Florida State’s coaching search may not be reaching far into the unknown. It could circle right back to a familiar face.
With Mike Norvell’s future in Tallahassee looking increasingly shaky, Bruce Feldman reported that Florida State is exploring a possible reunion with former head coach Jimbo Fisher. The timing comes as the university already made a major move this week, firing athletic director Michael Alford.
Norvell’s exit could come as soon as after Saturday’s game against Alabama, and Fisher has emerged as a name to watch if the Seminoles decide to make a change.
Fisher’s history at Florida State is hard to ignore. He coached the Seminoles from 2010 through 2017 and put together an 83-23 record. During that stretch, Florida State won three ACC championships, running the table from 2012 through 2014, and captured the national title in 2013.
There is also reported mutual interest. According to reports, Fisher "really wants" the FSU job if it becomes available and hopes a reunion between the two sides can happen.
The big question is whether Fisher would fit the current college football landscape. After leaving Florida State, he spent the 2018-2023 seasons at Texas A&M, where he went 45-25 before being fired just two weeks before the end of the 2023 season.
His time away from Tallahassee also came before the sport fully shifted into the transfer portal and NIL era, which leaves plenty of uncertainty about how his approach would translate now with constant roster turnover and money-driven movement.
None of that matters if Florida State somehow catches fire and reaches the College Football Playoff, but that remains a long shot. More likely, the focus stays on when the Norvell decision comes down - and whether the Seminoles turn to Fisher for a reunion.
In Other News...
Cal Gets Its Biggest Early Test Yet Against Clemson
Cal gets its first real measuring-stick game of the season Friday night when Clemson comes to town for a home ACC matchup between two teams sitting at 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. It should be a revealing one for the Bears, who have already shown enough early to make this feel like more than just another September date, especially with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele coming off a strong performance in their last game.
Clemson enters favored by a slim margin, which says plenty about how closely matched this one looks on paper. The Tigers are expected to roll out freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds, and after Cal handled its conference opener, this gives the Bears a chance to see where they really stand against a team with the same record and plenty of talent, in what could easily turn into the kind of game that comes down to a few plays late. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Has A Real Opening Against Clemson If The Bears Cash In
Clemson is no longer the yearly ACC juggernaut that used to loom over the league, and Saturdays trip to face Cal has the feel of a game the Bears can absolutely make uncomfortable. Both teams enter at 2-1, but this one carries a little extra weight for Cal, which gets a conference shot at a Tigers squad that is still searching for the steadier form it once took for granted after a 7-6 season last year.
The matchup also puts some of the burden on Clemsons offense to hold up under pressure, because the Bears should have a clear plan for testing the middle of the field while keeping the Tigers honest on defense. If Cal can stay patient and cash in on those openings, it could turn a name-brand opponent into a very workable ACC opportunity instead of just another tough roadblock. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Still Has One Lingering Problem After Its Wagner Blowout
Wagners visit gave Cal a chance to clean up the scoreline, but not much more than that. The Bears were facing such a clear talent gap that the blowout offered only limited answers about where the team really stands this early in the season. Even so, there were a couple of useful signs hidden in the routine work, including Dorian Thomas getting back on the field after missing time in fall camp and sitting out against UCLA.
Up front, the tackle picture also got a little clearer, with Klisiewicz emerging over Lewis for the starting job. Still, the bigger concern lingers on special teams, where Cal continues to look like it has unfinished business after a game that otherwise did little to change the broader read on the season. [Read more 🡒]