Sources who spoke to CBS Sports' Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz are high on Florida State Seminoles transfer quarterback Ashton Daniels' ability to play a lot better than anyone expects during the 2026 college football season.
Per the source, "I think he's going to play a lot better than people think he will. He's really smart. He really has a workman attitude to everything. He's not prima-donnish. Everything he's gone through in his career, you can tell it keeps him humble and keeps him focused on the right things. I think he can feel the confidence that people in the program have in him. And he's also got enough playmakers around him that I think his talent will show up."
Daniels' 2025 season with the Auburn Tigers proved that he could withstand adversity and come through in the end to deliver results. Down the stretch, while Daniels didn't win any major matchups and was very much part of the team's malaise during a 10-3 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats at Jordan-Hare Stadium that led to Hugh Freeze's firing, the Atlanta-area native provided strong play. DJ Durkin had his responsibilities split for the Vanderbilt Commodores matchup, which led to a 45-38 OT loss in Nashville during his first game as the interim head coach. Daniels had four touchdowns and over 400 all-purpose yards. Let's not forget, AU was a Cam Coleman non-fumble away from tying the Iron Bowl in the fourth quarter before ultimately losing a sixth straight matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Who knows how far Daniels could've taken the Tigers had he had the chance.
Before Auburn, Daniels was with the Stanford Cardinal. The lack of a football investment made that a difficult landing spot, though he still made the most of it as Stanford transitioned from the Pac-12 to the ACC. Daniels set the Cardinal's single-season quarterback rushing record in 2024, though the wins were not there because of a putrid defensive effort. Stanford gave up 33.7 points and 414.1 yards per game, forcing Daniels to be Superman to win games in Palo Alto.
Will FSU be Ashton Daniels' best chance to win? Or was it Auburn?
On paper, 2026 in Tallahassee is a lame duck situation for everyone involved. Gus Malzahn's retirement in February was a major blow to the program's expectations, with Mike Norvell now taking over play-calling duties. Norvell has a solid history of play-calling, though, and with another year of Tony White's defensive schemes, paired with players he specifically chose to fit it, maybe Daniels has a chance.
Everyone is counting out the Noles this fall, which could provide a pressure-free situation for the locker room. If FSU could survive an early slate of matchups that includes the SMU Mustangs, Alabama, the Virginia Cavaliers, the Louisville Cardinals, and the Miami Hurricanes by October 17, maybe there's a chance to make a bowl game. Whether or not that's enough for Norvell to keep his job is a different question.
It's still a standard AU should've reached last year. Who knows what the Tigers could've accomplished had Daniels been in instead of Jackson Arnold early in the season. Daniels has a better chance to win in 2026 with FSU, mainly because he's getting his chance right from the jump.
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