Norvell explains how Florida State went from beating Alabama to losing streak

Oct 4, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell before a game against the Miami Hurricanes at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Myers-Imagn Images

If a person time traveled to the day after Alabama lost to Florida State in the season opener and said that Mike Norvell would be on the hot seat after eight weeks and Kalen DeBoer would turn the 2025 Alabama team into one of the best in the nation, that statement would be met with a lot of doubt and flat out rejection.

The current reality in the college football world is that Alabama and Florida State have soared in different directions after the Seminoles defeated Alabama 31-17.

The Crimson Tide picked themselves up off the grass, dusted themselves off and got back in the fight for a championship. Over the last four weeks, Alabama has beaten four-straight ranked teams and has a road trip against South Carolina this weekend before hitting a bye week.

Things have gone the exact opposite for Florida State. After they beat Alabama, Florida State beat East Texas A&M and Kent State to improve to 3-0, but the ACC has not been kind to the Seminoles so far this year. Virginia, Miami, Pitt and Stanford have taken down Norvell’s squad and effectively blocked Florida State from having a feasible path to the College Football Playoff.

Norvell was asked a straightforward question by a reporter about how his team is sitting at 3-4 after embarrassing the Crimson Tide, and the angst oozed from him as he formed a response.

“It’s college football,” Norvell said. “There’s great parity. Every team, if you give [them] opportunities, they’re all capable. It’s a weekly focus. Is your best going to show up? If you’re not able to execute to your best, if you’re not able to respond, if you have a bad play or a bad moment, anybody can give you challenges. I believe in this team. I believe in the talent that we have, the way that we will finish. I know what we’re capable of.”

If Florida State continues to lose games, Norvell could be on his way out the Florida State door, and if Kalen DeBoer continues to win games at Alabama, the Crimson Tide will almost certainly make the College Football Playoff.