Mike Norvell opened the 2026 season with his future already hanging over him.
Florida State got off to a 34-17 home win over New Mexico State in Week 0, a result the Seminoles were expected to handle. But even before that kickoff, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic had already flagged Norvell in his hot seat column, labeling his situation as hot.
The question now is how much winning will actually be enough. Feldman wrote that even an 8-4 finish might not be enough to keep Norvell in place, especially if that record comes with some ugly losses attached.
"Even getting to 8-4, I’m told, might not be enough to convince folks there he should get more time, if there are some bad losses factored into that record," Feldman wrote.
He also pointed to the pressure that could build if Florida State slips below that level while its rivals surge. Feldman noted that the “FSU money people” could get more motivated if the Seminoles end up with a losing record, particularly if new Florida coach Jon Sumrall gets the Gators moving quickly.
"If not, and the Noles have a losing record at that point, I hear that the FSU money people will become more motivated, especially if new Florida coach Jon Sumrall gets the Gators going fast. It definitely doesn’t help that FSU’s other big rival, Miami, is now a national title contender," Feldman wrote.
The financial side makes the situation even messier. Norvell’s buyout is just under $50 million, though that number could drop because of the offset if he lands another job quickly.
For now, Norvell is 39-34 entering his seventh season in Tallahassee. The last two years have been rough, with Florida State posting a combined 7-17 record after the program went 23-4 in the stretch before that.
The season is still young, but Norvell has a steep climb ahead if he wants to be Florida State’s coach in 2027.
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For Miami, the appeal is obvious. Lees ability to help in more than one spot makes him the sort of prospect staffs keep circling back to, especially when multiple major programs are involved. The Hurricanes already have two verbal commits in the cycle, but the bigger question is whether they can turn that early progress into a stronger foothold with a player whose recruitment should stay active for a while. [Read more 🡒]