Florida State coach Mike Norvell says he understands that things have “not been good enough” as the Seminoles are mired in a nine-game ACC losing streak after going undefeated during the 2023 season.

FSU dropped to 3-4 with a road loss to Stanford in Week 8 after RB Gavin Sawchuk was stopped at the goal line as time expired. Sawchuk might have scored, but officials said he didn’t get into the end zone and replay officials didn’t find conclusive evidence that he did.

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Seminoles athletic director Michael Alford issued a statement Monday saying that the school’s “comprehensive assessment of the football program will be completed at season’s end.”

Norvell was asked Wednesday about Alford’s statement and said that he understood that things needed to improve. Norvell’s buyout is over $50 million and exceeds what Penn State paid to fire James Franklin earlier this season. Franklin’s buyout was the second biggest in modern college football history.

“For all things, there’s no higher expectation than what I have,” Norvell said. “And I know it’s not been good enough. With every day that I get to come on this campus, to be able to come and be a part of this program, I’m going to give all that I have. … The results have not always been what I’ve wanted to be but I think that when you go through all the different aspects of where we are and what it’s looked like — we gotta get better.

“And I appreciate the belief of what that is and what that belief is for our future and what’s ahead but the statement, I would say the statement wasn’t for me, ultimately. Because I know every day that I show up I know what it’s going to be, I know what it’s going to look like. But I am grateful to be the opportunity to be the head coach here at Florida State. And I’m not going to take that for granted.”

After going 12-0 and missing the College Football Playoff in 2023, Florida State had a disastrous 2024. The Seminoles went 2-10 and their only win over an FBS opponent came in September over Cal.

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That was FSU’s last win over an ACC opponent, too. FSU lost five straight conference games after the 14-9 win over the Golden Bears and are now 0-4 in ACC play this season after losses to Virginia, Miami, Pitt and Stanford.

The 2025 season started promisingly with a 31-17 win over Alabama. However, the Seminoles lost 46-38 in two overtimes to the Cavaliers and have lost one-score games in each of the succeeding three ACC contests.

“I know we have to win games … and I take great ownership in our results,” Norvell said. “And it’s not been good enough. And I hate it for Michael, I hate it for our players, I hate it for the program, I hate it for the university, Tallahassee in general, just all — I hate it for everybody that’s had to deal with an experience in disappointing outcomes. But that is on me and this staff and this football team to get that right.”