Report: FSU adds Central Arkansas — Mike Norvell’s alma mater — to 2026 football schedule

Florida State has added an opponent to its 2026 football schedule — the alma mater of head coach Mike Norvell.

FSU will face off against Central Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, a game that will net a $450,000 payday for the Bears.

The matchup was revealed by FBSchedules.com, who learned of it via an open records request.

Norvell played wide receiver at the University of Central Arkansas from 2001 to 2005 and is the school’s all-time receptions leader having snagged 213 pass receptions for 2,611 yards and 15 touchdowns (also rushing for one and throwing for two).

Here’s him reviewing some of his tape, via the Xs and Noles podcast (begins around 50:40:

Florida State has several non-conference games already scheduled — September 19th vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide, part of a home-and-home series that kicks off this season in Tallahassee, a yet-to-be-scheduled matchup with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the annual rivalry matchup against the Florida Gators, slated for November 28th in Tallahassee.

2026 Florida State Seminoles football schedule

• Sep. 19: at Alabama Crimson Tide (Tuscaloosa, AL)
• Sep. 26: Central Arkansas Bears (Tallahassee, FL)
• Nov. 28: Florida Gators (Tallahassee, FL)
• Date TBA: at Boston College Eagles (Chestnut Hill, MA)
• Date TBA: Clemson Tigers (Tallahassee, FL)
• Date TBA: NC State Wolfpack (Tallahassee, FL)
• Date TBA: SMU Mustangs (Tallahassee, FL)
• Date TBA: Virginia Cavaliers (Tallahassee, FL)
• Date TBA: at Louisville Cardinals (Louisville, KY)
• Date TBA: at Miami Hurricanes (Miami Gardens, FL)
• Date TBA: at Pitt Panthers (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Date TBA: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Tallahassee, FL)