Mike Norvell Fired By FSU, Latest Contract Buyout Info and Top Replacements After Clemson Loss

The Mike Norvell era is over at Florida State.

School president Richard McCullough announced on Sunday that Norvell has been fired, one day after the Seminoles lost 36-24 against Clemson and fell to 3-5 on the season. The Seminoles will be saddled with his massive $50.3 million buyout.

Director of scouting Rick Stockstill has been named interim head coach.

Florida State has also reportedly fired defensive coordinator Tony White, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Safeties coach Evan Cooper has also been fired, per Nakos.

The buyout does have a stipulation favorable to Florida State. Per Dan Rorabaugh of the Tallahassee Democrat, "According to the contract, Norvell is obligated to mitigate and seek a market-rate salary immediately upon being terminated. If he gets a new job, the amount owed by FSU would be reduced by the amount of Norvell's new salary. That's the same stipulation that got James Franklin's buyout from Penn State lowered from $49 million to $9 million when he got the Virginia Tech job."

As for the opening itself, Florida State is an appealing job and the Seminoles will be linked to a number of the top potential candidates on the market. Florida State has said its search will commence immediately.

Some names to monitor in that coaching search include New Mexico head coach Jason Eck, a rising name in the sport; Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz; UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor; Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert, who is now 15-5 at the school in his second season and has the 7-1 Demon Deacons ranked this year; Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham, who was FSU's offensive coordinator for two seasons (2020-21); and SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee, who has proven he can win in the ACC.

Whether any of them would leave their current situations—and for a Florida State program that seems to be at a real crossroads at the moment—is certainly questionable. Expect the Seminoles to cast a wide net.