Mike Norvell’s name has surfaced in an unexpected place on Oregon’s coaching radar, even if the fit is a long shot.
With the Ducks needing a new offensive coordinator after parting ways with Drew Mehringer this past week, Ducks Wire’s Zachary Neel placed the Florida State head coach on a list of possible replacements. Mehringer was dismissed Sunday, and Oregon is now searching for a playcaller as the 2026 season continues.
Neel’s hot board also included offensive coaches Chip Kelly, Dana Holgorsen, Slade Nagel, and Buster Faulkner. Norvell, though, comes with a major caveat: the move would only become realistic if he becomes available.
“While it's a bit strange to put a sitting coach on the list, there has been abundant buzz that Mike Norvell's time at Florida State may be getting short. If he were to be looking for work before the end of the year, a trip to the Pacific Northwest makes a great deal of sense,” Neel wrote.
“Lanning is familiar with Norvell. He worked under him at Memphis in 2016.
This one may be a long shot until something changes with Norvell's status at FSU, but it's at least one to be aware of.”
That connection runs deeper than a passing coaching link. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Memphis under Norvell, serving as inside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator before moving on to Georgia. Lanning later rose to defensive coordinator with the Bulldogs and eventually took over at Oregon before the 2022 season.
For now, though, the bigger storyline is Norvell’s standing in Tallahassee. Florida State enters its game against Clemson at 3-4, and the program is 10-21 since the start of 2024 after back-to-back losing seasons.
Despite that, Florida State leadership has publicly said it does not plan to make a change anytime soon, and reports from “industry sources” have indicated Norvell is expected to remain in Tallahassee, Florida.
In Other News...
Florida State Clemson Week Just Got Bigger Than The Game
Florida States Halloween home date with Clemson is shaping up to be more than just a rivalry game. The school is planning themed events around the matchup, including a drone show and a Trunk or Treat, giving the night a little extra pageantry before the Seminoles even take the field. On top of the holiday atmosphere, the program will also honor Peter Warrick with an NFF College Football Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute during the game, adding a nod to one of the programs most recognizable former stars.
The bigger off-field storyline, though, may be what comes next for the athletic department. Florida State president Richard McCullough said the search for a new athletic director will begin soon, an important step as the school looks to steady its leadership picture while the football program keeps moving through a pivotal stretch. With Clemson coming to town on a night packed with events and recognition, it is the kind of weekend that blends celebration, tradition and a little uncertainty in Tallahassee. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Fans Just Turned On Mike Norvell In Public
Frustration around Florida States football program has spilled beyond social media and into a public campaign aimed directly at Mike Norvell. Ahead of the upcoming game against Clemson, fans have started a GoFundMe to hire an aircraft to fly a banner over campus reading FIRE MIKE NORVELL, a stark sign of how quickly patience has worn thin as the Seminoles have struggled under the current regime.
The move also speaks to a broader sense that university leadership has not done enough to answer the programs slide, even with Norvells contract extension and buyout factors in the background. Whether the banner ever flies or not, the message is clear: a vocal segment of the fan base wants a much faster response to the on-field problems, and they are now making sure everyone inside and outside the stadium knows it. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Line Faces A Brutal Test With Ashton Daniels At Risk
Florida States offensive line has become the obvious pressure point as the Seminoles head into a matchup that will ask a lot more of Ashton Daniels than simply extending plays with his legs. Coach Hand has been clear that the group has to do a better job in pass protection if Daniels is going to work from a cleaner pocket, and the stakes are easy to see. Daniels has been one of Florida States most dangerous threats with 354 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, but the protection issues have also helped contribute to eight interceptions under pressure.
Clemson is hardly the kind of defense that lets an offensive line ease into anything. The Tigers have piled up 20 sacks this season and have recently been smothering opponents on the ground, holding them to low rushing totals and keeping them out of the end zone. For Florida State, the challenge is bigger than just surviving a pass rush, because Daniels best traits and the Seminoles overall rhythm may depend on whether the pocket holds long enough for the offense to function the way it wants to. [Read more 🡒]