Coaching search: Drinkwitz rules out Florida State move

Eli Drinkwitz told reporters on Tuesday that he is not a candidate for the head coaching job at Florida State. The Missouri head coach made the statement during a regular press conference. He did so before his team prepares for a game against Texas on Saturday.

Drinkwitz has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Mike Norvell. Norvell was fired by the Seminoles on Sunday. He finished his tenure with a 41-39 record. Other names in the conversation include Manny Diaz of Duke and Jake Dickert of Wake Forest.

The Missouri coach addressed the rumors directly in his opening remarks. "I want to clear that up," he said. He added that the team needs to focus on Texas. He wanted to eliminate distractions and clear clutter for the players and the public.

Drinkwitz signed a contract extension with Missouri in November 2025. That deal runs through the 2031 season. The agreement increased his average annual salary to more than $10.7 million. USA Today's salary database lists him as the 11th-highest paid coach in college football.

The No. 19 Tigers currently hold a 6-2 overall record. They are 3-2 in SEC play. Missouri is a 2.5-point underdog in its upcoming road game at No. 10 Texas. An upset in that contest would give the Tigers a 15.9% chance of making the College Football Playoff, according to the CBS Sports CFP Forecaster.

Drinkwitz has a 52-31 overall record at Missouri. He has gone 35-12 over the past four seasons. His team faces a difficult stretch in November. After Texas, the Tigers travel to No. 2 Georgia. They then host No. 8 Kentucky. The regular season ends with a game against Oklahoma.