Athlon Sports expects the Sunshine State to be must-watch in 2026
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Florida State might now be the worst of the big three, made up of the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes, but that doesn't mean there's no opportunity to bounce back in 2026.
Athlon Sports has ranked the top 15 "things to watch" across the landscape of college football in 2026, and the state of the Sunshine State's top football programs is something they consider intriguing this year. FSU fans can only hope intrigue translates into success on the field, despite Athlon describing Florida State's situation rather bluntly.
FSU head coach Mike Norvell is squarely on the hot seat after back-to-back losing seasons. And if it weren’t for a hefty buyout, the Seminoles likely would’ve shopped for a new coach in an active carousel. A winning season would certainly cool the pressure on Norvell. However, a challenging schedule and plenty of roster concerns have yielded low expectations in ’26.
Despite a 2-10 and 5-7 season in the last two years, the Seminoles are facing one of the toughest schedules in the country: an away game at a notoriously hostile Alabama – with the Crimson Tide looking for revenge after last year's upset. Three Friday games as well as traveling to a likely-ranked Miami and Louisville will make things even more difficult.
But for Miami, Athlon notes they are nearly there in winning a national championship: "Head coach Mario Cristobal’s elite recruiting and precise portal additions have solidified Miami as the team to beat in the ACC once again… As last year’s playoff run showed, the Canes are back as a national power and a threat to win it all once again in ’26."
The Hurricanes may have fallen short of the national championship, but they are reloading for 2026, and their streak of no ACC Championships may come to an end at 22 years.
The Gators are in the national conversation too, despite a few lean years: "Sumrall inherited a talented roster and made two of the best coordinator hires in the nation by bringing Buster Faulkner (Georgia Tech) and Brad White (Kentucky) to Florida. The odds of a turnaround seem high in Year 1."
Sumrall has landed the 18th best recruiting class in the country for the class of 2026, per 247Sports. In 2027, they are faring even better after landing the No. 2 prospect in the nation, OT Maxwell Hiller.
FSU will open its 2026 season hosting the New Mexico State Aggies on Aug. 29 from Doak Campbell Stadium.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of FSU news, notes, and opinions. Jacob Smith is a contributor for FSU Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can also follow Jacob on X at @jsmith_sports.
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Athlon Sports expects the Sunshine State to be must-watch in 2026
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