National publication weighs Florida State coach’s future

Mike Norvell’s seat may not be hot inside the Florida State football facility, but one national publication believes the pressure surrounding the Seminoles’ head coach will be among the biggest storylines to watch during the 2026 season.

In its 2026 preseason magazine, Lindy’s Sports included Norvell in a feature titled “Five Buyouts to Come?”, a list projecting which high-profile college football coaches could face difficult decisions if their teams fail to meet expectations this fall. Norvell was ranked No. 4 on the list behind USC’s Lincoln Riley, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer.

Lindy’s pointed to Florida State’s challenging early schedule as a key factor in its projection. The publication noted that the Seminoles open the season with a Week 0 matchup against New Mexico State before hosting SMU on Labor Day and traveling to Alabama less than three weeks later. Lindy’s wrote that the difficult start could make Norvell “the most likely to join” a list of coaches who have recently departed major programs despite receiving significant contract extensions.

The publication estimated that Florida State would owe Norvell approximately $45 million if it chose to move on from its head coach, a figure that would rank among the largest buyouts in college football.

However, expectations remain high in Tallahassee, and Florida State enters the 2026 season looking to build momentum following an aggressive offseason that included significant additions through the transfer portal. The Seminoles also face one of, if not the toughest, schedules in the ACC, a fact recently highlighted by multiple national outlets.

Whether Norvell ultimately finds himself on the hot seat remains to be seen. However, according to Lindy’s Sports, the combination of Florida State’s expectations, Norvell’s contract, and the Seminoles’ difficult schedule makes him one of the coaches whose future will be watched most closely during the 2026 season.

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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: National publication weighs Florida State coach’s future