BREAKING: Florida State fires Mike Norvell after fan revolt, Clemson loss spark decision to pay massive buyout
Florida State fires head football coach Mike Norvell after loss to Clemson
Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida State University announced on Sunday that it had dismissed head football coach Mike Norvell, ending his tenure after the Seminoles’ 36‑24 loss to Clemson on Saturday night. President Richard McCullough made the announcement following a meeting with athletic‑department officials and boosters that had been held in the previous 12 hours.
“We have made the decision to change the leadership of our football program,” McCullough said in a statement released after the meeting. “We thank Mike Norvell for his commitment and service to Florida State and wish him and his family the very best.” He added that the school “understands the deep passion of Seminole fans and shares their high expectations for this program.”
Norvell’s contract, signed in 2024, includes a buyout provision that will pay him $50.3 million if he is let go. The buyout will be paid from the university’s athletic‑budget funds, the administration said.
The decision came after a 3‑5 start to the 2025 season, with the Seminoles winning only one game in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The 36‑24 defeat at Doak S. Campbell Stadium was the final catalyst, as the game was played in front of a largely empty stadium and drew criticism from boosters and fans who had grown increasingly frustrated with the team’s performance.
Norvell’s record at FSU has been mixed. He guided the Seminoles to a 2‑10 season in 2024 and a 5‑7 finish last year, prompting calls from supporters to replace him. He had also extended his contract in 2024, which set the current buyout amount. In 2023, the team posted a 12‑0 regular‑season record, but a season‑ending injury to senior quarterback Jordan Travis left the Seminoles out of the postseason and the College Football Playoff.
The university named Rick Stockstill, the former defensive coordinator, as interim head coach. Stockstill has been on the FSU staff since 2020 and has been involved in recruiting for the program.
In September, Florida State’s athletic director Michael Alford was also fired, a move that had already been announced before Norvell’s dismissal. The firing of Alford and Norvell came after a broader effort by university leadership to address a perception that the football program was being run on a year‑to‑year basis, without the financial backing needed to remain competitive in the ACC and at the national level.
Norvell was reportedly waiting for the decision and had hosted a group of recruits on Sunday, according to sources. The university’s president also had previously sent an open letter to the school’s supporters, urging them to attend games for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The Seminoles’ move to part ways with Norvell follows a series of incidents that amplified criticism of the program, including a plane flying a banner calling for his firing—though the banner misspelled his name—and social‑media posts that highlighted the low attendance at games.
Florida State now faces the task of selecting a new head coach and rebuilding its football program while managing the financial obligations of Norvell’s buyout and the need for future investment in facilities, coaching staff, and recruiting. The university has indicated that it will seek to secure additional donor support to aid in that process.
