Is Mike Norvell next?
The Florida State coach is back on the hot seat after the Seminoles lost 20-13 to Stanford on Saturday. Florida State — which opened the season with a 31-17 victory against Alabama — looked ready to bounce back from a 2-10 season in 2024.
Now, Florida State is 3-4, out of the ACC race and might have a decision to make about Norvell's future by the end of the season. Norvell is 36-31 at Florida State. He led the Seminoles to a perfect 13-0 regular-season record and ACC championship in 2023. Florida State was left out of the last four-team College Football Playoff.
The Seminoles are 5-15 since. Will the shocking loss against Stanford be enough to prompt a coaching change at Florida State?
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What is Mike Norvell's buyout at Florida State?
Norvell signed an eight-year, $80 million extension after leading the Seminoles to the ACC championship in 2023. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Florida State would owe Norvell a $59.2 million buyout if it fires him on Oct. 19. Norvell's contract has a stipulation that Florida State would pay Norvell 85% of his base salary and supplemental pay for the rest of his contract. Penn State agreed to pay James Franklin's hefty buyout, however. Would Florida State be willing to do the same?
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Florida State coaching candidates
Who might be in line to take Mike Norvell's job at Florida State? A look at some of the best candidates:
James Franklin, former Penn State coach
Franklin, 53, will be a top candidate for several vacancies heading into the 2026 season. He compiled a 104-45 record at Penn State from 2014-25, and that included six seasons with 10 wins or more. The Nittany Lions also made the College Football Playoff semifinals last season. Franklin recruits at an elite level and Florida State would be less reliant on the transfer portal. Franklin's coaching style would work in the ACC. He would offer a much-needed makeover for the program.
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Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss coach
Kiffin, 50, would be the home-run swing. Kiffin has turned Ole Miss into a playoff contender. The Rebels are 50-19 since he took over in 2020. Kiffin also had a successful two-year stint at FAU that helped revive his college coaching career. This would be an interesting value decision both ways. Is Kiffin worth what would be a monster contract to come to Florida State? Would Kiffin even entertain leaving the SEC for the ACC? Kiffin makes approximately $9 million per year on a contract that runs through 2030.
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Alex Golesh, South Florida coach
Golesh, 41, appears ready to take the next step to the Power 4. He's led South Florida to a 6-1 record this season, which included a victory against Florida. The Bulls are primed for a possible run to the College Football Playoff. Golesh was an offensive coordinator for two seasons at Tennessee before taking the South Florida job. Florida State hired Norvell from Memphis. Will the Seminoles go back to the American Conference — or would that work against Golesh in this case? It shouldn't.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane coach
Sumrall, 43, also is poised to move up to the Power 4 this coaching carousel. He has compiled a 38-10 record between Troy and Tulane, and the Green Wave have emerged as a College Football Playoff contender this season. Sumrall has more experience in the SEC, but that should not work against him in this spot. He's going to be successful at the next stop. Would Florida State be willing to take this shot?
Deion Sanders, Colorado coach
Sanders, 58, is one of the most-iconic players in program history. While the thought of Coach Prime coming back to Tallahassee is entertaining, it seems unlikely. He's 16-16 at Colorado since taking over in 2023. He did land five-star recruit Travis Hunter at Jackson State — and that ability to recruit the occasional five star and work the transfer portal might translate at Florida State better.
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