Unfortunately for the Florida State Seminoles, things are getting rough over in Tallahassee.
The Seminoles have lost three Atlantic Coast Conference games and three straight overall, and there’s a chance things could only get worse with Stanford up 3-0 before the end of the first quarter for a week eight matchup. To put it bluntly, Mike Norvell’s program looks lost in the midst of three straight one-possession losses stacking up.
On the heels of the expensive Penn State buyout of James Franklin, college football fans have to wonder what it would take to get Norvell out of his current coaching job.
How Much Would Florida State Owe Mike Norvell if They Fired Him?
During the 2024 offseason, on the heels of Nick Saban’s retirement from Alabama, Florida State signed Norvell to an eight-year contract extension worth upwards of $80 million.
Prior to the season, 247Sports reported that Norvell’s buyout is an estimated $63 million. This is one of the most expensive buyouts of any college football coach.
Norvell has a pretty standard buyout, but the size of his remaining contract makes it expensive. Florida State would owe Norvell 85% of his remaining contract at the time of a potential firing. Norvell signed a revised contract at the end of 2024 that potentially gives back $4.5 million to Florida State.
It’s been reported that if Norvell is fired without cause between now and the end of his deal, he will be entitled to a pro rata share of the $4.5 million starting in 2025.
Why Is Norvell’s Job Security Being Questioned?
Through six games, quarterback Tommy Castellanos has thrown six passing touchdowns in his last three starts.
FSU rode out to a dreadful 2-10 season in 2024 under Norvell. Fans have also since turned on the head coach following falling apart in the second half of a 34-31 loss last week at home with a Pittsburgh team led by a freshman quarterback making just his second start.
Norvell’s first season with Florida State was interesting as well, with it being in the midst of the COVID-19 year and finishing 3-6. The fact also remains that since winning the ACC championship in 2023, the Seminoles are 5-14 and have lost their last eight conference games and their last seven games away from Doak Campbell Stadium.
All of these struggles the Seminoles are currently experiencing point directly back to Norvell. If the players aren’t the problem, and other schools such as Texas A&M (with Jimbo Fisher’s expensive termination)Â and Penn State have already set a precedent of possibility, a buyout of Norvell is not out of the realm of possibility.
