Seminoles part with Norvell, absorb $47 million buyout

Florida State University dismissed head football coach Mike Norvell on Sunday.

The decision came roughly 12 hours after the Seminoles lost their home game to Clemson. The university is paying a buyout of approximately $47 million to end Norvell’s contract early. That figure represents 85% of his remaining salary through the 2031 season. His deal includes offset language that could lower the total cost if he accepts another coaching position.

Richard McCullough, the school president, confirmed the change in leadership in a statement. McCullough thanked Norvell for his service and acknowledged the high expectations of Seminole fans. Assistant coach Rick Stockstill will serve as interim head coach while the search for a permanent replacement continues.

Norvell finished with a 41-39 record in his six-plus seasons in Tallahassee. The team is 10-22 since the start of the 2024 season. Florida State has gone 1-5 against Power Four opponents this fall. The Seminoles were favored by five points in Saturday’s 36-24 loss to Clemson. The team has not beaten Miami, Florida, or Clemson since the 2023 season.

The buyout is among the largest in college football history. The combined buyouts for Mike Locksley at Maryland, Dave Doeren at N.C. State, and Dave Aranda at Baylor are less than Norvell’s total. His salary for the 2026 season was scheduled to be $10.3 million. Adding buyouts for his assistants would push the total cost far past $50 million.

McCullough wrote to fans last Tuesday that the administration was not asking them to ignore the results. He stated the school is committed to changing the program’s trajectory. Florida State has lost five straight Power Four games over the last two and a half seasons. The university fired athletic director Michael Alford in mid-September.

The Seminoles are 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They play at Boston College on Saturday. Florida State has gone 44-49 since 2015 under Jimbo Fisher, Willie Taggart, and Norvell. The team won 19 consecutive games between mid-2022 and the December 2023 ACC title game.