2026 FSU Schedule Preview: Central Arkansas Bears

2026 FSU Schedule Preview: Central Arkansas Bears

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2026 FSU Schedule Preview: Central Arkansas Bears

The Florida State Seminoles return home to close out September against the University of Central Arkansas, following an expected physical road battle against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. After taking on the Tide and SMU in back-to-back games, FSU gets a welcome reprieve as the Seminoles host the Bears, who are expected to arrive at Doak Campbell Stadium as double-digit underdogs.

This matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Central Arkansas will net a $450,000 guaranteed payday for the trip, but the key storyline will center on FSU head coach Mike Norvell facing his alma mater. Norvell starred as a wide receiver for the Bears from 2001 to 2005, finishing his career as the school’s all-time receptions leader with 213 catches. He started his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 2006 and has since been inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame.

Norvell, a former walk-on receiver who was inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in August 2016, is the school record holder for career receptions (213) and is fifth in career receiving yards (2,611). He played on teams that won 33 games in his four seasons, including UCA’s best team in the NCAA Division II era. The 2005 Bears finished 11-3 and lost in the Division II quarterfinals.

Florida State vs. Central Arkansas Bears

  • Date: Saturday, Sep. 26, TBD
  • Location: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
  • All-time series: First-ever meeting

Central Arkansas Bears: 2026 Team Preview

2025 record: 3-9

Two things to know:

  • The Bears compete in the United Athletic Conference (UAC), a FCS football-only alliance created from the former Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
  • Central Arkansas last beat an FBS opponent on August 29, 2019, when they upset Western Kentucky. In that season-opening upset, the Bears defeated the Hilltoppers by a score of 35-28 on the road.

Three key players

  • Bears quarterback Austin Myers entered the transfer portal during the offseason after leading the Bears in most passing categories in just 7 games, but decided to withdraw and rejoin the program. His prior production was not enough to be named starter when the coaching staff left the competition wide open following spring practices, leaving Myers locked in a three-way battle with Luther Richesson and Caleb Koger as they head into fall camp.
  • Whoever gets the nod at QB will inherit a weapon in wide receiver Malachi Henry, the offense’s most explosive big-play threat. Henry led the team last season with 889 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging nearly 13 yards per reception.
  • Offensive lineman Will Diggins is the anchor of the Bears’ offensive front. The 6’4″, 320-pound tackle is a multi-year starter who earned Preseason All-UAC honors.

Florida State vs. Central Arkansas Bears: Game preview, predictions

  • Best Case

While the Bears are a respected program in their lower division, the size, speed, and depth of FSU will heavily favor the Noles, who should easily dominate their undermanned opponent, maintain control of the game, and have the score in garbage time by early in the second half.

  • Realistic Case

For FSU, it should be about gaining confidence, building momentum, and working on their execution in what should be a tune-up game before heading into the meat of their ACC schedule. The game should be in hand with enough time left for the 2nd and 3rd-team players to get significant playing time in preparation for Virginia.

  • Worst Case

The FCS Trap. Florida State demonstrates the same complacency and lackadaisical performance as it did against Jacksonville State—another FCS opponent—five years ago, squeaking by in a matchup it should have dominated and heading into October with the nightmare feeling around the program hitting a high.

2026 FSU football schedule

  • Saturday, Aug. 29: New Mexico State Aggies (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 7:00 p.m. (The CW)
  • Monday, Sep. 7: SMU Mustangs (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
  • BYE
  • Saturday, Sep. 19: Alabama Crimson Tide (Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.) | 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
  • Saturday, Sep. 26: Central Arkansas Bears (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
  • Saturday, Oct. 3: Virginia Cavaliers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
  • Friday, Oct. 9: Louisville Cardinals (Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Ky.) | 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Saturday, Oct. 17: Miami Hurricanes (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
  • BYE
  • Saturday, Oct. 31: Clemson Tigers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
  • Saturday, Nov. 7: Boston College Eagles (Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
  • Friday, Nov. 13: Pitt Panthers (Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.) | 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Saturday, Nov. 21: NC State Wolfpack (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
  • Friday, Nov. 27: Florida Gators (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

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