While the Florida Gators will spend much of this week dealing with the fallout from their latest loss — the sixth in the last nine games — that led to the firing of their coach Dan Mullen Sunday, the mood at Florida State is much more upbeat.
FSU is coming off a thrilling win over Boston College; it’s fifth in the last seven games. The Seminoles are one win away from bowl eligibility, but they’ll need an upset over the rival Gators Saturday to get to the postseason for the first time since 2019.
“I love the rivalries,” coach Mike Norvell said during Monday’s news conference. “The very first day of fall camp, I talk about two games: I talk about Miami and I talk about this one [Florida]. Everybody wants to win this game because it will be a game that is remembered for the rest of your life.
Florida State has won five of the last eight meetings in the series but has dropped the past two games while being outscored 81-31. The COVID-19 pandemic paused the series last season for the first time since its inception in 1958.
Norvell could hardly contain his excitement about coaching in this series for the first time.
“This rivalry is one of the great rivalries in all college football and for our football team, the seniors and everybody involved in the program, it’s going to be a great challenge but a great opportunity for us,” said Norvell.
Said offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham: “The challenge is not them; the challenge is us. If we can play our game, everything else takes care of itself. The challenge for us is getting out of our way.”
After opening with four straight losses, FSU has bounced back in a big way, in part, because of improved play out of quarterback Jordan Travis.
The redshirt sophomore has been outstanding in the five wins, completing 66% (76 of 115) of his passes for 924 yards with 10 touchdowns and an interception. He’s also rushed for 400 yards with 6 touchdowns.
Travis understands he’ll need to continue to play at an elite level, particularly against a challenging opponent in the Gators.
“We’ve got to come with the same mindset and yeah, there will be a little bit more energy because it’s a rivalry game, but we’ve just got to come out and do all the little things right,” said Travis.
Florida’s defense has spent much of this season maligned, so much so they fired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham after a loss to South Carolina on Nov. 6. Linebackers coach Christian Robinson took over defensive play-calling duties.
The Seminoles aren’t expecting to see much change on the defensive front with the switch at coordinator.
“From a philosophy standpoint, it’s not going to change what they’re going to do,” said Dillingham. “It’s more about what are his tendencies. Is he a more aggressive mind or a less aggressive mindset than the prior play-caller? Does he like to play more man or less man, but the scheme is going to stay the same.”
Either way, Norvell wants his team to embrace the challenges of this rivalry week.
“Do I want our guys to be at an all-time high come Saturday? Absolutely. Because I know, I know what this game means,” said Norvell. “If you don’t get up for this one, then go somewhere else, do something else because it is not for you.”
