The contract extension Mike Norvell signed a little over a year ago is likely the only thing that kept him in Tallahassee after the disastrous 2-10 season last year. The extension included a 60+ million dollar buyout if FSU were to fire Norvell, and FSU didn't have that type of money while also suing the ACC.
However, the season forced Mike Norvell to make necessary changes at the coordinator positions and some other coaching positions. I believe he made massive upgrades with most of his coaching hires. Nevertheless, Mike Norvell needs to win in 2025 and needs seven wins for fans to give him any benefit of the doubt.
I think FSU could win at least eight games if they have good injury luck, and Mike Norvell must have confidence in this team since there is a report via fbschedules.com that he scheduled his alma mater (Central Arkansas) to round out the 2026 non-conference schedule.
Mike Norvel must believe he'll have a solid 2025 season if he's willing to put his alma mater on the schedule. FSU will pay Central Arkansas $450,000 to travel to Tallahassee. They play at the FCS level and went 6-6 and 3-5 in their conference last year.
FSU has a gauntlet of a schedule in 2026. They play Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Clemson, Miami, SMU, Louisville, Pitt, NC State, Virginia and Boston College. That's a lot of teams with good talent.
FSU can't afford another down year with a manageable 2025 schedule. If they could manage to win nine or more games somehow, that would be a nice shot in the arm for a new staff that's trying to find its footing on the recruiting trail.
How well FSU recruits in the 2026 cycle will depend on how well they play this year. These recruits have to see that things will be different than last year. It seems Mike Norvell is confident that's the case.