After winning the ACC Championship and suffering a controversial College Football Playoff (CFP) snub in 2023, the Florida State Seminoles struggled in 2024.
Head coach Mike Norvell remains at the helm, despite mixed reactions from fans, and will look to turn things around as the team aims for a spot in the expanded 2025 CFP.
Tight end Markeston Douglas, who returned to FSU after a season with Arizona State, believes the team has moved past the disappointment of missing the playoff. “I feel like everybody has flushed it,” he said, emphasizing the team’s focus on the future.
FSU’s exclusion from the 2023 CFP sparked national controversy. Despite finishing 13-0 and winning the ACC, the selection committee left them out, citing quarterback Jordan Travis’ season-ending injury as the reason. The committee believed FSU was not the same team without its star QB—a claim seemingly supported by their 63-3 loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl. The decision led to widespread backlash from analysts, fans, and even politicians.
Now, the Seminoles are focused on redemption. Douglas’ return is a boost for the team, as the 6’5″, 275-pound tight end is expected to take on a larger receiving role. In 2023, he played 13 games for FSU, recording 11 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns. His role was limited at Arizona State, where he had just one reception for three yards while primarily serving as a blocker.
With Norvell leading the charge and key players like Douglas back in the mix, Florida State looks to put the past behind them and reestablish themselves as a national contender in 2025.