Mike Norvell’s Florida State future could be in serious jeopardy

Florida State Seminoles football coach Mike Norvell entered the 2026 season with a lot at stake. 

Florida State started the year off with a 34-17 home win over New Mexico State in Week 0 in a game they should've won. 

However, right before Week 0 started, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic mentioned Norvell in his hot seat article, with his temperature listed as exactly that: Hot. 

Could Mike Norvell still end up on the hot seat this season?

Feldman even said that an 8-4 record might not be enough to save Norvell from hitting the unemployment line. 

"Even getting to 8-4, I’m told, might not be enough to convince folks there he should get more time, if there are some bad losses factored into that record," Feldman wrote. 

Feldman added that the leash might be short, especially with the way things are going for the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes. 

"If not, and the Noles have a losing record at that point, I hear that the FSU money people will become more motivated, especially if new Florida coach Jon Sumrall gets the Gators going fast. It definitely doesn’t help that FSU’s other big rival, Miami, is now a national title contender," Feldman wrote. 

The big problem is that Norvell has a buyout of just under $50 million, although it could be less due to the offset if he gets a new job quickly.

Norvell has a 39-34 record as he starts his seventh season in Tallahassee, but he is coming off a combined 7-17 mark over the past two seasons after going 23-4 in the previous years. 

Only time will tell, but Norvell certainly has a tough hill to climb to keep his job for 2027.