After back-to-back disappointing season in Tallahassee, Florida State has made a decision on Mike Norvell’s future leading the program.
The school released a statement today sharing that Norvell will return to lead the Seminoles in 2026.
“This decision reflects a unified commitment to competing in the rapidly evolving landscape of college football, while maintaining continuity within the program,” FSU president Dr. Richard McCullough shared in the official statement of the news.
Had the decision been to take the program in a new direction, Florida State would have owed Norvell $58 million if they decided to move on at the end of the season. That figure would mark the second highest buyout in college football history, edging out Brian Kelly’s sum from LSU, and Jimbo Fisher’s fully guaranteed deal at Texas A&M.
The decision comes as Florida State lost in disappointing fashion again to NC State on Friday night to drop to 5-6 on the year.
After the game, Norvell was asked if his squad was living up to the high expectations, and responded, “Hell no.”
“We’re not even close to living up to expectations…we’re a fully capable football team and that’s not good enough, it’s not been good enough for the six losses we have. It’s extremely frustrating…It’s extremely frustrating, however many yards, differentials, improvements, all the crap, you’ve got to make plays to win the game.”
Reports share that Norvell has pledged to make changes in areas of recruiting and player evaluation to enhance the Seminoles roster.
Sitting at 5-6 on the year, the hopes of simply making a bowl game to salvage the season ride on being able to beat in-state rival Florida, who has been through it’s fair share of adversity all season, leading to the dismissal of Bill Napier a few weeks back.
To end his presser after Friday’s loss, Norvell continued harping on how hard he will work to get the issues fixed.
“I’ve got faith that everything does happen for a reason, and I’m not alone on this journey. I understand the importance of the work, of what needs to be done, of owning what you see, and we all have responsibility in that. As a head coach, I’ve got responsibility for everything that we see. There are some things that are unexplainable of how and why. But we have to live with it.
“I’m not pulling back. I’m going to continue to push forward with everything that I have to get it fixed, to get it right. Every opportunity and every day I have, that’s what it’s going to be. I can’t answer the question of how or why but hell yeah, it’s frustrating. I do believe there will be a lesson to be told and a story to be told throughout this, and I do have faith that it happens for a reason, but it is frustrating to have to go through it all.“
Norvell is 38-33 overall in Tallahassee, including a 22-26 record in ACC play, with 1-7 and 2-6 finishes in league play following that special 2023 College Football Playoff snub when the Seminoles finished the regular season undefeated, 13-0 and 8-0 in ACC play.