The Florida State coaching staff received a boost Sunday when the school decided to retain coach Mike Norvell for another season, but the Seminoles will be looking for a monetary bump this Saturday.
A bowl berth.
Needing one more victory to become eligible, the Seminoles (5-6) will try to earn that when they visit the rival Florida Gators (3-8) on Saturday in Gainesville.
A Seminoles win would leave Florida with its fewest wins in a season since the 1979 team went 0-10-1.
But the Atlantic Coast Conference school’s first item of business after losing 21-11 at North Carolina State last week was keeping Norvell, who is 38-33 since his tenure began in 2020.
The sixth-year coach vows to get the ship righted.
“I’m not going to let them down,” Norvell said on Monday. “I know what it’s got to be, and we’re going to get it done.”
The Seminoles have dropped six of eight, with the season beginning its unraveling on Sept. 26 in a 46-38 double-overtime loss at Virginia.
“Obviously, this week is a huge week,” Norvell said. “I’ve got an elite level of confidence in where we’re going and what we’re going to be able to accomplish.
“I believe we’re close, (but) you lose six games, and it sucks.”
The Seminoles’ Tommy Castellanos has passed for 2,520 yards and rushed for 480 — both team highs. Receiver Duce Robinson tops the ACC with 1,021 yards on 19.3 yards per reception.
Florida won last year’s game 31-11 in Tallahassee.
Running back Jadan Baugh has been the brightest spot for the Gators this season, totaling 904 rushing yards and leading the team with eight scores (six rushing, two receiving).
“It’s been difficult the whole season,” Baugh said. “But we continue to just keep coming in the facility and giving our best. … Florida State, it’s another day in the office, going in there, keeping our head on straight and preparing the right way.”
Florida interim coach Billy Gonzales has been eyeing Baugh’s attempt to become the Gators’; first 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor ran for 1,035 yards in 2015.
“I think that’s big,” Gonzales said. “I think individual accolades are always nice to attain, but I think if you asked the team right now if we’d rather have a win or a 1,000-yard rusher, they’d probably say both. But I’d definitely lean more on a W.”
