MIKE NORVELL

Duke’s opening-week rout of then-No. 9 Clemson served notice that the Atlantic Coast Conference wouldn’t necessarily fall in line behind the perennial powerhouse Tigers.

3 key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Trey Benson had three touchdown runs and No. 4 Florida State routed Southern Miss 66-13 in its home opener Saturday night for the most points under coach Mike Norvell.

Jordan Travis accounted for five touchdowns, including three to Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman, and No. 8 Florida State throttled fifth-ranked LSU 45-24 in the most anticipated matchup of college football’s opening weekend.

Jordan Travis accounted for five touchdowns, including three to Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman, and No. 8 Florida State throttled fifth-ranked LSU 45-24 in the most anticipated matchup of college football’s opening weekend.

The Florida State football team is preparing for the season with a two-day practice at the University of North Florida.

Trey Benson’s 17-yard scoring run with 4:06 left in the game was his third touchdown of the game and gave No. 16 Florida State a 45-38 win over rival Florida.

Jordan Travis threw three touchdown passes, Trey Benson ran for 128 yards and two scores as Florida State became bowl-eligible with a 45-3 rout over Miami. The Seminoles (6-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) outgained the Hurricanes (4-5, 2-3) 456-188 and were never threatened after a 31-3 lead at halftime. Travis completed 10 of 12 passes for 202 yards before being removed early in the fourth quarter. Florida State exceeded 200 yards rushing for the fourth straight game with 225. Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke re-aggravated an injury to his right throwing shoulder early in the second quarter. He returned for the next drive but left for good after another errant pass missed its target.

Devan Boykin picked off Jordan Travis’ pass in the end zone with 38 seconds left and No. 14 North Carolina State rallied past Florida State 19-17 on Saturday night despite losing quarterback Devin Leary to injury.

The Atlantic Coast Conference gets a chance in September to bolster the perception of the league's strength with multiple matchups against other power conferences.

Shyheim Brown blocked LSU’s extra-point attempt with no time left to give Florida State a 24-23 victory Sunday night, spoiling Brian Kelly’s debut as Tigers coach.

Shyheim Brown blocked LSU’s extra-point attempt with no time left to give Florida State a 24-23 victory Sunday night, spoiling Brian Kelly’s debut as Tigers coach.

Brian Kelly's much anticipated debut as LSU's head coach comes against Florida State at the Superdome this weekend.

The No. 1 high school football recruit in the country pulled a signing day shocker.

Anthony Richardson came off the bench and led Florida to a 24-21 victory over rival Florida State on Saturday that made the Gators bowl eligible a week after firing coach Dan Mullen.

Will Shipley ran for two touchdowns, including the game-winning 21-yard score with 2:53 left, as Clemson rallied past Florida State 30-20 for its 32nd straight victory at Death Valley.

North Carolina hosts Florida State this week in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

No. 16 Arkansas' game against No. 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and No. 18 Wisconsin's meeting with No. 12 Notre Dame at Soldier Field in Chicago highlight the college football schedule on Saturday.

Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.

Dillan Gibbons is back in the Sunshine State and the Florida State offensive lineman will be reunited with not just family when the Seminoles take on No. 9 Notre Dame but a large a number of old friends from Indiana as well.

Atlantic Coast Conference coaches are counting on high program COVID-19 vaccination rates to minimize risks of illnesses or lineup-depleting contact tracing for the upcoming college football season.

A trip out of Tallahassee is just what coach Mike Norvell wanted. It forced the Seminoles out of their comfort zone and out of the normal schedule.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney called Bobby Bowden a “model” that other college coaches should follow saying he never lost sight of being a man of faith, a great husband and father.

The post-Trevor Lawrence era begins at Clemson with the Tigers still the prohibitive favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference for a seventh consecutive season.

Florida State has filled the non-conference football schedule through 2024 after adding Memphis and Charleston Southern to the slate that already included Notre Dame and Florida.

A general view of a Florida State Seminoles Helmet on the field before the game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on December 2, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)Florida State is opening the season at home against Notre Dame and closing the year with a rivalry football game against Florida as the Atlantic Coast Conference segues back into a normalcy in 2021. The conference is back to two divisions — with no Notre Dame — and plans to open the season over five days beginning Labor Day weekend. The Seminoles will play eight ACC games this season and four nonconference opponents, highlighted by a Sept. 5 game in Tallahassee against Notre Dame. Florida State 2021 football scheduleDate, OpponentSept. 5, Notre Dame (Sunday)Sept. 11, Jacksonville StateSept. 18, at Wake ForestSept. 25, LouisvilleOct. 2, SyracuseOct. 9, at North CarolinaOct. 23, UMassOct. 30, at ClemsonNov. 6, NC StateNov. 13, MiamiNov. 20, at Boston CollegeNov. 27, at Florida

He released a statement Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 saying he tested positive Friday. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)Florida State’s up and mostly down football season is officially over. The Atlantic Coast Conference announced on Friday that the Seminoles’ regular season finale against Wake Forest had been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns on the FSU roster. Florida State will finish its season at 3-6 in coach Mike Norvell’s first year in Tallahassee. Florida State had two other games this season canceled due to coronavirus concerns, Clemson and Virginia.

