Five reasons FSU could struggle vs. New Mexico State

It is nearly time for the Florida State Seminoles to play football. FSU is set to start the 2026 season against the New Mexico State Aggies Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium.

While it is a great chance for FSU to start the season 1-0, they can not afford to take the Aggies lightly. New Mexico State is also coming off a disappointing season, and there would be no better way to start the year than by pulling off the upset.

One factor in FSU's favor is that New Mexico State struggles in Week 0. In their four Week 0 games since 2018, they are 0-4 and have been outscored 123-52. On the other hand, FSU is 2-1 in Week 0 games since 2022, including last year's massive win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

It will be a challenge, but here are five reasons why FSU could struggle with New Mexico State on Saturday night.

The Seminoles will have five new starters on the offensive line, with at least four of them set to be transfers. Herb Hand successfully built an offensive line through the portal last year, but that is hard to do, and this will be the first test for the new group. Any struggles from them could be costly, especially with Ashton Daniels' history of struggling when facing pressure.

FSU made a calculated risk this offseason when they added Daniels, banking on their ability to get the most out of the veteran. While he has been praised by the coaching staff throughout spring and fall camp, it is time to prove it.

The Seminoles need him to be an effective passer, getting the ball to Duce Robinson and the rest of the talented receivers while also making some plays with his legs. While he is capable of doing those things, he has never been an accurate quarterback. If he has a bad day throwing the ball and makes some costly decisions, it could open the door for New Mexico State to pull off the upset.

King enters the season as New Mexico State's top receiver, but he is also a threat in the return game and someone FSU's special teams will have to contain. He averaged 19.5 yards per kick return and 8.6 yards per punt return last year and was the All-Mountain West First Team kick returner in 2024. A big return from him could change the game in an instant and is something FSU can not allow.

Norvell is once again calling plays for the FSU team, something he has done throughout his time in Tallahassee and career. However, he let Gus Malzahn handle those duties last year, and he could be a little rusty. While FSU has the more talented roster, a bad play call could prove costly, and Norvell will need to get into a rhythm.

New Mexico State did not have a good defense in 2025, allowing 27.6 points and 402.1 yards per game, but they did excel in generating turnovers. The Aggies forced 24 turnovers, which was tied for the 14th most in the country. If they can do so once again, it could allow them to get some easy points and put the pressure on FSU's offense and defense.

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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Five reasons FSU could struggle vs. New Mexico State