After starting the year off red-hot with three wins, including a 31-17 thrashing of the Alabama Crimson Tide, the only thing red-hot about the Florida State Seminoles is head coach Mike Norvell’s seat.
Mike Norvell’s Seat Burns Red-Hot as Florida State Seminoles Collapse Against Pittsburgh Panthers
Norvell was on top of Florida football following an incredible 13-1 campaign in 2023, but the floor shortly fell out from under him with a 2-10 season in 2024. Yet, the program seemingly righted the ship with the additions of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and QB Thomas Castellonos.
The Seminoles defeated Alabama 31-17 and proceeded to score 66+ on East Texas A&M and Kent State. But that’s where the party ended. Since then, the Noles are 0-3 with losses to the Virginia Cavaliers (46-38 in double overtime), the Miami Hurricanes (28-22), and now the Pittsburgh Panthers (34-31).
Florida State has not defeated an ACC opponent since Sept. 21, 2024. pic.twitter.com/iMhcQNdV7O
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
Yes, you read that right. FSU hasn’t won against an ACC rival in over 365 days, and fans are fed up.
“FSU and Mike Norvell may need to have a discussion,” one fan said. Another didn’t mince words: “What an awful loss for Florida State and Mike Norvell. The Seminoles should really look for a new head coach, maybe one who can bring some stability and consistency.”
But wait, there’s more! “Ok. Can we now finally fire Mike Norvell and stop pretending like some lucky breaks by a few generational players made it look like he could win games? Don’t care how nice he is. He obviously can’t get it right. #fsu,” a Nole believer stated.
Lastly, this user summed up the fanbase’s emotions as clearly as possible: “Mike Norvell is finished here we don’t want him no more.”
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, FSU fans, but Norvell isn’t going anywhere just yet. His buyout is sitting at a meteoric $58 million, so even if the school wanted to cut ties, they’d wait until the number wasn’t the sixth-highest in the country.Â
Florida State is trapped in coaching purgatory with no easy way out. The $58 million buyout means Norvell gets to keep cashing checks while the program continues its freefall, unable to beat ACC opponents and watching in-state rivals like Miami thrive.
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The Alabama win already feels like a distant memory, a tease that made fans believe in the program for the first time in over a year.
Instead, it’s gotten worse, with the Seminoles regressing from a 13-1 powerhouse to a laughingstock that can’t win conference games. Norvell will almost certainly finish out the season, and probably next season too, because nobody’s writing that check.
