After a disappointing home loss to Clemson last Saturday, Florida State decided it was time to make a change at head football coach. Mike Norvell was fired on Sunday after seven seasons at the helm.
During his tenure in Tallahassee, Norvell posted a 41-39 record, which was highlighted by a 13-1 finish and an ACC championship in 2023. Unfortunately for the Seminoles, it had been downhill since then.
FSU had gone without a road victory since 2023 and had suffered its worst season in a half-century, finishing 2-10 in 2024. Following a 3-0 start that led to a top-10 national ranking in 2025, the Seminoles closed the year by losing seven of their final nine games. After a 3-2 start to this year, Norvell and FSU had lost three straight prior to his firing. Over his final 33 games, Norvell was a dismal 10-23.
Former quarterback Rick Stockstill, an FSU Hall of Famer who led the Seminoles to their first top-5 final national ranking in 1980, was named interim head coach. Stockstill spent 18 years as head coach at Middle Tennessee State before being hired to FSU’s support staff in 2024.
Also fired were defensive coordinator Tony White and safeties coach Evan Cooper. Ernie Sims, a former FSU linebacker, and previously the linebackers coach was named as interim defensive coordinator. Sims played at FSU from 2003 to 2005 and was an All-ACC performer and named a first-team All-American by ESPN in 2004. According to reports, former Syracuse head coach and longtime NFL assistant Paul Pasqualoni is expected to be added as a defensive analyst.
On Saturday, FSU erased an early 10-point deficit for its first road win since 2023. Amari Thomas’ 11-yard touchdown run with 2:29 remaining capped a 90-yard drive and the scoring in a 31-24 win over Boston College.
Thomas finished with 98 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Also running for a touchdown was kicker Gabe Panikowski, who scored on a perfectly executed fake field goal to give the Seminoles a 21-17 halftime lead. Quarterback Ashton Daniels arushed for a touchdown as well.
For the FSU defense, Ja’Bril Rawls and Nehemiah Chandler each had interceptions. Mason McKenzie threw for two touchdowns for the Eagles in the loss.
With the win, FSU improved to 4-5 and 2-4 in ACC play. The Seminoles will try to even their record on Friday at Pittsburgh.
FOOTBALL
Record: 4-5 (2-4 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (1-0), beat Boston College on Saturday, 31-24
Upcoming: at Pittsburgh (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: Majay Thompson, 3-star WR* (No. 530 overall*)
2027 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 38 nationally, eighth in ACC* (14 total commitments)
Wrap-up: It was a tumultuous week for the Seminoles, but it culminated in their first road victory since 2023.
Soccer
Record: 9-3-3 (5-2-2 ACC)
Ranking: No. 10 United Soccer Coaches; No. 4 seed ACC Tournament
Past Week: (1-1), beat Miami on Sunday, 2-0; lost to Virginia Tech on Thursday, 2-1
Upcoming: vs. Virginia (Sunday, ACC Tournament)
Recognitions: Tanner Strickland, D (ACC Defensive Player of the Week)
Wrap-up: Despite a Senior Night loss, FSU will be the No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament and host the quarterfinals.
Volleyball
Record: 13-11 (7-6 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-1), beat Virginia on Sunday, 3-0; beat Georgia Tech on Tuesday, 3-2; lost to California on Friday, 3-2
Upcoming: vs. Stanford (Sunday); at Boston College (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU dropped a heartbreaker to Cal on Friday. The Seminoles wrap up a 3-match homestand on Sunday.
Women’s Golf
Ranking: No. 8 Golf Channel; No. 17 WGCA Coaches
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: Collegiate Invitational (Jan. 29-30)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU will get about three months off before returning to action in Mexico.
Men’s Golf
Ranking: No. 25 Golf Channel; No. 20 GCAA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: Watersound Invitational (Feb. 14-16)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: The fall slate is wrapped up.
Cross Country
Ranking: Men No. 7 USTFCCCA South Region; women No. 3 USTFCCCA South Region
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: NCAA South Regional (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU runners will try to punch their tickets to the NCAA Championships this week.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: Men lost at South Carolina on Friday, 163.5-136.5; women lost at South Carolina, 225-75
Upcoming: Georgia Invite (Nov. 19-22)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: It was a rough Friday in the pool for FSU in Columbia.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 2-0
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-0), beat Florida A&M on Monday in Tampa, 113-69; beat Troy on Friday, 91-68
Upcoming: vs. Florida (Tuesday); vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2027 Recruiting Class Rank: N/A (0 total commitments)
Wrap-up: FSU has rolled to victory in its first two games. Its toughest test will come on Tuesday vs. Florida.
Women’s Basketball
Record: 2-0
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-0), beat Merrimack on Monday, 81-51; beat North Florida on Thursday, 74-63
Upcoming: vs. Florida A&M (Sunday); vs. West Florida (Wednesday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU opened the 2026-27 season with a pair of home victories.
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
