Florida State fired seventh-year coach Mike Norvell on Sunday following a 36-24 home loss to Clemson on Saturday. The defeat marked the Seminoles' third consecutive ACC loss and the 17th in Norvell's last 21 conference games, a stretch that kept him on the hot seat for the past two seasons.
Norvell's buyout is estimated at just under $49 million — roughly 85% of his remaining salary through a contract running through the 2031 season. That figure would be the third-largest payout in college football history, behind only the $77 million paid to Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and the $54 million owed to Brian Kelly at LSU.
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 salary by more than $2 million annually, placing him among the top 10 highest-paid coaches in the country.
However, the Seminoles went 7-17 over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, making 2026 a make-or-break year. Norvell was set to earn $10.3 million in 2026 with five years and $54.75 million remaining on his deal. After his in-season firing, the school owes just over $48.6 million, including a recently renegotiated buyout agreement that adds $3 million and an additional $750,000.
The buyout is subject to mitigation and could be reduced if Norvell secures another coaching position. Florida State's boosters committed to the substantial financial cost to sever ties entering November.
