TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Following a disappointing home Halloween loss to Clemson, amid a 3-5 start to the 2026 season, Florida State has relieved Mike Norvell of his duties as head football coach of the Seminoles according to the university.
Norvell was largely considered on the hotseat coming into this fall’s campaign following a pair of disappointing seasons on the heels of 2023’s ACC Championship season.
FSU is currently 1-4 in ACC play and 1-5 against Power Four competition in this season, most recently losing as a favorite at home to rival Clemson who has now won 10 of its last 11 contests against FSU.
Rick Stockstill will serve as Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season.
“We have made the decision to change the leadership of our football program,” FSU President Richard McCullough said. “We thank Mike Norvell for his commitment and service to Florida State and wish him and his family the very best. We understand the deep passion of Seminole fans and share their high expectations for this program. We are confident in Rick Stockstill’s ability to provide steady leadership during this transition. We will conduct a thorough national search for the program’s next leader, someone who embraces Florida State’s tradition of championship athletics and our standard of excellence.”
Florida State will look to fill its vacancy at head coach alongside its now open Athletic Director position. The University fired former AD Michael Alford in September.
The school’s contract with Norvell requires it to pay him 85% of his remaining contract, meaning Florida State will be on the hook for just over $46 million to its 11th permanent head coach. The buyout can be paid in full or in monthly installments until the expiration of his deal in 2031.
FSU was the second head coaching job for Norvell, who came to Tallahassee following a successful, four-year stint leading the Memphis Tigers. Before his time with the AAC program, the Texas native had developed a reputation as one of the game’s brightest young offensive minds as the offensive coordinator at Arizona State.
Norvell was hired in December 2019, succeeding Willie Taggart after his two seasons leading the Seminoles. His teams would compile an 8-13 record in his first two seasons, including the program’s first-ever loss to an FCS program, being upset at home on the final play of the game against Jacksonville State in 2021.
From there, the ‘Noles began to show promise under Norvell, going 10-3 in the 2022 season with an offense beginning to hit its stride under the leadership of quarterback Jordan Travis and a defense led by future first-round pick Jared Verse.
2023 saw what should have been a return to the elite of college football for Florida State end in tragedy. FSU would start the season 10-0 before Travis would suffer a career-ending lower-body injury against FCS opponent North Alabama.
The Seminoles would go on to defeat rival Florida in Gainesville and win the program’s 16th ACC title at the expense of Louisville in Charlotte, but the Travis injury was used as reasoning to keep the ‘Noles out of the College Football Playoff, causing outrage across the fanbase and many in the sport.
A severely depleted FSU squad would go on to be blown out by Georgia in the Orange Bowl, 63-3, halting the team’s 18-game win streak.
Florida State would limp along to a 2-10 record in 2024, and following a promising start in 2025 including an upset of Alabama would finish the year 5-7.
Norvell finishes his time in Tallahassee with a 41-39 record with the Seminoles, 23-30 in conference play.
FSU is back in action on Saturday, November 7th for a noon kickoff at Boston College.
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