After a prolonged period of uncertainty and a shifting quarterback competition in Tallahassee, Mike Norvell and Florida State have named Ashton Daniels as their starter for the 2026-27 season. Daniels, who joined via the transfer portal, spent most of the previous year as a backup at Auburn, following three seasons as a reserve at Stanford.
Daniels secured the role over redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry. Though the battle for the spot was expected, Daniels brings four years of collegiate experience and fits naturally into the dual-threat system the Seminoles have relied on with quarterbacks like Jordan Travis and Thomas Castellanos.
In four appearances at Auburn last season three of them starts Daniels passed for 797 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while adding 280 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.
Despite going 0-3 as a starter last year, Auburn remained competitive in every game, losing each by a single touchdown. Those defeats included a 45-38 shootout with No. 16 Vanderbilt and a 27-20 loss to No. 10 Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
The season ahead
Florida State has an opportunity to open strong and develop early on-field rhythm, with four of their first five games held at Doak Campbell Stadium. Those matchups include New Mexico State in Week 0 and Central Arkansas in Week 4.
An early test comes on Labor Day against SMU in their ACC opener—a team that dominated them in 2024 with a 42-16 victory. Another road challenge follows in Week 3 against Alabama.
There may be reason for optimism against the Crimson Tide, who have recently struggled against mobile quarterbacks, especially after Daniels’ near-upset of them last season. Additionally, several returning starters on both sides of the ball were part of the Seminoles’ Week 1 upset over Alabama last year.
The schedule toughens after Week 5. Florida State will play four of their final seven games on the road, including three Friday night contests. Historically, the Seminoles have struggled in weekday games; their last Friday night win came in 2022, and they are 0-4 in weekday matchups since.
Their four post-Week 5 road games are against Louisville, Miami, Boston College, and Pitt. Home games during that stretch feature Clemson, NC State, and Florida.
With the starting quarterback decision now settled, Florida State can turn its full attention to building chemistry ahead of their Week 0 opener against New Mexico State.
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