Florida State University fired head football coach Mike Norvell on November 1, 2026, following a 3-4 start to the season and a third consecutive loss to Clemson. Norvell compiled a 23-4 record over the 2022 and 2023 seasons but the program declined to 2-10 in 2024, 5-7 in 2025, and 3-4 in 2026. The buyout owed to Norvell is reported to be approximately $50 million.
The Seminoles, historically a premier destination in college football, have begun a search for a new head coach. Among the candidates identified by insiders is Duke head coach Manny Diaz. Diaz, a Miami native and 1995 Florida State graduate, is 6-2 with the Blue Devils this season and 18-9 overall in his first two years at Duke. He led Duke to the 2025 ACC championship with an overtime victory over Virginia and signed a contract extension through 2031 in April. Diaz previously served as head coach at Miami from 2019 to 2021, posting a 21-15 record, and spent two seasons as Penn State's defensive coordinator.
Additional candidates, described as proven program builders, are being considered but have not been publicly named.
