There’s no use dwelling on the Seminoles’ shocking 2-10 record last season. Calling it a ‘fall from grace’ doesn’t even do it justice. Yes, just a year prior, FSU hoisted the 2023 ACC Title Trophy, only to be historically snubbed from the CFP. And now, with a national reporter shedding light on his fate, head coach Mike Norvell found himself under mounting pressure. So, while the spotlight is hotter than ever, the expectations are clear—bounce back or face the consequences.
On the March 20th episode of the Cover 3 Podcast, Tom Fornelli, Chip Patterson, Bud Elliott, and Danny Kanell broke down the ACC coaches facing the most pressure in 2025. And naturally, the conversation turned to Mike Norvell because of his performance last season. Then when Patterson asked about expectations for the FSU head coach, Bud Elliott gave an intriguing take.
“So it’s interesting. I mean, seven and a half is like one, one and a quarter wins higher than like what Bill Connelly has them. Like, so that’s a pretty, you know, decent difference against what the market has. And I think it probably shows maybe a lack of confidence in some of the teams on this Mike Norvell’s schedule, like both Virginia schools, you know, Wake Forest, some of those type of schools,” said Elliott.
Safe to say, with the pressure mounting and the odds stacked, Norvell’s path to redemption is anything but easy.
We can probably state that Connelly’s SP+ projects FSU at 6 to 6.5 wins for 2025, while the betting market sets it at 7.5, reflecting doubts about their opponents and potential regression.
And after a brutal 2-10 season, some predict a bounce-back, while others question if Norvell can steer the ship. But, Bud Elliott weighed in, saying, “And it, I think, it shows some belief and expectation that there’s like a regression, you know, positive regression to the mean. Like, a lot of stuff went wrong for them last year. Some of that’s probably not fixable. A decent bit of it is just like, flip a coin again, you’re probably not going to go two and 10. They’ve got like a huge buyout here and a lot of capital projects going on.”
As of now, while the pressure is on, the odds of another complete collapse seem slim. Look, FSU’s 2024 season was a nightmare—their worst since 1974. Well, once the defending ACC champs with high preseason rankings, they fell hard. The struggles led to crucial staff changes, including the firing of OC Alex Atkins and DC Adam Fuller. So now, head coach Mike Norvell faces intense scrutiny as the Seminoles fight to bounce back.
And here it is—the big announcement on Mike Norvell’s fate, which Elliott weighed in, shutting down the hot seat talk—for now. “I really don’t think they have any kind of appetite to fire Mike Norvell unless, you know, something crazy happens,” he said. And the bottom line? If Norvell can get FSU to a bowl game, his job should be safe, per Elliott.
Although Mike Norvell, known for his offensive expertise, has led FSU since 2020 with a 56-33 career record, CBS just took a brutal shot at his contract.
CBS’ brutal verdict on Mike Norvell
CBS Sports didn’t hold back when evaluating the best and worst coaching contracts in the ACC. And for FSU fans, the verdict on Norvell’s deal was brutal. “Cover your eyes, FSU fans,” CBS’ Brad Crawford wrote.
Adding, “Norvell’s restructured contract coming off 2024’s two-win disaster runs through 2031, and his buyout is the largest in the ACC at $63 million.” So, the extension, once seen as a reward for FSU’s 2023 ACC title, has now become a financial nightmare. And who could have predicted such a historic fall from grace?
While Norvell once nailed portal evaluations, the last cycle’s efforts fell flat, leaving FSU stuck in a tough spot.
However, the NCAA Transfer Portal has become everything in CFB, and for Norvell, it was a gamble that didn’t pay off last season. Despite his strong track record, key roster spots were left exposed, contributing to FSU’s downfall. But the Noles aren’t staying down for long. Right now, with the nation’s 7th-best transfer class, they’ve reloaded and are gearing up for a major comeback this fall.
In 2024, Mike Norvell overhauled his staff, bringing Gus Malzahn to call plays while replacing coordinators and WR coach Ron Dugans. Safe to say, despite the struggles, FSU fans still trust his vision, with a new football facility and major stadium upgrades fueling hope for the future.
Let’s see what happens in the next season!
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