Florida State has fired head coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, one day after a 36-24 home loss to Clemson dropped the Seminoles to 3-5 this season — and just 10-22 since their 13-1 campaign in 2023.
Character Name (Credits: ESPN)
University president Richard McCullough informed Norvell of the decision, effective immediately. Firing Norvell triggers a buyout reported at roughly $50 million — one of the largest in college football history. Former Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill, an FSU Athletics Hall of Fame member, was named interim coach for the rest of the season.
Florida State Head Coach Candidates to Replace Mike Norvell
With the most appealing vacancy in the current coaching carousel, the names are already flying. Jimbo Fisher, the coach who last won a national title at FSU (83-23 in Tallahassee), is reportedly lobbying behind the scenes for a return, per On3’s Pete Nakos — talking with donors about the NIL landscape and portal needs. Former FSU player and current Duke coach Manny Diaz (23-11 at Duke, FSU alum) is seen as an early leader. Others in the mix include Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert and former FSU assistant Mark Stoops.
There is a catch: starting roughly $50 million in the hole makes the pursuit trickier. Fisher could reportedly be brought in at a discount and handed a checkbook for staff — an arrangement FSU’s finances might demand.
Mike Norvell Firing Rocks FSU’s Roster and Recruiting
The firing is already shaking the roster. 3-star WR Majay Thompson decommitted from Florida State quickly after the news broke, and 4-star 2027 safety Jernard Albright — who flipped from South Carolina to FSU in the summer — is being heavily pursued by Alabama, with two October visits to Tuscaloosa already in the books and the early signing period just weeks away.
FSU plays at Boston College in Week 10 and at Pitt on November 13. Norvell finishes 39-41 over seven seasons — a tenure undone by three straight losing years and an ACC record that had collapsed since 2023.
Also Read: Dabo Swinney Rips ‘Embarrassing’ Plane Banner Urging FSU to Fire Mike Norvell Before Clemson Win | College Kickers Shine in Week 9: Back-to-Back 60-Yard Field Goals as Miami, Utah and UCLA Stay Undefeated
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
