Florida State football rumors: Alabama game make-or-break for Mike Norvell
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Florida State football rumors: Alabama game make-or-break for Mike Norvell appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mike Norvellmight not be long for his job, and this week’s Alabama game could be the proverbial nail in the coffin for the embattled Florida State football coach.
Despite the Seminoles delivering an upset victory against the Crimson Tide a year, ironically reigniting hot-seat discussions about Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, this year’s FSU-Alabama matchup could decide the fate of Norvell, according to an On3 source.
“If it’s ugly [against Alabama], I don’t know what’s going to happen,” the source said, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. “He has to remain competitive to keep his job. If they get the doors blown off, that’s where this thing is headed.”
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
Florida State has had an extra week to prepare for its road trip to Tuscaloosa, as it had the first of its two bye weeks following a 27-24 home loss to SMU on Sept. 7. Meanwhile, Alabama survived an early scare against Kentucky, which took a halftime lead before the Tide recovered and outscored the Wildcats 32-0 in the second half.
Last season, the Seminoles opened the year with a 31-17 win vs. then-eighth-ranked Alabama, which kickstarted a brief hype train for FSU, which jumped up to 14th in the country and rose as high as seventh. Unfortunately, that didn’t last, and, after starting 3-0, the ‘Noles lost their next four, all by eight or fewer points, and finished the season 5-7. That was FSU’s second consecutive losing season, as it went 2-10 in 2024.
Overall, Norvell, in his seventh season in Tallahassee, is 39-35 and has had just two winning seasons and two bowl appearances. It would cost Florida State, which just fired its athletic director, almost $50 million to fire Norvell due to his buyout. According to On3, the complete turnover from one coaching staff and roster to the next would cost around $100 million.
Related: 2026 way-too-early College Football hot seat rankings: Dabo Swinney is running out of time
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos