Mike Norvell reveals how LSU game impacts Florida State's offseason

The Florida State football team has lofty ambitions going into the 2023 season, widely viewed as a potential College Football Playoff contender thanks to the return of elite dual-threat quarterback Jordan Travis.

Travis was instrumental in the team’s success last season and should give the Seminoles the chance to start off on the right foot against a very good LSU Tigers team in the season opener.

That’s how last year’s 10-win campaign started, with a win over LSU early in the season.

The Florida State football team’s preparation for this year’s LSU game began a long time ago, though. In fact, Norvell would argue his team has been prepping for every game on the schedule for a while now.

“Well I mean I think it started back in January, you know, in everything that we do, each day that we get to have, you’re either putting yourself in a position to play your best that day or you’re not,” Norvell told ESPN’s Greg McElroy. “Whether it’s newcomers coming in, we’ve all signed up for what’s ahead this season and we know how it starts.”

Beat LSU and the Florida State football team essentially instantly cements itself as a contender to be reckoned with in 2023.

Lose and the season is far from over, but it’ll put a good dent into the team’s overall outlook. Florida State would like to avoid that.

“Really the main focus we’ve had is on ourselves and making sure that everything that we do leading up to kickoff is going to put us in the best position to go show the country who this team is and what we can do,” Norvell said. “We’re playing a great opponent. It’s going to be an absolute battle, but we’re excited to compete.”

Make no mistake about it, though. It’s an important contest.

Some early validation after a long offseason can do wonders for a team mentally, building some early momentum that can really carry you through a campaign.

But LSU will certainly make the Florida State football team earn it.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in this team,” Norvell said. “I like the way that they’ve approached the work, and there needs to be a sense of urgency because if we don’t get better each day we’re taking steps in the wrong direction. This team I think has great ability to accomplish wonderful things, and the first chance that we get is against LSU and I want to see us go play our best.”