Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Florida State

Mike Norvell credits FSU defense for strong showing in ACC title game

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby: On3 Staff Report12/07/23
mike-norvell-assesses-play-of-brock-glenn-and-fsu-offense-in-first-half-of-acc-championship-game
Alicia Devine | Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY NETWORK

The season might not have ended the way Florida State wanted or anticipated, outside of the College Football Playoff despite finishing 13-0. But the FSU defense wasn’t at fault at all.

In fact, if not for that unit, Florida State might not have been in playoff contention in the first place.

“I think our defense has played at an extremely high level,” coach Mike Norvell said. “We’ve gotten better throughout the season. I mean you look at the way they played in the second half of games. They can adapt, they can adjust, they can go out there and execute.”

Nowhere was the value of the FSU defense more evident this year than in the final two games of the regular season, with star quarterback Jordan Travis sidelined by his season-ending injury.

Florida State was lights out, first silencing rival Florida by holding the Gators to just 15 points and then making short work of Louisville in the ACC title game.

Louisville finished with just 188 total yards in the game and was held without a touchdown, falling 16-6.

“They got put in challenging situations tonight,” Norvell said of the FSU defense. “To be able to get the interception there with Tatum (Bethune) in the end zone was such a huge play. … I thought our defense was lights out tonight and helped carry us to the championship tonight.”

Florida State still has the chance to do something very special this season, College Football Playoff appearance or not. The Seminoles can go a perfect 14-0.

It won’t be easy.

Standing in the way is juggernaut Georgia, who will be seeking its own revenge after falling to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, missing out on the playoffs as well.

But Norvell knows one thing. As long as he’s got his FSU defense, he’s got a shot.

“These guys, they have such heart. They’re such competitors,” Norvell said. “So whoever lines up across from us, we know we’ve got to embrace the challenge. But we’re built for challenge. That’s the way that we work, the way that we push the standard of what’s necessary here at Florida State. It’s how we’ve gotten the program back to where it is, because of choices of guys like this.”