Florida State fired head football coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, November 1, 2026, school president Richard McCullough announced. The move ends Norvell’s seven-season tenure amid a 3–5 start to the 2026 season and a sustained decline since the Seminoles’ 2023 ACC championship.
Director of scouting Rick Stockstill will serve as interim head coach. Stockstill was head coach at Middle Tennessee for 18 seasons before joining Florida State.
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Norvell compiled a 41–39 record at Florida State. His two winning seasons — 2022 and 2023 — followed strategic use of the transfer portal and the emergence of quarterback Jordan Travis as a dual-threat leader. In 2023, Florida State went 13–0 and won the ACC championship but was not selected for the College Football Playoff.
The Seminoles are 10–23 since that season — including 3–5 this year. Florida State lost to Clemson 36–24 last Saturday as a six-point favorite. Before kickoff, a banner flew over Doak Campbell Stadium calling for Norvell’s and board chairman Peter Collins’ removal.
Since 2024, Florida State is 4–17 in ACC play — with losses to Stanford, Boston College, and Duke. Its last regular-season road win came at Florida on November 25, 2023.
Pressure intensified after a 2–10 season in 2024. The administration retained Norvell for 2026 despite a $50 million-plus buyout, adding resources and restructuring the personnel department. Athletic director Michael Alford was fired in September. President McCullough sent a letter to the Seminoles community last week acknowledging fan frustration and stating, “We are not asking you to ignore the results. We are committed to changing them.”
After the Clemson loss, Norvell said his players continue to support one another despite adversity. He described them as frustrated and emotionally affected by recent outcomes — and said he shares those feelings. He emphasized focus and consistency as keys to improvement.
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