Florida State remains a hot topic of conversation. It's just that the conversation has changed.
An 0-2 start for the defending ACC champs has confounded those inside and outside the program. FSU became only the third team since 1989 to drop from top 10 in the preseason to unranked in the first regular-season AP Top 25. Attaching some numbers to it, the 'Noles slipped from No. 10 with 971 points to out of the top 25 with no points.
What's the mood at FSU, especially with the guy signing the checks?
"It's hard," FSU athletic director Mike Alford told CBS Sports. "I didn't think we'd be here but we are."
It seemed natural to check in with Alford after the depressing start. Not to relish in the downturn but to gauge the mood. There's always an early underachiever for the trolls to pounce on. This one was this close to making the College Football Playoff last season. Alford -- and several thousand FSU fans -- had just returned from the disappointment in Ireland last week to a shocking home-opening loss to Boston College on Monday.
"A lot of season left. We believe in the guys," Alford said. "It'd be one thing going to practice [and the] body language wasn't there. Work ethic [wasn't there]. That would be different. Something's not clicking but the effort is there, at least at practice.
"Everything you're seeing is positive. But that's gotta translate to the game."
Alford is entering his fourth season at FSU. He probably didn't expect to become such a face of the program but such is the case after the school sued the ACC to get out of the conference. The football start has had no impact on that pursuit. Florida State as an administration believes it isn't getting what it's worth in the ACC.
FSU's continues to be linked to the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 as possible landing places. Florida State's effort to get out of the conference could trigger the next round of realignment.
"[ACC Jim Phillips] was here at the game," Alford said. "You've heard me say it 100 times. We have a wonderful relationship. It's been constant communication and constant dialogue. Nothing has changed.
"You've also heard me it's not a peer institutional issue. It's a financial issue."
Florida State makes approximately $40 million annually in its current deal with ESPN that has 12 years to run. Its intention is to get closer to the SEC (approximately $60 million per year) and the Big Ten ($75 million).
There is much more urgency in possibly dropping out of College Football Playoff and conference contention heading into Week 3 (vs Memphis, Sept. 14) after this week's bye. There's certainly room for criticism, from the transfer portal philosophy to DJ Uiagalelei's quarterback play.
Something isn't right. Following a 13-0 regular season in 2023, the Seminoles have suddenly lost three in a row, being outscored 112-40.
A warning: Don't try to make this live look-in into a vote of confidence thing. Mike Norvell didn't go from ACC and national coach of the year to being on the hot seat in two games.
"No," Alford said when asked if there had been external pushback on Norvell. "He'll get it fixed. We have a great partnership. Things aren't going the way we thought they would.
"We'll get it turned around. It's football. It happens. When you see the hard work the culture behind the scenes, the kids doing the right things."
