After months of roster moves, spring practice, summer workouts and fall camp, Florida State finally gets to play somebody other than itself. New Mexico State isn’t going to tell us everything about the 2026 Seminoles. But it will give us our first real look at several players who could determine how good this team ultimately becomes.
Here are the five I’ll be watching closest:
1. Ashton Daniels
This is the obvious one.
Ashton Daniels is finally going to take the field as Florida State’s starting quarterback.
Daniels enters the season with considerably more experience than the quarterbacks FSU has relied on in recent years. He played 37 games with 23 starts at Stanford and Auburn, throwing for 4,783 career yards and 24 touchdowns while adding another 1,397 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. (Florida State University)
The reports coming out of camp have been encouraging.
Tomahawk Nation reported this week that Daniels appears to be a strong fit for Mike Norvell’s offense, while ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain has been particularly high on his potential. (Tomahawk Nation)
Now we get to see it.
Daniels doesn’t need to put up ridiculous numbers against New Mexico State. What matters most is seeing the offense operate with him at the controls.
Florida State has spent the entire offseason talking about his experience, leadership and fit.
Saturday is the first time we get to see it for real.
2. Duce Robinson
Duce Robinson is one of the best returning players in the country.
That’s not hype.
He caught 56 passes for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns last season, earning first-team All-ACC and third-team All-American honors. He also finished ninth nationally in receiving yards and led all Power Four receivers with five games of at least 120 receiving yards. (Tomahawk Nation)
And the preseason recognition hasn’t slowed down.
Just this week, Robinson was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list after already earning recognition from the Walter Camp and Maxwell Award watch lists and preseason All-American honors. (Tomahawk Nation)
He’s also the player I’m most interested in seeing with Ashton Daniels.
If Daniels is going to have a big year, Robinson is probably going to be a huge part of it.
New Mexico State gets the first opportunity to try to slow down what could be one of the best quarterback-receiver combinations in the ACC.
3. Ousmane Kromah
This is the guy I think could generate some serious buzz after Saturday.
Kromah has been one of the more talked-about players coming out of fall camp, and his teammates have taken notice.
Last week, FSU linebacker Chris Jones made a pretty remarkable statement about the sophomore running back, saying Kromah is the best running back he has faced during his college career. Jones arrived in Tallahassee after recording 135 tackles at Southern Miss in 2025, so that’s not exactly a compliment coming from someone without experience. (FOX Sports)
Kromah is also part of a running back room that includes Tre Wisner (when healthy) and Samuel Singleton Jr. The competition for carries should make this one of the more interesting position groups to watch early in the season.
FSU struggled to find a consistent running back last season, and Tommy Castellanos ended up leading the team in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. (247Sports)
Kromah has an opportunity to change that narrative quickly.
I wouldn’t be surprised if his name is being talked about a lot more nationally by Sunday.
4. Malachi Marshall
I’m putting Marshall on this list for one reason:
The hype around him has gotten too interesting to ignore.
Marshall arrived at FSU after leading Iowa Western to a national championship and earning NJCAA Division I Offensive Player of the Year honors. (247Sports)
He wasn’t expected to challenge for the starting job this year. That was supposed to be Ashton Daniels’ job.
Instead, Marshall has apparently made the backup quarterback competition a legitimate battle.
Mike Norvell called the competition between Marshall and Kevin Sperry an “absolute competition,” and 247Sports’ Kolby Crawford reported that Marshall has closed the gap significantly during fall camp. (Yahoo Sports)
That’s a development worth watching.
If Daniels gets the Seminoles a comfortable lead against New Mexico State, there’s a good chance we get our first meaningful look at Marshall in a Florida State uniform. And if the camp reports are accurate, he could be one of the more intriguing young quarterbacks in the ACC in 2027.
5. Chris Jones
This is my defensive pick.
Chris Jones has been one of the most talked-about additions to FSU’s defense throughout camp.
The former Southern Miss linebacker arrives after an enormous 2025 season in which he recorded 135 tackles, and reports out of Tallahassee have consistently highlighted his physicality.
That was reinforced again last week.
Sports Illustrated reported that Tony White has praised Jones’ physical approach, while other members of the coaching staff have pointed to the way his intensity has affected the running back room during practice. (FOX Sports)
There’s another reason I’m watching him.
Ernie Sims is now coaching the linebackers.
The former Seminole has been emphasizing physicality and setting the tone at the position, and Jones looks like exactly the type of player Sims wants leading that room.
New Mexico State should give Jones plenty of opportunities to establish himself.
If he plays the way FSU has described him throughout camp, I expect his name to be around the football a lot.
The Bottom LineI’m not expecting New Mexico State to provide all the answers about Florida State.
That’s not what the opener is for. I’m looking for signs.
Daniels looking comfortable.
Robinson looking like an All-American.
Kromah turning the camp hype into production.
Marshall showing why the backup quarterback competition has become so interesting.
Jones bringing the physicality FSU has been talking about all offseason.
Those five players could all have very different roles Saturday. But each represents something important about this year’s team. And after everything we’ve heard since spring, I’m ready to see what these guys look like when the jerseys are on and the game actually counts.
Attention Top Tier Noles! New Underdog customers, Spend 5 and get 50 in Bonus Entries on Underdog! 1️⃣ Download the app 2️⃣ Click the link 3️⃣ Use code: TTFSU
LINK: https://t.co/310J9esEzr