Honestly, if you’ve been following the noise coming out of Tallahassee lately, it feels a bit like trying to read a map in a hurricane. One minute the sky is falling, and the next, there’s a massive win in the front office or a recruiting flip that changes the whole vibe. Florida State football news has become a 24/7 cycle of "is Mike Norvell actually the guy?" and "how many more players are hitting the portal today?"
It’s exhausting.
But if we’re being real, the narrative that the program is just circling the drain doesn't quite hold up when you look at the actual chess moves being made right now. We are sitting in January 2026, and the dust is finally starting to settle on one of the most chaotic portal windows in recent memory.
The Desir Twins and the NIL "Flex"
You probably saw the headlines last night. For a hot second, it looked like Mandrell and Darryll Desir were gone. Seeing your leading sack artist and True Freshman All-American (Mandrell) enter the portal is enough to give any fan a heart attack. It felt like the final blow to a defense that’s already been through the ringer.
Then, boom. Matt Zenitz and the folks over at 247Sports drop the update: they’re back.
This wasn't just a "we like it here" return. This was a business transaction. Their agency, LAA Sports and Entertainment, basically took the FSU collective to the brink of a breakup to secure a massive new NIL deal. Some might hate that this is what the sport has become, but it proves one thing: Florida State still has the deep pockets and the institutional will to keep their blue-chip talent when the chips are down. Keeping those two away from Miami and Ohio State is a massive win for Tony White’s defense.
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Florida State Football News: The Quarterback Room is a Mess (Or Is It?)
Look, nobody is going to tell you the QB situation is "fine." It’s kinda messy.
With Brock Glenn and Jaylen King heading for the exits, the room looked terrifyingly empty. You’ve got Kevin Sperry and Jaden O’Neal, the young guns, but relying on freshmen in the ACC is a gamble that usually ends in a lot of "learning experiences" (which is coach-speak for "interceptions").
Enter Ashton Daniels.
Bringing in the veteran from Auburn is a classic Norvell move. Is he a Heisman candidate? Probably not. But he’s played in the SEC, he’s seen the blitzes, and he provides a bridge. Plus, the staff is still sniffing around Colton Joseph from Old Dominion. Joseph is a freak athlete—over 1,000 rushing yards last season. He fits what Gus Malzahn (who is still heavily influencing this offense) wants to do. If they can land Joseph, the competition in spring ball actually becomes interesting instead of just scary.
The Coaching Carousel No One Is Talking About
While everyone was focused on players leaving, the coaching staff went through a literal metamorphosis.
- Blue Adams coming in to coach cornerbacks.
- Kam Martin taking over the running backs.
- Ernie Sims getting the nod for linebackers.
The dismissal of Patrick Surtain Sr. was the move that shocked the system, but the addition of Nick Williams as an EDGE specialist from Syracuse might actually be the bigger deal. FSU’s pass rush was inconsistent at best last year, and Williams is known for being a relentless recruiter and technician.
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The ACC Settlement: The Elephant in the Room
We can't talk about the future of the Noles without mentioning the legal drama.
Remember when the exit fee was a "pernicious" half-billion dollars? Those days are gone. The settlement reached between FSU, Clemson, and the ACC has fundamentally changed the trajectory of the school.
The exit fee for 2026 is sitting at $165 million.
Sure, that’s a lot of money. But compared to the previous $500M+ figure, it’s a bargain. More importantly, the fee drops by $18 million every single year. By the time we hit 2030, it’ll be a flat $75 million. This gives FSU a clear runway to jump to the Big Ten or SEC when those media deals expire in a few years. For now, the "Viewership Incentive" model means FSU gets a bigger slice of the pie just for being the team everyone actually wants to watch.
It’s a "stay of execution" that actually benefits the bank account.
Why 2026 is "Do or Die" for Mike Norvell
The administration gave Norvell the vote of confidence back in November. They had to. His buyout is roughly $58 million—second only to the nightmare scenario Texas A&M had with Jimbo. You don't just fire a guy with that kind of price tag unless the stadium is literally on fire.
But the leash is short.
The 5-7 finish last year, including that brutal loss to NC State, burned a lot of goodwill. The 2026 recruiting class is currently ranked 14th, which sounds good until you realize the "blue-chip ratio" is only about 37%. Fans are tired of hearing about "climbing." They want to see the view from the top again.
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Real Talk on the Defense
The linebacker core has been... well, let's call it "porous" for two seasons. Adding Mikai Gbayor from North Carolina is a solid "glue" move. He’s a vet, he’s played for Tony White at Nebraska, and he doesn't miss assignments. He’s not going to win the Butkus Award, but he’ll stop the 4-yard runs from becoming 40-yard touchdowns.
Combine him with the Desir twins and a returning Kevin Wynn, and the front seven actually looks—dare I say—formidable?
Misconceptions About the Transfer Portal
There’s this idea that FSU is "losing" the portal because so many guys are leaving.
Thirty members of the roster entered the portal this month.
That sounds like a mutiny. In reality? A huge chunk of those guys were depth pieces who weren't going to see the field or guys who weren't a fit for the culture change Norvell is trying to force. The "attrition" is often just "housecleaning."
What matters isn't the number of guys leaving; it's the quality of the 15-20 guys coming in. Landing players like Nehemiah Chandler and Desirrio Riles (the TE from East Carolina) shows that the staff is prioritizing "functional depth" over "star ratings."
Your Next Steps for Following the Noles
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve, stop looking at the national 24/7 news cycle and start looking at these specific areas:
- Watch the "Legacy" Portal Targets: Keep a very close eye on Jerome Carter (Old Dominion safety). His dad played for FSU, he’s a ball hawk (6 INTs last year), and it’s a position of massive need.
- Spring Game Date: Mark your calendars for the spring showcase. This will be the first time we see if Ashton Daniels can actually command this offense or if we’re headed for a "Quarterback by Committee" nightmare.
- NIL Transparency: Follow the "Rising Spear" or "The Battles End" updates. The Desir twins' deal proves that the collective is where the real power lies now.
The 2026 season isn't going to be easy. The schedule is a gauntlet, and the pressure is at an all-time high. But the "death of Florida State" has been greatly exaggerated. Between the legal wins and the recent defensive retentions, there’s a pulse in Tallahassee that wasn't there two months ago.