Florida State was finally looking like the 2023 team, which went 13-1 that season. And why wouldn’t it? Winning against Alabama showed their potential for dominance. But just when they started to gain momentum, Virginia stopped their run, putting them at a 3-1 record. And then came the biggest blow of the season for them, losing against their conference rivals Miami. For most of the night, Miami held them to 3-28, but then in the fourth quarter, FSU somehow managed to score 19 points but it was too late. The result is a locker room that could potentially be giving up their hunger to win.

Both teams tried putting up strong numbers against each other, as Carson Beck threw for 214 yards with 4 TDs against FSU. Tommy Castellanos passed for 272 yards and even rushed for 57. But a major FSU problem was their turnover rate, which was 3:0 against Miami. It’s not like the Seminoles didn’t start strong. They scored an early field goal but couldn’t continue the momentum as the Hurricanes held them to 7 scoreless drives after that. FSU had only those 3 points till the fourth quarter.

All these inconsistencies made things worse for Mike Norvell and his team. Speaking of his locker room’s emotional state, Norvell said, “It’s a locker room that’s hurting. You come up short in this one, it hurts. As a coach, I have to be better to help assist our guys.” Despite this outcome Norvell stood like a leader and took the entire blame on himself. On top of that, he is also not losing hope after the loss as he said, “We will respond to this.” Their next opponent is Pittsburg which might work as an advantage for them.

Stats can be deceiving. On paper, the Seminoles outgained the Canes in total yards, going in for 404 total yards, whereas the Hurricanes were just 338. Even in first downs, FSU was 29 to Miami’s 14. But when we look deeper we see a different picture. Most of FSU’s stats come during the fourth quarter when Miami had clearly taken their foot off the gas. Another big problem was their three turnovers that killed any momentum from the game.

Their weak defense just added more to it. wide receiver Malachi Toney completed two touchdown passes. One was for 40 and the other was for 44 yards. This pointed straight at their poor tackling skills and coverage. What’s concerning is that despite getting multiple scoring opportunities, they only resulted in penalties and dropped passes. This even raised questions over play calls near the end zone. Now, with this loss, Mike Norvell and his team also had to face their fans’ wrath.

Florida State fans bail on their team

Mike Norvell’s gameplay had turned so predictable that even fans could tell it was a one-sided game. Heading into the fourth quarter, they were trailing with a 9-28 score, which totally broke fans’ hopes, and the result? They started vacating the stadium without even waiting for the final call. As if they already knew the result of the game. That’s right. FSU Alum Dustin Lewis wrote on X, saying, “Fans are headed for the exits in Doak Campbell Stadium before the fourth quarter begins. Who would’ve thought this is how the night would unfold? #Noles”

The worst part is in the fourth quarter, Norvell’s team scored 19 points, which ended up giving them a more respectable 22-28 finish. But it was pretty evident that fans couldn’t even wait to see their turnaround. Let’s be real, who would want to see their favorite team fall this bad on their home turf? No rants and boos could have saved Norvell’s fate.

Now, with this loss, the “fire Mike Norvell” stance started again. But is it really possible? Well, for now, Norvell’s buyout sits at $63 million, and it was that massive for FSU that despite a 2-10 season last year, they couldn’t fire him. Now, his buyout is set at 85% of his remaining contract, and if at all they plan on firing him, they will have to give him several millions for it.

That keeps his buyout well protected, as ESPN’s Andrea Adelson highlights: “His buyout remains the same: 85% of his total compensation. But if Norvell is fired without cause between now and the end of the deal, he will be entitled to a pro rata share of the $4.5 million starting in 2025.” So, even if fans stay disappointed in him, it’s next to impossible to fire Norvell for now.