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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Florida State fans have been calling for Mike Norvell's head for a few years now. But Monday's loss to SMU may have been the final nail in the coffin.
After an unconvincing season-opening win over New Mexico State — defeating the Aggies 34-17 despite entering as massive 31.5-point favorites — the Seminoles fell 27-24 to the Mustangs Monday night in Tallahassee. SMU turned the ball over four times and still put up 585 total yards to Florida State's 336, with Norvell's side converting just 2 of 15 third downs.
That's not unlucky. That's simply getting outplayed by a team you were supposed to beat, and having it happen on your home turf. Add in fans booing throughout the game, and it's another bad look for Norvell's tenure at FSU.
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As a result, his buyout has once again come into focus. According to Craig Meyer of USA Today, if Florida State fires Norvell on Dec. 1, 2026, the school would owe him $46.7 million — the third-largest buyout in college football history, behind only Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and Brian Kelly at LSU.
But with Norvell's pay set to increase by $150,000 every year through the 2031 season, it may be best to cut ties now before that number climbs even higher, and if the losses keep piling up.
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It's still early, but back-to-back losing seasons already had Norvell on thin ice heading into 2026. After the SMU loss, it's becoming increasingly difficult to justify keeping him around at this point.
The Seminoles have gone 8-19 since their breakout 2023 season, when Norvell led them to a perfect 13-0 record and an ACC championship. They remain the only Power 5 team in history to go undefeated and miss the College Football Playoff. Unfortunately, things have gotten significantly worse since, and Norvell has done little to show he can reach that height again.
Things won't get any easier for FSU, either. They travel to Tuscaloosa next week for a date with Alabama — a game that could very well be Norvell's last coaching the Seminoles.
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