Florida State faces a challenging matchup this Saturday as it travels to Miami to take on the No. 3 ranked Hurricanes, entering the contest as 21.5-point underdogs. The Seminoles, under head coach Mike Norvell, appear on the verge of a third consecutive losing season and their fifth losing campaign in seven years. Despite mounting calls for Norvell’s dismissal and the looming $46.7 million buyout on his contract, Florida State is seeking to avoid a second straight blowout defeat before entering their bye week.
Miami enters the game with strong statistical performances, although their schedule has been criticized as relatively soft. The Hurricanes’ matchups this season have featured an average point spread of 32, and they have faced only one opponent ranked within the top 50 of Bill Connelly’s SP+ power rankings: Wake Forest. Despite a comfortable 13-point road win over the Demon Deacons, Miami only narrowly covered the spread as Wake Forest’s balanced attack amassed 312 passing yards and nearly matched Miami’s average yards per play.
Florida State’s offense, while not dominant, has shown some signs of solid production. The Seminoles rank 35th nationally in offense according to SP+, with their passing game placing 41st in yards per attempt. Quarterback Ashton Daniels has been effective as a runner, averaging 4.6 yards per carry with 10 rushing touchdowns, while running back Ousmane Kromah is on pace for a 1,000-yard season averaging 5.7 yards per carry. The Seminoles’ running attack may present the best opportunity to challenge Miami’s typically stout run defense, as they aim to surpass 100 rushing yards for the first time against the Hurricanes this year.
Florida State’s recent results have been mixed. After a discouraging loss to Louisville, the Seminoles showed resilience in previous games by maintaining competitiveness against Alabama for three quarters and securing a decisive 38-7 victory over Virginia in Week 5. These performances suggest capability within the squad, though consistency has been elusive.
As Florida State prepares to face Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, the Seminoles hope to keep the game within a manageable margin, even if an outright upset appears unlikely. The effort by Florida State’s offense, particularly its running game led by Daniels and Kromah, could be pivotal in preventing a lopsided outcome as the team looks to end a difficult stretch of seasons under Norvell.