Florida State has dropped to 1-2 on the season after a difficult loss to No. 10 Alabama, and the calls for coach Mike Norvell to be fired are ringing. Time could finally be up for Norvell in Tallahassee, but Florida State would need to pay a steep price if the decision is made before the end of the season.
Norvell and Seminoles' fans have had a tumultuous relationship since his hiring in 2020, with a career 39-35 record with Florida State heading into the game against Alabama. The coach needed a strong start to the season to secure his job with the program for the 2027 season. The loss to Alabama was another bad look for Norvell as the gaps between the teams were exposed, and a potential firing of the coach before the end of the 2026 season would cost nearly $51 million.
Exactly how much a buying out Mike Norvell will cost Florida State
Florida State has been flying below an acceptable level the past few seasons under Norvell, but perhaps the biggest reason why the coach has avoided being let go is the hefty price that will follow. Norvell held onto a very pricey buyout last year of $61.8 million if fired before or during the 2025 season.
Norvell came back to the Seminoles after the end of the 2025 season with a seemingly hotter seat, but the price to move on from the coach early remains stiff. Florida State would need to pay roughly $51 million just to get rid of Norvell before the end of the 2026 season, and the rest of the Seminoles staff would likely follow, which only continues to increase the cost by millions.
Surviving the 2026 season with Norvell would bring down the cost of the buyout for Florida State to $36.8 million. Florida State could continue to wait out the situation, as the buyout will continue to decrease by nearly $10 million each year. The massive trade-off would be the potentially rapid decline in interest from the fans.
Florida State was previously stuck in an awkward position as premier jobs around college football began to open up. Doubling down on Norvell in the past will cost Florida State greatly in the future if the program moves in a different direction.
One important clause involving the buyout will force Norvell to search for another job after his time is up in Tallahassee.
Going down to Tuscaloosa and pulling off the improbable win over Alabama was always going to be a difficult challenge for Norvell, but the team made a comeback for the Crimson Tide look too easy. Not only did Alabama come back from a slight deficit, but the team was also able to fully put Florida State away with a massive second half. A hard-fought loss might have been looked at differently, and instead, a defensive collapse was delivered.
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