Florida State University Pays $46 Million to Exit Mike Norvell
The Seminoles fired their head coach after a 3-5 start, leaving the program with both its top football leadership and athletic director seats vacant.
By Lauren Mitchell ·
Florida State University is paying just over $46 million to end its relationship with head football coach Mike Norvell. The university announced the move on Saturday following a home loss to Clemson, dropping the Seminoles to 3-5 on the 2026 season.
The buyout covers 85% of the remaining value of Norvell's contract, which runs through 2031. The school can pay the sum in a lump sum or in monthly installments. This financial obligation lands on a budget already strained by the recent firing of athletic director Michael Alford in September.
Norvell arrived in Tallahassee in December 2019, taking over from Willie Taggart. He had previously spent four years as the head coach at Memphis and served as offensive coordinator at Arizona State. His tenure at Florida State began with an 8-13 record in his first two seasons, including a notable upset loss to FCS opponent Jacksonville State in 2021.
The program found stability in 2022, posting a 10-3 record with a young quarterback named Jordan Travis. That momentum continued into 2023, when the team started 10-0. However, Travis suffered a career-ending injury against North Alabama, an event that fueled debate over the team's exclusion from the College Football Playoff despite winning the ACC title.
The Seminoles suffered a 63-3 defeat to Georgia in the Orange Bowl in January 2024, ending an 18-game winning streak. They followed that loss with a 2-10 campaign in 2024 and a 5-7 finish in 2025. The current season has seen the team go 1-4 in conference play and 1-5 against Power Four opponents.
Rick Stockstill will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 season. University President Richard McCullough said the school is confident in Stockstill's ability to lead the transition. McCullough stated that a thorough national search for a permanent replacement would begin immediately.
Norvell finishes his seven-year tenure with a 41-39 overall record and a 23-30 mark in conference play. The Seminoles return to action on Saturday, November 7, for a noon kickoff against Boston College.
Source: WWSB
