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Historic College Football Program's $84 Million Coach Gets Dreaded Hot Seat Label

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan Adams | Last updated Jan 6, 2025 10:44 AM ET

The college football coaching carousel was awfully quiet heading into the 2025 season. Yet, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg predicts a coaching carousel that could be "bonkers" next offseason.

A college football coach is being put on the hot seat despite being one season removed from having an undefeated regular season. Other names that made Rittenberg's hot seat list include Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy.

Oklahoma State and Gundy just underwent a very public standoff over restructuring his contract after going just 3-9 in 2024. Fresh off a 2-10 season, the pressure is also mounting on Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell despite signing a sizable 10-year, $84 million contract in 2024.

The analyst believes Norvell's future could be in jeopardy if Florida State has another subpar season in 2025.

"Norvell will reboot with two notable new coordinators in Gus Malzahn (offense) and Tony White (defense)," Rittenberg wrote on Monday. "FSU's transfer portal mastery fizzled in 2024, and Norvell will need quarterback Thomas Castellanos and other newcomers to hit this fall.

"Norvell's post-2023 contract put him in the top 10 nationally in salary and will work in his favor, especially at a school not flush with cash. But he can't afford another face-plant this fall."

Florida State has the No. 5 ranked college football transfer portal class for 2025, per 247Sports. Yet, the Noles relied heavily on the transfer portal in 2024 and things did not go as planned.

The Seminoles schedule for 2025 include the Alabama Crimson Tide, Clemson Tigers, Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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