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    Florida’s worst football season? Here’s why that might be

    Online Niel Posted on

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    Florida State Football (1-8, 1-7) is headed for one of the worst seasons in program history after losing to North Carolina, 35-11TO Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday.

    FSU has been accustomed to winning or at least finishing the season with a winning record for over four decades due to Bobby Bowden.

    The standard was hard to match.

    The Seminoles they had just 15 losing records in their 77 years.

    FSU coach Mike Norvell’His team went from playoff contention to relegation in one year.

    While Norvell has brought success to the FSU program the past two years, earning it a eight year extension with a 63 million purchasethis will be Norvell’s third losing season in his five-year tenure.

    More: FSU coach Norvell clings to confidence, but can he climb out of oblivion? | Jim Henry

    Where does FSU’s offense rank this season?

    With 132 points and 14 touchdowns, FSU ranks last in every major offensive category nationally.

    The Seminoles rank 134th in total offense (264.6 yards per game), just two spots ahead of Kent State and Kennesaw State.

    Some say this could be one of the worst crimes ever at FSU. The Seminoles have yet to put up a 300-yard performance and haven’t reached 20-plus points in eight straight games.

    The Seminoles’ running game has been a disaster due to injuries, inconsistency and instability offensive line, which has eight formation changess in nine games. The running game averages 2.6 yards per carry and ranks 32nd in yards per carry.

    The passing attack was equally woeful with 6.1 yards per attempt (126), 25.83 third down percentage (133) and 56.25 red zone touchdown percentage (95).

    FSU Offensive Stats After Week 10

    • Yards Per Play: 4.45 (130th)
    • Points per game: 14.4 (133rd)
    • Yards per rush: 2.67 (132nd)
    • Passing yards: 6.1 (126th)
    • Passenger rating: 102.48 (131)
    • Third Down Percentage: 25.83 (133rd)
    • Red Zone Percentage: 87.5 (49th)
    • Red Zone TD Percentage: 56.25 (95th)
    • Scoring percentage: 24.2 (128)

    More: UNC’s Mack Brown is 0-11 against FSU football. Why is that? Bobby Bowden could play a part

    How does this year’s FSU offense rank against others in history?

    While FSU’s offense is weak, statistically it is not the worst in program history.

    FSU’s 264.6 total offense and 14 touchdowns are ahead of the 0-11 FSU team in 1973 that averaged 260.3 yards per game, had 13 touchdowns and averaged of 8.9 points per game.

    FSU’s 1-10 team in 1974 averaged 315.6 yards per game, had 17 touchdowns and 11.8 points per game.

    However, FSU’s 2.6 rushing yards per carry is among the worst in program history, surpassing of Willie Taggert run with 0.2. yards.

    FSU football season stats from teams with losing records.

    1973, 0-11 season, Head Coach: Larry Jones

    • Total yards per game: 260.3
    • Total TDs: 13 TDs, 4 TDs, 9 TDs
    • Points per game: 8.9
    • Yards per rush: 3.1
    • Passing yards: 5.2
    • Third down percentage: N/A

    1974 Season 1-10, Head Coach: Darrell Mudra

    • Total yards per game: 315.6
    • Total TDs: 17, 8 rushing, 9 passing
    • Points per game: 11.8.
    • Yards per rush: 3.9
    • Yards per pass: 6.4
    • Third down percentage: 34.6 percent

    1975 Season 3-8 Darrell Mudra

    • Total yards per game: 335.3
    • Total TDs: 25, 11 rushing: 14 passing
    • Points per game: 17
    • Yards per rush: 3.5
    • Passing yards: 7.5
    • Third down percentage: 43.1

    1976, 5-6 season, head coach: Bobby Bowden

    • Total yards: 335.3
    • Total TDs: 25, 14 rushing, 11 passing
    • Points per game: 17
    • Yards per rush: 3.5
    • Passing yards: 7.5
    • Third down percentage: 43.1

    2017, 7-6 season, Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher (5-6) Odell Haggins (2-0)

    • Total yards per game: 351.9
    • Total TDs: 39, 18 rushing, 11 passing
    • Points per game: 27.8
    • Yards per rush: 4.4
    • Yards per pass: 7.4
    • Third down percentage: 35 percent

    2018, Season 5-7, Head Coach: Willie Taggert

    • Total yards per game: 362.1
    • Total TDs: 31, 11 rushing, 20 passing
    • Points per game: 21.9
    • Yards per rush: 2.8
    • Passing yards: 7.1
    • Third descending percentage: 55 percent

    2019, season 6-7, Head Coach: Willie Taggert

    • Total yards per game: 408.3
    • Total TDs: 48, 24 rushing: 24 passing
    • Points per game: 27.9
    • Yards per rush: 3.8
    • Yards per pass: 8.1
    • Third down percentage: 36 percent

    2020, 3-6 season, Head Coach: Mike Norvell

    • Total yards per game: 396.7
    • Total TDs: 29.10 passing, 19 rushing
    • Points per game: 25.8
    • Yards per rush: 5.1
    • Passing yards: 6.1
    • Third down percentage: 36 percent

    2021, season 5-7, Head Coach: Mike Norvell

    • Yards per game: 379.2
    • Total TDs: 41, 21 rushing, 20 passing
    • Points per game: 27.6
    • Yards per rush: 4.8
    • Yards per pass: 11.6
    • Third down percentage: 35 percent

    More: Miami’s Mario Cristobal calls FSU, UF on ‘recruiting trajectory’; CJ Wiley disengages

    This is the FSU football season in program history

    It is the first time since 1974 that the Seminoles have started the season 1-8. That 1974 team finished the year 1-10. The year before, FSU went winless at 0-11.

    Who has the most losing seasons in FSU football history

    Bill Petersonwho coached FSU from 1960 to 1970, leads all coaches in four losing seasons. However, he is 62-42-11 during his tenure. Darrell Mudra was 4-18 with the Seminoles in 1974-75.

    Ed Williamson and Larry Jones are the only coaches in FSU history to have winless seasons. If Norvell ends the season with a win, he will be the third head coach to have a winning season, joining Mudra in 1974 and Don Weller in 1952.

    List of FSU coaches with losing records

    • Jack Forsythe: 1904, 2-3
    • Ed Williamson: 1947, 0-5
    • Don Weller: 1952, 1-8-1
    • Perry Moss: 1959, 4-6
    • Bill Peterson:1960, 3-6-1; 1961, 4-5-1; 1963, 4-5-1; 1965, 4-5-1
    • Larry Jones: 1973, 0-11
    • Darrell Mudra: 1974, 1-10; 1975, 3-8
    • Bobby Bowden: 1976, 5-6
    • Jimbo Fisher: 2017, 5-6
    • Willie Taggert: 2018, 5-7; 2019, 6-7
    • Mike Norvell: 2020, 3-6; 2021, 5-7; 2024, 1-8

    2024 FSU football schedule: TV channels, dates and start times

    All the time Eastern

    * = ACC

    Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him by email at [email protected] or X @_Da_pistol.

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