Florida State University fired head football coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, a day after the Seminoles suffered a 36-24 home loss to Clemson that featured numerous empty seats during the fourth quarter. The defeat marked the team's third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference loss and the 17th setback in Norvell's last 21 games against league opponents.
Norvell's buyout is estimated at just under $49 million, roughly 85% of his remaining salary through a contract that runs through the 2031 season. That figure would rank as the third-largest coaching payout in college football history, behind the $77 million paid to Jimbo Fisher by Texas A&M and the $54 million owed to Brian Kelly by LSU. The remaining deal is subject to mitigation and could be reduced if Norvell secures another coaching position.
Contract and Buyout Details
Norvell signed a lucrative extension after the 2023 season, when Florida State went undefeated in the regular season and won the ACC title but was excluded from the College Football Playoff due to quarterback injuries. The extension added two years through 2031 and raised his annual salary by more than $2 million, placing him among the top 10 highest-paid coaches nationally. However, the Seminoles have gone 7-17 over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, making 2026 a critical year for Norvell.
According to contract details, Norvell was set to earn $10.3 million in salary for the 2026 season, with five years and $54.75 million remaining after this year. Following his in-season firing, the Seminoles owe Norvell just over $48.6 million — 85% of the remaining five years plus $3 million and an additional $750,000 from a recently renegotiated buyout agreement. That amount is just below the $49 million Penn State owed James Franklin before reducing it to $9 million when Franklin became Virginia Tech's coach. Norvell may not have similar immediate opportunities, and Florida State's boosters have committed to the substantial financial cost to move on in November.
