David Pollack called Florida State’s decision to keep head coach Mike Norvell “a business decision” on his latest podcast. The college football analyst broke down the financial factors behind FSU’s announcement that Norvell will return in 2026.
The Seminoles face a roughly $58.4 million buyout if they fire Norvell now. That number drops to approximately $45.6 million after next season.
“They announce their timing now, they announce they’re going to keep him,” Pollack said on his See Ball Get Ball podcast. “I think there’s plenty of factors that goes into this.”
Pollack questioned whether FSU fans should expect championship-level coaching in Norvell’s sixth season. The decision comes after mounting pressure following the team’s performance decline.
“FSU is probably frustrated because I think just ask yourself as an FSU fan, like are we trying to get to the next level and get a great coach? I thought this was really, really interesting because when you ask that question, like, are we good enough, this is Norvell’s sixth season.”
The analyst believes FSU is strategically shifting its spending priorities.
“They’re going to spend money on the roster, rather than a coaching change,” Pollack added.
Norvell must deliver national championship-level results or the situation could change quickly. The program wants to return to where it was two years ago when expectations were much higher.
The timing of FSU’s announcement suggests they’re managing both financial constraints and fan expectations heading into the offseason.
