The FSU Seminoles finally did what they had to do on Sunday, firing head coach Mike Norvell after a double-digit loss to the Clemson Tigers, their third in a row. While it had to happen, it was a costly decision by FSU's administration, and they are set to pay Norvell one of the most lucrative buyouts in college football history.
According to Dan Rorabaugh of USA TODAY Sports, his buyout is $47.1 million. That would be the third-biggest in college football history, behind only the $76.8 million the Texas A&M Aggies paid Jimbo Fisher and the $54 million the LSU Tigers paid Brian Kelly. That is over double what FSU paid Willie Taggart back in 2019, when they gave him $18 million.
While a $47.1 million buyout is massive, there is a great shot that
FSU will end up paying Norvell substantially less. His contract requires him to go out and seek another job, with a normal salary for that position. Whatever salary he receives would then be used to mitigate the buyout, reducing it by his new salary. This is why the Penn State Nittany Lions only paid James Franklin $9 million after originally owing him $49 million after he was hired by the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Norvell went 41-39 overall and 23-30 in ACC games in his seven seasons as FSU's head coach. The Seminoles finished with a losing record in five of those seasons, and were 3-5 in 2026 before firing Norvell.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU to pay Mike Norvell one of the biggest buyouts in college football
