Is Mike Norvell Losing the Locker Room? Florida State’s Freefall Hits New Low in Upset Loss to Pitt

by | Oct 11, 2025 | Blog, JP Peterson Show, Tampa Bay

The seat under Mike Norvell just got a little hotter. Florida State’s once-promising season continued to unravel Saturday night as the 25th-ranked Seminoles fell 34-31 at home to Pittsburgh — a team led by true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel.

The Panthers’ rookie torched the FSU secondary for 321 yards and two touchdowns, both to Desmond Reid, who shredded the defense with 155 receiving yards and added 45 more on the ground. Despite a strong offensive showing early, Florida State couldn’t protect a fourth-quarter lead, coughing up a fumble at midfield and surrendering 13 unanswered points down the stretch.

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Quarterback Tommy Castellanos did what he could, completing 16 of 23 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns, with a pair to Micahi Danzy — including a late 58-yarder that briefly gave fans hope. But the same issues that have haunted the Seminoles all year — turnovers, inconsistent defense, and questionable in-game adjustments — once again proved fatal.

Norvell’s squad is now 3-3 overall and winless in the ACC at 0-3, an unthinkable start for a program that entered the season with playoff ambitions. The frustration among boosters and fans is palpable, especially after losing at home to a team breaking in a freshman quarterback.

Florida State still managed 170 rushing yards, but Caziah Holmes’ costly fourth-quarter fumble near midfield killed momentum and effectively sealed their fate. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s offense out-executed Norvell’s staff when it mattered most — particularly on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by Ja’Kyrian Turner’s short run with 2:28 left.

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The loss raises legitimate questions about whether Norvell’s message is still reaching his team. After last year’s high expectations and the exodus of key talent to the NFL and transfer portal, the Seminoles look disjointed — and the patience in Tallahassee may be wearing thin.

Florida State travels west to face Stanford next Saturday in what now feels like a must-win game — not just for bowl hopes, but perhaps for Norvell’s job security. Another stumble could send the program spiraling into full-blown crisis mode.

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