn't before last year, 2026 will surely serve as a make-or-break season for Mike Norvell.

The takeaway

Klatt's bleak assessment of Florida State's outlook reflects the steep decline of a once-dominant program, raising serious questions about the Seminoles' ability to return to prominence under head coach Mike Norvell.