Florida State is off to a shaky 1-1 start this season, and the buzz around Mike Norvell’s future is hitting a fever pitch. After going a combined 7-17 over the last two years, it looks like the Seminoles might be ready to make a shocking move. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic just dropped a report that the ACC program is “looking into the possibility” of bringing back former head coach Jimbo Fisher if they fire Norvell. Talk about a blast from the past, huh?
Norvell’s Rollercoaster Ride and a Huge Price Tag
Norvell’s tenure has been a real head-scratcher. He actually had some brief success, going a combined 23-4 in 2022 and 2023. But since then? It’s been a tough fall, with the Seminoles putting up a 2-10 record in 2024 and then 5-7 in 2025. This season, they’ve started 1-1, which just is not good enough when you’ve fallen behind rivals like Miami inside your own state. Feldman also reported something super interesting about FSU’s off-season. They apparently “wasn’t aggressive at all in the portal this offseason with a nod toward saving its money for something else down the road.” That “something else” could absolutely be the near $50 million the school would owe Norvell if he got the boot. That’s a staggering amount, but it seems FSU might be preparing for it.
Jimbo Fisher’s Legacy and His Own Buyout Drama
Bringing Fisher back would be wild, considering how things ended. He was a legend at Florida State, leading them from 2010 to 2017 with an incredible 83-23 record and even snagging the national championship for the 2013 campaign. But then he bounced for Texas A&M. His time there was, well, less stellar. He finished with a 45-25 record across six seasons, never quite turning them into a national contender, and it ended with his firing and an approximately $77 million buyout. Ouch. A source told Feldman that “Jimbo’s rosters didn’t stink,” but that “his ability to adapt to modern football is what caught up with him.” It makes you wonder if he’s changed. Still, Feldman suggests that with his own big A&M buyout, Fisher might be more willing to funnel some of the money saved on his salary back into improving the roster at FSU.
The Seminoles have a brutal schedule coming up, facing nationally ranked foes in Alabama, Virginia, Louisville, and the Hurricanes, all before November. If they struggle through that stretch, Norvell’s seat isn’t just hot, it’s on fire. It might push FSU to do the unthinkable and actually turn back to a familiar face.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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