4 Clemson and Florida State was postponed hours before kickoff Saturday when medical personnel from both schools could not agree it was safe to play. The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the postponement, although it did not detail whether the game at Florida State was called off because of coronavirus issues. The person said Clemson officials told Florida State that the Tigers player had taken part in practice and meetings throughout the week while showing symptoms. No makeup date was announced, but Florida State coach Mike Norvell said he hoped it would be in December. It is the 81st on the season since schedules were set in late August and believed to be the first game postponed on the day of the game.

It came against his former team, as Hockman threw for three touchdowns and ran for a score as the Wolfpack defeated Florida State 38-22 on Saturday night. The guys played great.”Hockman, who began his collegiate career in 2017 at Florida State, was 24-for-34 passing for 265 yards and an interception. Freshman Chubba Purdy got his first career start for Florida State, completing 15 of 23 passes for 181 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. “We’re making too many mistakes when it comes to what’s necessary to win a college football game,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. Travis had scored at least one rushing touchdown in five consecutive games – a program record for a Florida State quarterback.

A Florida State team looking to get back to respectability in the ACC made a striking statement. Travis guided an offense that generated 432 yards for Florida State (2-3, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), but was shut out in the second half. But Norvell began to see Florida State turn the corner in last week's 42-26 loss at Notre Dame. The Tar Heels (3-1, 3-1) drove into Florida State territory but had drops on third and fourth down in the final seconds to end the comeback bid. STILL WINLESSUNC coach Mack Brown has never beaten his alma mater in 10 meetings with Florida State.

Mullen made the announcement Saturday on Twitter, saying his initial positive result was confirmed by a second test. The 10th-ranked Gators had at least 21 players and coaches test positive earlier this week, an outbreak that prompted the Southeastern Conference to postpone Florida's next two games. Two assistant coaches also tested positive for the highly contagious virus. Florida has started administering daily tests since it first suspected an outbreak following last week's loss at Texas A&M. Mullen raised eyebrows after the loss to the Aggies by saying he wanted to pack the Swamp against LSU.

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas coach Les Miles has been cleared to return to the Jayhawks after his positive test for COVID-19, but out of caution is skipping the team's trip to West Virginia for Saturday's game. Also on Friday, Southern Mississippi at UTEP became the sixth game scheduled for Saturday to be postponed this week. The Gators had at least 21 players and coaches test positive for the coronavirus and dozens more quarantined because of contract tracing. “Coach Miles is doing well and has been cleared to leave isolation," Kansas team physician Dr. Larry Magee said in a statement. Miles isn't the only head coach to test positive for the virus.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State was struggling on offense and turned to a new quarterback for a spark. Jordan Travis came off the bench to lead Florida State to touchdowns on five straight drives as the Seminoles rallied to knock off FCS program Jacksonville State 41-24 on Saturday. Travis had transferred to Florida State from Louisville before the 2019 season, and he had been critical to a win at Boston College last November with a pair of long touchdown runs. Lawrance Toafili ran for 99 yards and a touchdown for Florida State, which finished with 263 rushing yards on 53 carries. Florida State plays at Notre Dame next Saturday.

12 Hurricanes beat Florida State 52-10 on Saturday night. Miami scored touchdowns on its five possessions and built a 35-point lead at halftime. He also ran for 65 on eight carries against Florida State. “Any time you give up 52 points, it’s never progress,” Florida State linebacker Amari Gainer said. STREAK REVERSAL:Miami won its fourth straight over Florida State and leads the series 35-30.

Several teams in other leagues have had to postpone games because of outbreaks among players and staff. Ron DeSantis, alarmed by what he sees as draconian rules on college campuses, said he is drawing up a “bill of rights” for college students. The University of Wisconsin-Madison had seen more than 2,800 confirmed cases in students as of Friday. At Kansas State University, more than 2,200 students have been placed in quarantine or isolation since class began. But Mariscano said universities should expect college students to act like college students.

Before Miami won easily last year, the ‘Canes and ’Noles played five straight games decided by five points or fewer. A pandemic-altered college football season has helped put FSU-Miami in the spotlight again this weekend. The Big Ten and Pac-12 are still at least a month away, but the college football menu is starting to fill up. 7-6 — Lane Kiffin's record in his one SEC season as coach at Tennessee. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Officials at Florida State University say COVID-19 numbers are starting to improve. So far, the university has identified 1,428 cases since reopening for the fall semester, but in the latest report, positivity rates and case numbers appear to be trending downward. Following a week of more than 400 new cases and a positivity rate of 12.9%, the university’s newly released report shows 178 new cases and a positivity rate of 6.7%. Hecht says most of the students who are testing positive appear to be contracting the virus off campus. In an effort to curb transmission, the university announced students who test positive and break quarantine will face possible suspension.

