Florida State’s decision to move on from Mike Norvell could end up reshaping Oregon’s offensive coordinator search in a hurry.
Norvell was one of the biggest names hanging over the coaching carousel, and after Saturday’s ugly losses around college football, the long-rumored shakeup finally hit on Sunday afternoon. Following the loss to Clemson, Florida State fired its head coach.
That matters in Eugene because Oregon already has an opening of its own. Dan Lanning made the call a week ago to fire offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, and now the Ducks have another intriguing name to consider as they sort through the next move on offense.
Interim playcaller Jay Johnson made a strong first impression in Oregon’s win over Northwestern, but Lanning still appears set to take a full look at the market once the season is over. Norvell belongs on that list.
He could draw interest from a number of Group of 6 head coaching jobs, but if he wants to step back and rebuild his stock, Oregon would make a lot of sense. Norvell and Lanning already know each other well. Norvell gave Lanning his first full-time assistant job when he brought him to Memphis as inside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator.
There’s also the football fit. Norvell’s offenses at Florida State have not been flawless, but a move away from head coaching duties could let him get back to what made him such a respected offensive mind in the first place: calling plays and shaping an attack. Florida State’s biggest problem has been rolling the dice on bad quarterback fits through the Transfer Portal, while Oregon’s resources would put him in a much different shopping lane.
There’s another wrinkle too. Hiring a former head coach can sometimes bring roster help with it, and Oregon could potentially get a jump on transfer targets from Norvell’s current team if the staff likes any of those players. The catch is that Florida State doesn’t appear to have strong quarterback options that would help solve Oregon’s own questions if Dante Moore declares for the NFL Draft.
Lanning has plenty of directions he can go, and that’s the good news for Oregon. This should be one of the most appealing offensive coordinator openings available, and the Ducks’ offseason will be shaped by who he chooses. The more candidates in the mix, the more flexibility Lanning has to explore different paths.
In Other News...
Oregons Win Brought Back Chip Kelly And A New Offensive Concern
Oregons comeback win over Northwestern at Autzen carried a little extra edge because Chip Kelly was back on the sideline, this time as the Wildcats offensive coordinator and not the coach who once helped define the Ducks modern identity. After Oregon pulled out the 34-26 victory, Kelly spent time postgame with Dan Lanning and Dante Moore, a reminder of how much history still hangs around these matchups even when the uniforms have changed.
The bigger concern for Oregon may have been what happened on the field, where running back Jordon Davison left with a leg injury and is expected to have his status updated soon. In a game the Ducks had to climb back into, any injury in the backfield adds another layer of uncertainty as they move deeper into the season, especially with the offense still trying to settle in after a physical opener. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Suddenly Has A Real AP Poll Problem
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For Oregon, the timing matters. A strong response after dropping out of the rankings can quickly change the tone around a team in a crowded Big Ten race, and the Ducks now have a realistic path back into the poll when the new rankings are released. With so many results moving in different directions, the bigger question is how far the reshuffle goes and which teams get caught in the middle of it. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons First Stubblefield Lineup Says A Lot About This Roster
Tony Stubblefields first projected starting group at Oregon says plenty about where this roster is right now. With Dana Altman retired and a new era underway, the Ducks are leaning on a mix of transfers and a key returnee, with Tyrone Riley IV, Jasper Johnson, Andrew Meadow, Dwayne Aristode and Sean Stewart all expected to help set the tone. It is a lineup that reflects how quickly this program has had to be rebuilt, and how much of the early identity will come from players who arrived from elsewhere.
For Oregon, the bigger question is less about who starts and more about how fast this group can come together once the games begin. The Ducks are trying to improve as the season goes on while adjusting to the grind of Big Ten competition, where cohesion and depth tend to matter just as much as talent. Stubblefields challenge is to turn a roster full of new pieces into something that looks connected before the schedule starts asking tough questions. [Read more 🡒]