Mike Norvell firing leaves Florida State with $30 million silver lining

Loading video...

Rowan Fisher-Shotton

By Rowan Fisher-Shotton

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

Florida State finally made the move Seminoles fans had been calling for months, firing Mike Norvell on Sunday after a 36-24 home loss to Clemson dropped FSU to 3-5. It ends a coaching tenure that went from 13-0 and an ACC title in 2023 to a 41-39 overall record and 17 losses in his last 21 conference games. The decision, however, comes with a price, with Norvell's buyout roughly $50.3 million, one of the largest in college football history, and the school still needs to pay for a new staff.

But Front Office Sports reports the firing leaves behind something to build on, with FSU's roster budget this season projected at $23 million to $30 million, which ranks 28th nationally and fourth in the ACC. That's well below what a program with FSU's history should have, and it's not a windfall created by the firing. But it gives the next coach a solid foundation, and there's belief in the industry that FSU could invest more once Norvell is gone. Raising money had become more difficult as his results and job security began to slip.

One agent also reportedly told FOS that Florida State already has the infrastructure to compete, as long as the next coach aligns with the front office.

Read More on NCAA