He released a statement Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 saying he tested positive Friday. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)Florida State coach Mike Norvell has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not coach the Seminoles in-person this week as they prepare for Miami. Norvell released a statement Saturday saying he tested positive a day earlier but is feeling fine. In Tallahassee, Florida, deputy head coach Chris Thomsen is taking over Norvell's duties, but the first-year Florida State head coach said he still intends to contribute. Toledo coach Jason Candle and UCLA coach Chip Kelly tested positive earlier this year.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell will miss an upcoming game against Miami after testing positive for COVID-19, the school announced on Saturday. Deputy head coach Chris Thomsen will handle head coaching duties in Norvell’s absence. “In our most recent round of Covid testing yesterday, I received a positive result after being negative in our previous two tests this week. Deputy head coach Chris Thomsen will handle in-person head coaching duties until I am able to return. At this point, based on our testing this week, we have no reason to believe that the Miami game is in jeopardy.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Mike Norvell has waited nine months to coach his first game at Florida State. After the coronavirus-disrupted offseason, Norvell believes the Seminoles are ready to play their first game Saturday when Georgia Tech visits Doak Campbell Stadium. He has some impressive performances as a true freshman in 2017, coach Jimbo Fisher’s final season with Florida State, and again last year. “The main thing that coach Norvell hit on every day was just responding,” Blackman said. “I’m super excited going into my final year at Florida State,” Wilson said.

Mike Norvell has a relatively easy act to follow. Norvells first season at Florida State should be an upgrade from the Willie Taggart era, which was one of college footballs biggest coaching debacles in recent years. It was so obvious that Taggart was in over his head that Florida State cut ties midway through his second season, a rarity in college athletics. He posted four consecutive winning seasons at Memphis before taking over in Florida's state capital. Before he even coached a game, Norvell was on the brink of a revolt in June after he claimed to have spoken to each of his players individually about George Floyds death and the ensuing protests against racial injustice.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell named James Blackman his starting quarterback to open the season. Blackman got the nod Tuesday after beating out Louisville transfer Jordan Travis and freshman Tate Rodemaker during fall camp. Blackman, meanwhile, showed Norvell he has all the skills and traits of whats necessary to be a very successful quarterback.The Seminoles open the season Sept. 12 at home against Georgia Tech. Although he played behind Deondre Francois in 2018, Blackman got his first taste of college football during Jimbo Fisher's final season in Tallahassee. The 6-foot-5 junior from South Bay enters this season with his fourth play-caller in as many years.

Several other prominent FSU players spoke up in defense of the program, saying that they feel safe. During the entire week of camp I have been lied to multiple times about the conditions of other players health as well as mine, Thompson wrote. Weekly testing has not taken place and many players have tested + and yet told to remain silent! Weekly testing has not taken place and many players have tested + and yet told to remain silent! Im not going to control the players social media, everybody has a platform they can use.

Ron DeSantis held a roundtable discussion Tuesday at Florida State University, where he pushed for student-athletes, including college football players, being able to play this fall. Recently, there were discussions amongst different presidents and different conferences about whether they should deep-six the football season entirely, and that caused a chain reaction of football players across the county saying, We want to play, DeSantis said. Ive been playing football since I was 4 years old, and from day one of my injury, Ive been preparing myself. Thrasher said Florida State has safety protocols in place and what he believes is the right atmosphere to go out and play football. We think its in the best interest of our student-athletes for us to play football.

Florida States revised 2020 football schedule with ten ACC games and one non-conference home game was released Thursday. The new schedule included all of the previous conference opponents, but ads Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Virginia to the list of home games. We are excited for the opportunity to compete this fall, head coach Mike Norvell said in a release. I want to thank the ACC presidents, athletic directors and coaches for working together on a plan to move forward safely. Our team has been working hard this summer and we are all looking forward to beginning preseason camp this week.

The Florida State football team met with coach Mike Norvell on Thursday after a star player accused the coach of lying about personally connecting with each player to discuss the police killing of George Floyd and ensuing protests against racial injustice. I want to tell you that coach just finished a closed team meeting with the football team, Coburn told the board. On Thursday, some support for Norvell was turning up on social media from Florida State players. Linebacker Kevon Glenn tweeted: We love our coach and we are together as a team.___AP freelance writer Bob Ferrante in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report. Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and https://appodcasts.com/category/ap-top-25-college-football/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/APTop25CollegeFootballPoll and https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Over a tense few hours, Norvell and Florida State players and administration held meetings and were able to work through things and, as players said, move forward. Seminoles defensive tackle Marvin Wilson took issue with that statement, saying that Norvell didnt have one-on-one conversations with players. There was no one on one talk between us and coach," Wilson tweeted. Several other Florida State players seemingly tweeted in reaction to Wilsons statement. After the flurry of tweets Thursday morning, Norvell held a closed team meeting with players and staff.

Florida State introduces Mike Norvell as new head football coachPublished: December 8, 2019, 6:22 pmFSU says former Memphis coach was the only one offered the job