FSU football's Mike Norvell says pressure is mounting during losing streak
FSU football head coach Mike Norvell says pressure is on after three straight losses
- Mike Norvell is in his sixth season as Florida State football coach with a 36-30 record.
- Norvell signed an eight-year contract extension worth $10 million to $11 million annually through 2031.
What started as a season of rebirth for the Florida State University football team quickly evaporated into ashes. Will tonight's four-game losing streak at Stanford lead to head coach Mike Norvell's firing?
FSU is coming off a horrific 2-10 season with Norvell in 2024, and after a thrilling win over No. 8 Alabama, the strategy seemed to be working. But hopes of another ACC title and a College Football Playoff berth in 2023 were dashed after a three-game winning streak that began in 2025 was undone by three straight losses and a drop in the standings.
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While quarterback Tommy Castellanos leads one of the most explosive offenses in the country, a poor defense has allowed the Seminoles to average 36 points per game in their losing streak. A shocking double-overtime loss to Virginia could be explained away as a fluke, while a 28-22 loss to No. 2 Miami was the first game the Hurricanes had gone unbeaten since the opener against Notre Dame. But last week, FSU fans turned on Norvell en masse after a 34-31 loss at home to a team that was making just its second start.
Norvell's time in Tallahassee was anything but normal. His first season after compiling a 38-16 record in four seasons in Memphis was a 3-6 record in the COVID-19 pandemic-ravaged 2020 season. Under Norvell, FSU improved year by year until it started 2023 with a 13-0 record, trailing only four teams in the CFP. Since winning the ACC title that season, the Seminoles are 5-14 and have lost their last eight conference games and their last seven road games.
Here's information about Norvell's contract, including how much Florida would owe him if it decided to fire him after the Stanford game:
Mike Norvell Acquisition
Florida State will owe Norvell approximately $59.2 million if it chooses to fire him after the Stanford game on Oct. 19, according to contract information obtained by USA TODAY Sports. The buyout amount is determined by his contract, which stipulates that Norvell receives 85% of his base salary plus supplemental salary for the remainder of the contract. The contract year ends Dec. 31, and his base salary is $5.4 million after he and FSU agreed to a one-year pay cut before the season. Under the terms of the amendment, FSU owes Norvell 85 percent of the $4.5 million reduction if it chooses to terminate the contract this year.
Norvell's acquisition would be the second-highest ever, ahead of the $49.7 million Penn State owes James Franklin and trailing only the $76.8 million Jimbo Fisher will get from Texas A&M in 2023. However, it's unlikely FSU will have to pay all that money. Novell was contractually obligated to reduce wages and seek market wages immediately upon termination. The amount owed by FSU will be reduced by the amount of Norvell's new salary if he finds a new job.
Norwell's contract is set to expire on December 31, 2031, after the 2023 season. If Florida State fires Norvell, it would require equal monthly installments or a one-time payment of his buyout over the remainder of the deal.
Mike Norvell contract details
Norvell plans to earn $5.65 million by 2025, not including bonuses. That ranks No. 45 nationally, according to the USA TODAY sports coaching salary database.
Norvell signed an extension after the 2023 season, extending the original contract he signed in 2019 by six years. The reworked contract would pay him $10 million to $11 million annually through 2031. However, he agreed to take a $4.5 million pay cut a year before this season. When his contract expires on Dec. 31, 2031, he can make up for that money through performance incentives. Here's how much he's owed each year for the remainder of his contract:
- 2026: $10.3 million
- 2027: $10.45 million
- 2028: $10.6 million
- 2029: $10.75 million
- 2030: $10.9 million
- 2031: $11.05 million
Mike Norvell's record at FSU
ACC records in parentheses:
- 2020: 3-6 (2-6)
- 2021: 5-7 (4-4)
- 2022: 10-3 (5-3)
- 2023: 13-1 (8-0)
- 2024: 2-10 (1-7)
- 2025: 3-3 (0-3)
- Overall: 36-30 (20-23)
2025 Florida State University Schedule
Here's the Florida schedule and results. All time east.
- August 30: vs. Alabama | West 31-17
- September 6th: VS East Texas A&M | West 77-3
- September 13th: goodbye
- September 20: vs. Kent State | West 66-10
- September 26: In VA* | Length 46-38 (2OT)
- October 4th: vs. Miami* | Long 28-22
- October 11: vs. Pittsburgh* | Long 34-31
- October 18: at Stanford* | 10:30 PM | ESPN | Fu Bo
- October 25: goodbye
- November 1: With Wake Forest University* | TBD
- November 8: At Clemson* | TBA
- November 15th: vs. Virginia Tech* | TBA
- November 21: at NC State* | 8 p.m. | ESPN | Fubo
- November 29: In Florida | TBD
- Record: 3-3 (0-3 ACC)
*- ACC Games
Contributors: Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat; Steve Berkowitz and Blake Shuster, USA TODAY