Norvell tightens access, drops depth charts as FSU faces make-or-break 2026 season

Mike Norvell enters the 2026 Florida State football season under intense scrutiny, with his seat described as scorching amid a reported $51 million buyout and growing pressure from fans and boosters. The Seminoles open against Texas A&M this week, and the stakes could not be higher for a program that went 2-10 in 2024 after a 13-0 campaign in 2023.

The pressure has coincided with a notable shift in how Norvell runs his program publicly. Florida State, once considered among the most media-accessible programs in college football, has moved sharply in the opposite direction. Writers who covered the Seminoles were previously allowed to watch the majority of spring and preseason practices in their entirety and attended three full sessions per week for the first five seasons of Norvell's tenure. That access was curtailed ahead of the 2025 season, and FSU is now among the least accessible programs in terms of practice viewing.

On Monday, Norvell announced that Florida State would not release depth charts at any point during the 2026 season — an unusual step that goes beyond the practice some programs have adopted of withholding depth charts until the day of the first game. Norvell framed the decision as being made with the players in mind.

Right now, guys know where they are. Every player wants more. That's what it should be. You should want to be the starter. You should want to be the guy that plays the most plays. … But also, on the flip side of it, if we come out with a depth chart today that says, well, this is what it looks like. Throughout the course of the week, there's ups, downs, whatever that might be. Somebody puts themselves in position, well, the best players are going to play. Just, go have a great week. Whatever personnel groupings, if you're a starter in, then you're a starter. If you're not, then continue to work and get better and put yourself in that position.

— Mike Norvell, Florida State head coach

Access Restrictions Draw Contrast With Norvell's Earlier Approach

The restrictions mark a stark departure from the philosophy that accompanied Norvell's most successful stretch. FSU's 19-game winning streak spanning the 2022 and 2023 seasons was built during a period of unusual openness, with Norvell demonstrating that limiting media intel was not a prerequisite for competitive success. The same reporters who had full access during that run were also present for the 2-10 2024 collapse, undermining any argument that media presence contributed to poor results on the field. FSU also made its Inside Seminole Football program a studio show this season, removing the in-person audience; the Monday season premiere aired with an audio delay.

By contrast, second-year men's basketball coach Luke Loucks has drawn praise for his transparent approach, with media members granted practice access essentially on demand. Heading into the season opener against the Aggies, Norvell confirmed that freshman wide receiver Devin Carter will likely be unavailable due to injury. The Seminoles will otherwise lean on returning players and new additions under a new five-for-five eligibility rule that eliminates traditional redshirt restrictions.