Florida State Pays $46 Million to End Mike Norvell's Tenure
The university will pay just over $46 million to buy out the coach's contract after a 3-5 start and a home loss to Clemson.
By Mateo Castillo ·
College football programs rarely part ways with a head coach so quickly after a competitive start. Florida State University did exactly that on Sunday. The Seminoles dismissed Mike Norvell as head coach following a loss to rival Clemson.
The decision came after Florida State dropped its home game on Halloween. That defeat left the team with a 3-5 record for the 2026 season. It marked the first time in Norvell's seven years in Tallahassee that the program started a season with a losing record.
Rick Stockstill will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the schedule. President Richard McCullough announced the change in a statement. "We have made the decision to change the leadership of our football program," McCullough said. "We thank Mike Norvell for his commitment and service to Florida State." The university plans to conduct a national search for the next permanent coach.
The financial cost of the separation is steep. Norvell's contract requires the university to pay 85% of his remaining salary. That total amounts to just over $46 million. The payment can be made in full or in monthly installments until his deal expires in 2031.
Norvell arrives at the end of his tenure with a 41-39 overall record. He is 23-30 in conference play. His time in Tallahassee included a high point in 2023, when the team went 10-0 before quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a career-ending injury. Florida State won the ACC championship that year but was excluded from the College Football Playoff, a decision that drew widespread criticism.
The program has struggled since that peak. Florida State finished 2-10 in 2024 and 5-7 in 2025. This season, the team is 1-4 in the ACC and 1-5 against Power Four opponents. Clemson has won 10 of its last 11 games against Florida State.
The coaching vacancy coincides with an open athletic director position. The university fired Michael Alford in September. Florida State plays its next game on Saturday, November 7. The noon kickoff is at Boston College.
Source: WWSB
