Florida State is about to walk into the toughest and most important game of the season against the No. 3 Miami Hurricanes in Week 7. The two teams are in completely different positions this season, but the opportunity to take down a conference rival is never taken lightly.
The Seminoles will enter the game as massive underdogs against a Miami team that has looked virtually unstoppable on offense this season. While the game itself is massive for Florida State, what might be even bigger are the questions surrounding the future of coach Mike Norvell. Week 7 had long been hyped up as the week where a decision regarding the future of the coach would be made, but the issue is that such a decision should have already been made before the game.
A fresh start might be the best for Florida State, coach Mike Norvell after a rough stretch
After two losing seasons in a row, the 3-3 start to the 2026 season was exactly the opposite of what Norvell needed. Confidence needed to be instilled, players needed to look sharp, and the coaching from top to bottom needed to improve. Instead, there have been six different Florida State teams that have played this season, and it is hard to truly tell which team best represents who the Seminoles are in 2026.
The excuses surrounding the known gap between Florida State's roster spending and top contenders like Miami are valid up to a point, but the Seminoles have lost games mightily against teams like Louisville, who are spending the same.
Money means a lot in college sports nowadays, but a more expensive roster would not reduce the dysfunction Florida State has experienced this season. At some point, someone needs to take on the brunt of the blame instead of pointing a finger at the money aspect each time. Teams spending less than the Seminoles are stomping them on the field, which says plenty about Norvell's roster and abilities.
Getting rid of Norvell and his staff might be a very expensive decision, with some experts putting a pricetag of $68 million on the option, but results should matter more than money to Florida State at this point. Three losing seasons in a row is likely where the team is heading, and the impacts that could have on recruiting and on fan viewership could be significant. Florida State could start the 2027 season in a terrible position if Norvell is retained after another rough season.
Keeping Norvell around should only be done if two conditions are met
The reality for Florida State is that the rest of the 2026 season, with Week 7 included, is going to be a punt. The 3-3 start took the wind out of the Seminoles' sails and additionally proved that there are still some gaps within the roster that need to be addressed. It would take a serious comeback this season for Florida State to push towards a bowl game, and given the team's issues with consistency, that seems very unlikely.
If the Florida State administration truly wants to move forward with Norvell, the fact that the 2026 season ended at the halfway point should prove that changes need to be made. The checkbook must be opened up so Norvell has a fighting chance at landing more talented players, because currently, the team has been shopping in the bargain sections of the transfer portal.
Additionally, keeping Norvell should be tied to the hiring of someone who can help continue to build the NIL infrastructure that is in place. All the money in the world can be given to Norvell, but without a true plan of attack or a better understanding of how to use the finances properly, there is no reason to expect a better result simply because more money has been put into the program.
If Florida State truly believes the team should be better at the current price, then Norvell should be blamed for failing to do more with what he was given. However, at some point, the administration needs to realize that more teams are struggling to win with rosters below $30 million in power conferences than there are successful ones.
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