TALLAHASSEE – Usually, when a team joins a new conference, there is an adjustment period. Some understandable losses while the team gets used to facing better talent and tougher programs. Texas A&M began SEC play with a 20-17 loss to Florida in 2012 and UCLA’s first Big Ten experience ended in a 42-13 loss to Indiana. SMU, on the other hand, could not have been better against Florida State in their ACC debut.
The Seminoles looked truly awful in Dallas on Saturday night. Their three losses in the beginning of the season were also bad, Yes. But there was still some hope there. Still some life in the fan base that they could find a fix and flip a switch to save some embarrassment. However, the game against SMU proved three things. They can’t find a fix, there is no switch, and the 2024 Seminoles season might as well end now.
The Noles were out-rushed, out-thrown, and simply out-schemed by the Mustangs. There were a couple of instances where quarterback DJ Uiagalelei looked like the guy who revitalized his career at Oregon State, namely, his 50-yard strike to Ja’Khi Douglas and his 20-yard touchdown pass to Landen Thomas. Outside of that, DJ U and the rest of the offense were hard to watch. Uiagalelei’s three interceptions tell the whole story. One thrown straight into the hands of a defender, one off the hands of their tight end, and another that was just an incredible snag by SMU’s Jonathan McGill. One could make the argument that DJ U was only responsible for one of those interceptions, but the fact remains that they happened nonetheless.
The defense was also non-existent after a bounce-back win against Cal last week. They gave up a touchdown on the first drive of the game, gave up another score on a 42-yard flea-flicker, and got lit up all night. SMU racked up 480 yards of total offense on the Noles defense and put up 42 points. There also seemed to be a concerning lack of effort on the defensive side of the ball for FSU. There were several moments when it looked like defenders simply gave up on the play and the lack of pursuit is definitely concerning.
The only bright spot for the Noles was their special teams, which continues to be a really solid unit.
So, what is the answer? Honestly, there isn’t one. For a while, many thought that Mike Norvell just needed to come up with the right scheme or give the right speech and the Seminoles would rally behind their fearless leader. But that just isn’t the case. There seems to be a scary lack of leadership from players in the locker room. Most of these guys are transfers, so they have no real loyalty to the program, and Norvell simply doesn’t have the personnel to make a real difference on the field.
Florida State might as well look at the rest of this season as a chance to get Brock Glenn some meaningful reps and get an early start on a program rebuild.