Mike Norvell’s grip on Florida State has tightened into one of the most scrutinized situations in the country, and USA Today Sports’ latest ACC coach ranking only sharpened the spotlight.
Austin Curtwright slotted Norvell 13th among ACC head coaches, a placement that reflects just how far the Seminoles have fallen from the highs of 2023. That year, Florida State went 13-1 overall and 8-0 in the ACC, a run that gave Norvell real breathing room in Tallahassee. But the last two seasons have dragged the program in the opposite direction, and the patience that came with that breakthrough year is wearing thin.
“Norvell is a tough coach to grade,” Curtwright said.
“He did lead the Seminoles to one of their best seasons in recent memory with a 13-1 record and an ACC title in 2023, but he has also led the program to a pair of wildly disappointing seasons, especially by Florida State standards the past two years."
Curtwright’s assessment lands in the middle of a much harsher reality for Florida State. The Seminoles are 7-17 over the last two seasons, a stretch that includes the worst season in program history in 2024, when they finished 2-10.
That kind of collapse has changed the conversation around Norvell fast. After once drawing reported interest for Alabama’s opening following Nick Saban’s retirement, he is now being discussed as a coach who may be running out of time.
“Florida State is 7-17 in the last two seasons, including the worst season in program history in 2024 after going 2-10. His pair of double-digit win seasons made him a hot commodity on the open market, and he even reportedly garnered interest for Alabama's opening after Nick Saban retired. Now, he's likely on the hot seat.”
The concern isn’t just what happened on the field. It’s what Florida State is building right now.
The Seminoles’ 2027 recruiting class sits at No. 59 nationally, and the current group is made up mostly of three-star prospects, with just three four-star commits among 13 total pledges. That’s not the kind of haul that screams immediate turnaround.
Florida State needs more blue-chip talent to get back into the national picture, and the current recruiting picture doesn’t show that kind of momentum. Three-star players can help create depth, but they usually need more time to develop than the four- and five-star recruits who can change a roster faster.
Meanwhile, Miami and other conference rivals are stacking blue-chip talent, widening the gap in the kind of recruiting firepower Florida State needs to keep pace. The Seminoles are again leaning heavily on the transfer portal to fill holes and stay competitive, a sign that the high school pipeline isn’t delivering enough elite talent on its own.
Norvell has already shown he can put together a winner. The problem is that in Tallahassee, that buy-in only lasts so long. Another season that falls short on the field could push the pressure from loud to unavoidable.
In Other News...
Can FSU Finally Trust Its Linebackers In Year Two Under Norvell
Florida States linebacker room looks a lot different heading into the second year of the 3-3-5, and that is by design. The Seminoles have turned to transfers Ernie Sims, Chris Jones and Mikai Gbayor while also keeping a core that includes Blake Nichelson, Omar Graham Jr., Caleb LaVallee and AJ Cottrill, with freshman Izayia Williams adding another layer of competition. After a season of shuffling and uneven play at the position, the hope is that a cleaner fit in the scheme and a deeper group will finally give the defense more stability in the middle.
Jones arrives with a strong track record from Southern Miss, while Gbayor brings familiarity with Tony White after previous stops and a productive year at Nebraska. LaVallees return from a leg injury should matter too, because Florida State needs bodies it can trust, not just names on the depth chart. The bigger question is whether all of those pieces can settle in quickly enough to make the linebacker spot a strength instead of a weekly concern, especially with so much riding on how the new-look group handles the demands of year two. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Hit A Familiar Roadblock With Elite In State QB
Florida State is back in the familiar position of trying to hold its ground with an in-state quarterback who has plenty of options. Hudson West, a 2028 target for the Seminoles, is drawing interest from Florida, North Carolina and Georgia Tech, and his recruitment already has the feel of a long one. For a program that still sells itself on staying home and winning big in Florida, landing a player like West would matter well beyond one class.
West has made relationships a major part of his decision-making, which gives Florida State a clear opening if it can keep building trust over time. The challenge is obvious, though: Mike Norvells uncertain tenure and the programs recent struggles to consistently secure top in-state talent hang over this pursuit, and those are the kinds of questions that can linger deep into a quarterback recruitment. [Read more 🡒]