Overview
- Florida State announced Sunday that Mike Norvell will return in 2026, with the president, athletic director and board backing his plan to institute fundamental changes in recruiting and player evaluation.
- The Seminoles are 5-6 overall and 2-6 in ACC play after a 21-11 loss at NC State that featured two fourth-quarter muffed punts, leaving bowl eligibility dependent on Saturday’s game at Florida.
- Firing Norvell would have required a buyout of more than $50 million, with multiple reports placing the figure in the mid-to-upper $50 million range, and additional staff costs would push the total higher.
- An athletic department review launched in October after a midseason loss at Stanford examined the entire operation, with leadership signaling expected front-office and structural adjustments.
- Norvell’s contract runs through 2031 and his FSU record stands at 38-33, while a crowded, expensive coaching market was cited as another consideration in opting against a change.