The coaching carousel has begun across college football. In a surprising move, Penn State has fired head coach James Franklin, marking the eighth vacant coaching position this season. Meanwhile, Florida's Billy Napier is widely expected to be dismissed at some point this year, and if recent trends continue, it could happen sooner rather than later.
Athletic directors and their administrations appear to be moving quickly, eager to secure their place at the table for the next crop of coaching candidates.
Following Florida State's brutal 34-31 loss to Pittsburgh this weekend, where the Seminoles were double-digit favorites, fans are calling for the dismissal of head coach Mike Norvell. Florida State has now lost eight consecutive ACC contests and ten of its last eleven.
Mike Norvell is now 5-14 in his last 19 games against Power 4 competition. While Norvell's future is uncertain, it is clear that Florida State is not in a position to compete at the highest level.
When it comes to buyout money, James Franklin's firing would be comparable to Mike Norvell's, with both exceeding $50 million. However, the two situations differ significantly. Franklin was in his twelfth season, while Norvell is only in his sixth. During his tenure, Franklin achieved considerably more but was ultimately dismissed for failing to win games where his team lacked the talent advantage.
By contrast, Mike Norvell has managed to win several games where Florida State was not the more talented team, most notably the Seminoles' season-opening victory over Alabama. However, Norvell has struggled in games where Florida State has held the talent advantage, compiling a 19-19 record in FBS games.
While talks of dismissal emerge, Florida State will likely be much more patient than other administrations around the country. Like Penn State, Florida State rehauled parts of its coaching staff in the offseason and invested in stadium infrastructure, and another coaching change isn't ideal. The Seminoles will travel to Palo Alto and take on Stanford this Saturday at 10:30 PM EST on ESPN.