Florida State is now 3-3 after getting manhandled by the Louisville Cardinals 44-20 last Friday night. The Seminoles have now lost 11 consecutive road games, and they're now 1-2 in the ACC this season.
This Saturday, they travel to play the arch-rival Miami Hurricanes, who are one of the top teams in the country. When looking at how FSU has performed this season and who is remaining on their schedule, finding wins is hard to come by.
It's no secret that head coach Mike Norvell is on possibly the hottest seat in college football with the way Florida State has looked since going 13-1 in 2023. The fan base as well as people around the program have reached a breaking point, and it's going to take a lot for him to prove that he deserves to stick around.
Pete Nakos of On3 dove into just how much pressure is on Norvell as he tries to save his job.
Seminoles fans have grown tired of the constant chatter about Mike Norvell’s job status. But Friday night’s game at Louisville was critical for Florida State’s season. FSU blew a 14-0 lead and went on to be outscored 44-6 after jumping out to an early lead. The loss drops Norvell to 3-3 on the season ahead of a visit to No. 4 Miami on Saturday followed by a bye week. He’s now 4-15 in his last 19 ACC games.
Norvell’s program is far from the ACC’s highest funded. Those financial challenges have been noted by the administration, and FSU fired athletic director Michael Alford earlier this fall. Sources had discussed the possibility of giving Norvell better roster funding in 2027. But Friday night’s loss is only going to ramp up pressure for a full coaching change. Norvell’s buyout is roughly $51 million, which includes a duty-to-mitigate clause that would require him to try to find another job.
The price tag for a new coach and staff and parting ways with Norvell would likely cost $100 million. Sources continue to tell On3 that a change mid-season appears unlikely but is not off the table. Decisionmakers had wanted to give Norvell the runway to finish 7-5 or better for a return in 2027. After Friday’s loss, FSU will need to win three of its last to make its first bowl game for the first time since 2023.
With a battle against the Clemson Tigers at home after their game against Miami followed by road matchups versus the Boston College Eagles and Pittsburgh Panthers, FSU's season could be headed for a nosedive. If that happens, it's hard to believe that Norvell can be brought back in 2027, and quite frankly, he shouldn't be.
Times are tough around Florida State, and as the head coach, Norvell is at the forefront of why. So, he has to either figure out a way to overcome this somehow or get prepared to find employment somewhere else very soon.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: The pressure on Mike Norvell has increased after loss to Louisville
