CBS Sports analyst predicts Power 4 coach on hot seat could be fired even with 10-win season
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Mike Norvell is on one of the country’s hottest seats as he heads into his eighth season as head coach at Florida State.
Since missing out on the College Football Playoff in 2023 despite a 13-0 start and an ACC title — followed by a wave of opt-outs and an embarrassing showing against Georgia in that year’s Orange Bowl- the Seminoles have been on a downslope. They then went 2-10 in 2024 before a 5-7 mark in 2025.
Now, after receiving a vote of confidence for 2026 from athletic director Michael Alford, the objective for Mike Norvell is crystal-clear: win, or else. According to CBS Sports college football analyst Beanie Wells, 10 wins, while a vast improvement, may not be enough to save Norvell’s job.
“You go back to 2024, they won two games off of a 13-1 season, last year going 5-7. That is not the Florida State way,” Wells said. “If he doesn’t win big this season, I think he’s out of there. I could see him getting fired if he wins 10 games.”
It looked as if things would trend in a much more positive direction for the Seminoles when they opened with a win over Top 10 Alabama. But after beating FCS East Texas A&M and Kent State, things collapsed. FSU went just 2-7 down the stretch.
The Seminoles open their 2026 season against New Mexico State on August 29.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
