FSU enters conference play with a trend to reverse
· Yahoo Sports
Mike Norvell will have an opportunity to improve an uneven history in ACC openers when the Florida State Seminoles begin conference play against the SMU Mustangs on Labor Day night.
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Since taking over the Seminoles in 2020, Norvell is 2-4 in his first ACC game of the season. Five of those six games have been decided by eight points or fewer, making conference-opening week a frequent source of drama during Norvell’s tenure.
The stretch began in 2020, when Norvell’s FSU debut doubled as the Seminoles’ ACC opener. Florida State led Georgia Tech at halftime but ultimately fell 16-13 at Doak Campbell Stadium. A year later, the Seminoles opened conference play on the road and lost 35-14 to Wake Forest, the only ACC opener of Norvell’s tenure decided by more than one possession.
Florida State broke through in 2022.
The Seminoles went to Louisville and escaped with a 35-31 victory despite losing starting quarterback Jordan Travis during the game. Tate Rodemaker came off the bench and threw two second-half touchdown passes to Johnny Wilson, including the eventual game-winner.
Norvell followed that with another road win in 2023. No. 3 Florida State survived a furious Boston College rally for a 31-29 victory, improving to 3-0 during what eventually became a 13-0 regular season and ACC championship campaign.
The trend reversed over the next two seasons.
Florida State opened both its season and ACC schedule in 2024 with a 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, decided by a field goal as time expired. Last season, FSU entered conference play 3-0 before falling 46-38 in double overtime at Virginia.
That leaves Norvell’s ACC-opening results at:
- 2020: Georgia Tech, L 16-13
- 2021: at Wake Forest, L 35-14
- 2022: at Louisville, W 35-31
- 2023: at Boston College, W 31-29
- 2024: Georgia Tech (Dublin), L 24-21
- 2025: at Virginia, L 46-38 (2OT)
Monday’s matchup carries another wrinkle: it will be Florida State’s first ACC opener at Doak Campbell Stadium since Norvell’s debut against Georgia Tech in 2020.
The Seminoles enter conference play 1-0 after defeating New Mexico State 34-17. FSU and SMU are scheduled to kick off Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, giving Norvell a chance to be 3-4 in ACC openers during his Florida State tenure and giving the Seminoles an important early conference victory as they try to build momentum in 2026.
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU enters conference play with a trend to reverse