After weeks of speculation, it finally happened: Mike Norvell is out as Florida State’s head coach. The axe fell right after a tough 36-24 loss to Clemson, slamming the book shut on his time in Tallahassee.
Norvell’s Tumultuous Tenure Ends
Man, what a wild ride it was for Norvell. Back in 2023, he had the Seminoles rolling, finishing 13-1 and looking like a lock for the College Football Playoff. But then starting quarterback Jordan Travis went down with a season-ending injury, and the Selection Committee simply left them out! Unbelievable. After that high, FSU limped to two straight losing seasons, and honestly, the writing was on the wall. No real shocker here.
The Blockbuster Candidates Are Already Here
But forget Norvell, the real show is getting started with who’s next. We’re talking some absolute bombshells on this list. Can you even believe the names being tossed around? Kicking things off at number nine, how about Deion Sanders? Prime Time back in Tallahassee! It’s pure Hollywood, a former three-sport star returning to lead the program. Remember May 1987? He played two conference tournament baseball games *and* ran a leg of the 4×100 relay, all on the same day. That’s legendary stuff. Here’s the rub, though: the shine’s kinda worn off his coaching resume. After a solid 9-4 record at Colorado in 2024, where he coached Heisman winner Travis Hunter Jr., the Buffaloes tanked to 3-9 in 2025 and they’re on pace for another losing season this year. A fantastic story? Absolutely. A likely one? Not so much.
Then there’s number eight: Jimbo Fisher. Another FSU legend who might actually want back in. He’s made it clear he wants to coach again, and let’s not forget, he delivered a title to Florida State. Five straight ten-win seasons and three conference titles? That’s serious hardware. But man, his exit from Tallahassee wasn’t exactly smooth, was it? And his time at Texas A&M definitely didn’t help his case. Talk about some bitter feelings.
Up-and-Comers and Insiders Round Out the List
Shifting gears a bit, at number seven we’ve got Zach Kittley, the head coach from FAU. This guy is an up-and-comer, a legit offensive guru and quarterback developer. He took over FAU in 2025, went 4-8 last year, but now he’s got them on track for a winning record and a bowl bid in 2026. He helped Bailey Zappe set NCAA records at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky, first as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. This would be a massive leap, a bold swing for FSU if they want to reinvent their offense.
And rounding out the top names we’ve got access to, there’s Kenny Dillingham at number six. He’s doing pretty well at Arizona State right now. Dillingham’s got some FSU ties, having worked under Norvell there, so he knows the program and what it takes. His experience at places like Auburn and Oregon is a plus, and hey, ASU even made the College Football Playoff in 2024. The only snag? His connection to Norvell might actually make him think twice about jumping ship. Talk about an awkward family reunion, huh?
So, Mike Norvell is out, and the search for FSU’s next head coach is already a wild ride. With names like Deion and Jimbo floating around, alongside promising young guys like Kittley and Dillingham, FSU has some serious decisions to make. This isn’t just about finding a new coach, it’s about getting this program back to championship contention. Who do you think takes the reins? This is gonna be fascinating to watch unfold!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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