FSU's Mike Norvell Takes Blame for 'Extremely Poor Performance' in Loss to Louisville

Florida State coach Mike Norvell said the buck stops with him following a 44-20 loss to Louisville on Friday night.

"An extremely poor performance by us," Norvell told reporters after the game. "We started the game well. We jumped up 14-0, but too many missed opportunities. ... Too many times, we didn't show the detail, the discipline, the mental toughness that's necessary on the road. And it starts with me."

The Seminoles jumped ahead 14-0 in the first quarter following a pair of touchdowns from quarterback Ashton Daniels. They proceeded to allow 35 unanswered points.

Louisville running back Isaac Brown had 235 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. His 97-yard scamper in the second quarter, which came after a goal-line stand, sparked the Cardinals' comeback.

FSU Loses To Louisville

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"What we put out there, obviously, guys were not as prepared as they need to be," Norvell said. "But we all need to take ownership of it. Coaches, players, everyone involved. There was plenty of opportunity."

Brown had been quiet through Louisville's first four games but then went off for 125 yards against North Carolina State a week ago. The junior is presumably somebody Norvell and his staff spotlighted.

On the other side of the ball, Daniels' output (21-of-37 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and an interception) was a little underwhelming against a Cardinals defense that's allowing more than 250 passing yards per game.

For Norvell, this might be the point of no return.

Florida State is 3-3 with No. 4 Miami on tap on Oct. 17. Matchups against Clemson, No. 25 Pittsburgh and No. 16 Florida remain as well.

The Seminoles aren't going to make the College Football Playoff — not that anyone expected them to. An 8-4 or 7-5 finish isn't going to cut it, either, when Norvell has just a .532 winning percentage at the helm.

Norvell's buyout is so substantial that it could take some time for the athletic department to get the funds together, even if it's ready right now to make a change.

But it increasingly feels like he's on borrowed time.