The Florida State Seminoles open the season in Week 0 on August 29 against New Mexico State at Bobby Bowden Field in Tallahassee, Fla.
However, the Seminoles and head coach Mike Norvell aren’t tipping their hands one bit. According to Kolby Crawford of 247Sports, Florida State isn’t releasing its depth chart.
Florida State is not releasing a depth chart ahead of its Week 0 opener against New Mexico State.
— Kolby Crawford (@kolby_crawford) August 24, 2026After the news surfaced, Norvell revealed why he is making that decision while also stating it will be a recurring theme during the season.
“For us, practice matters. There are competitive situations. For a guy to sit there on Monday, how he plays, that’s a huge evaluation into what next week looks like,” Norvell said, via Liam Rooney of The Tallahassee Democrat. “Right now, guys know where they are; every player wants more. That’s what it should be.”
In years past, Norvell released the depth chart on the Monday of every game week, so this is quite the change for Florida State. Instead, the depth chart will be released on the day of the game.
Norvell’s change in philosophy is quite interesting, but it gives the players something to fight for during the week in hopes of earning more playing time in each respective game.
Mike Norvell enters the season with plenty of questions surfacing about his future with the program, although he insisted in July that he isn’t worried or thinking about that.
Florida State begins against New Mexico State and then has a bye before taking on SMU at home, followed by Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
