Florida State went down again. The brutal 24-10 defeat to a struggling Clemson lit a fire under Mike Norvell’s seat like never before. This was a clear signal that the program’s patience is running thin. Fans and insiders alike have been louder in questioning the HC’s future since the embarrassing Stanford loss. That game triggered internal discussions about his contract buyout, which could cost nearly $59 million.

Now, Norvell’s 4-5 record, with a dismal 1-5 ACC slate, and the team’s poor execution against a faltering Clemson have intensified calls for change. That’s when On3’s Pete Nakos jumps in with the current report on what FSU’s front office plans to do with the head coach. But the situation doesn’t look good for the 44-year-old.

“The Seminoles lost on Saturday night to a Clemson program having its worst season in two decades,” Nakos reported. “With the loss, the pressure is ramping up on Norvell again. Speaking with sources on Sunday morning, there is some concern that waiting to decide on Norvell’s future could put Florida State in a bad position with such a hectic coaching carousel.”

The Seminoles went through a brutal four-game stretch that gave them nothing but a tragic ending. On social media, the criticism came fast and hard. Fans called Norvell’s job precarious, lamenting how his team seemed lost and struggling to respond. However, at the end of it, FSU AD Michael Alford didn’t leave Norvell’s side for once. “As we continue to move forward this season, our comprehensive assessment of the football program will be completed at season’s end,” Alford said. “Meanwhile, we are fully committed to helping Coach Norvell and the 2025 Seminoles strongly rebound in the coming weeks.” 

But Alford’s defense of Mike Norvell has a different agenda that goes way beyond Norvell. To put it directly: Florida State has no money. That’s exactly why the front office never seriously considered firing Mike Norvell mid-season. His buyout clause comes with a whopping $59 million price tag. There is an extra layer of problem, too. The Seminoles poured more than $20 million into this year’s team, and they’re sitting at 4-5.

Plus, estimates say the total cost to replace him and his staff could hit $100 million. This was not the vision they had in mind after their season-opening win against the top-10 Bama. But after that, everything started to fall apart, with the Stanford game being the worst of all.

The Seminoles, who were heavy 17.5-point favorites, lost 20-13 to a Stanford team many expected them to roll over. Following that statement, a bye week and the lucky win against Wake Forest really helped buy Mike Norvell some time in Tallahassee. But all of that took a hit when the Seminoles marched into Death Valley. Now, if Norvell sticks around, finding enough money to rebuild a roster that can actually chase an ACC title is gonna be tough. But on the other hand, some FSU donors are already gearing up to drop that kind of cash to send Mike Norvell packing from Tallahassee.

So are the Seminoles ready to fire up their checkbook for a whopping $79M?

Mike Norvell could be done before the front office’s decision

It seems that before FSU’s front office decides on Mike Norvell, the Seminoles’ HC may lose all his motivation for coaching. Sitting at 4-5, the team looks lost and tired. On top of that, Norvell’s body language after their third straight road loss to Clemson told the story without words. The coach looked shaken in the post-game press conference. The 44-year-old specifically lamented missed opportunities and sloppy defense early on.

Offensively, things were even worse. There were five drops and poor conversion down execution. It’s quite uncharacteristic for a team that had looked sharper earlier in the year. The quarterback, Thomas Castellanos, had chances to turn the tide but made costly mistakes, including a fumble near the goal line and a missed wide-open deep pass. The Seminoles did manage a solid 10-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown in the first half, but after that, Clemson’s defense clamped down hard.

What stings is Norvell’s candid admission that none of this was expected. He said there were no warning signs in practice and that he believed the team would stand up when required. What’s most upsetting is how a promising season has unraveled into a disappointing slide. Then add the uncertainty around FSU finances, and both the coach and the program are in deep trenches.