Florida State football rumors: Is Jimbo Fisher an option to replace Mike Norvell if he's fired? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Florida State Seminoles fired Michael Alford as athletic director on Monday. After the University made its final decision to switch things up for its future in sports, rumors began swirling around Mike Norvell's job security as the head coach of the football program. The rumors have already gotten to the point that there is now some buzz that Jimbo Fisher could reprise his role as the Seminoles' head coach if Norvell were to be let go.
While that may be the case, Florida State President Richard McCullough didn't provide much details about Norvell's position. When asked firing the athletic director means for the 44-year-old head coach's future with the program, McCullough claimed that FSU is simply focused on winning, according to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.
"Nobody wants to win more than Mike Norvell," McCullough said. "College coaches are in the winning business. That's what we're working on."
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#rumors #head #jimbo

The FSU Seminoles fell to the SMU Mustangs 27-24 on Monday in Doak Campbell Stadium, and their fans are fed up with the team and Mike Norvell. It was a winnable game for Florida State, but they once again found ways to lose.
Since their 13-1 season in 2023, when they won the ACC and nearly made the College Football Playoff, FSU has gone 8-18 overall and 3-17 in conference play under Norvell. That has caused numerous fans to call for his job, but that is not an easy move.
While their performance over the past two-plus seasons has been well below FSU's standards, it will be expensive to move on from Norvell. According to Craig Myers of USA TODAY Sports, his buyout is $46.7 million if he is fired before Dec. 1, 2026.
If FSU does decide to fire Norvell, his buyout would be the third-biggest in college football history, behind only the $76.8 million the Texas A&M Aggies paid Jimbo Fisher and the $54 million the LSU Tigers paid Brian Kelly. The Seminoles paid Willie Taggart $18 million when they fired him during the 2029 season.
FSU signed Mike Norvell to an eight-year contract worth around $84 million ahead of the 2024 season and guaranteed him that his buyout would be 85% of his remaining salary if he was fired. The deal seemed like a smart move at the time. Not only were they coming off their 13-1 performance in 2023, but the Alabama Crimson Tide were considering hiring him to replace Nick Saban.

#paid #mike

Kalen DeBoer quieted some outside skepticism about him last season by leading Alabama to its first College Football Playoff appearance in the post-Nick Saban era.
The Crimson Tide not only reached the CFP, but also secured a first-round road victory over SEC rival Oklahoma. That success was rewarded this offseason when Alabama handed DeBoer a new seven-year contract that keeps him in Tuscaloosa through 2033, making him the third-highest-paid coach in college football, according to USA TODAY's salaries database.
So, as the 11th-ranked Crimson Tide enter the 2026 season, is DeBoer facing any hot seat chatter? ESPN's Paul Finebaum believes it's not out of the question.
What we're hearing: CJ Carr is 'unbelievable', Jimbo Fisher wants back in
Hayes: Alabama, Kalen DeBoer are SEC media days afterthought. How the mighty have fallen

#Football

Texas A&M's 2025 quarterback room included former four-star QB Miles O'Neill, who, during his impressive high school career, potentially looked like the next starting signal caller after Marcel Reed eventually departs, but after two seasons with the program, throwing for a combined 171 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, the Massachusetts native entered the transfer portal, eventually choosing North Carolina.
Standing 6'5" and 220 pounds, O'Neill's arm strength was never an issue, but compared to likely backup Brady Hart, his fit in new OC Holmon Wiggins' offense wasn't compatible; that doesn't take away from the fact that, with the right scheme, reaching his full potential is still in reach.
Under Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick and OC and former Texas A&M and Arkansas OC Bobby Petrino, it was reported by TarHeel247 that O'Neill is in good position to be named the starter soon, as fellow transfer quarterback Billy Edwards is still recovering from his season-ending injury, while O'Neill is also competing with Au'Tori Newkirk and Travis Burgess, who are equally inexperienced.
Former Texas A&M QB Max Johnson played for North Carolina from 2024-2025 and served as the starter for the Tar Heels before suffering a broken femur, which ended his season after the first game, and will be his final collegiate season with Georgia Southern.
The running joke that Texas A&M has become "QB U" given all the former signal callers who have started elsewhere after transferring has some accuracy attached to it, especially given that former coach Jimbo Fisher failed to develop nearly every starting quarterback, especially Conner Weigman and Haynes King.

#north #signal

Rising Cass Tech junior Donald Tabron II committed to Texas A&M on Saturday at the 313 store in Detroit. Tabron narrowed his 38 offers to three on Aug. 8 and announced that he would make his commitment a week later.
Tabron referred to the Aggies as a program on the rise after the team made its first playoff appearance in 2025. Under head coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M has also gained a strong reputation for its strong recruiting classes, continuing momentum from the strong classes the team had under former head coach Jimbo Fisher.
The Aggies have the No. 7 ranked recruiting class in 2026 and the nation's top-ranked class in 2027.
The Tabrons' relationship with the Aggies' coaching staff began when Elko started to appear on Tabron's father, Donald Tabron Sr.'s, radar after helping turn Duke into a top contender in the ACC.
"I watched the success Coach Elko had changing the culture and the program. They were able to beat a good Clemson team, and that's almost unheard of for Duke football," he said.

#aggies #donald #duke

It's so hard to consistently win college football games, especially in an age of mega-conferences, talent spread out everywhere, and the pressure of everything possibly collapsing with a small losing streak.

Some schools, though, aren't supposed to lose. They're expected to be college football superpowers with national ***** le dreams to make their respective rabid fan bases happy, and it's a problem when they're not.

Continuing with our 26 for 2026 series, here are the five programs under the most pressure - actually, it's the four powerhouse schools that need to win, and another new FBS member that has the world on its shoulders, but in a different way.
26: Winningest Programs Yet To Make the CFP
25: ACC Key Questions
24: Big 12 Key Questions
23: Big Ten Key Questions
22: Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospects
21: SEC Key Questions
20: What's Next in Realignment?
19. Ranking all 30 New Head Coaches
18. Who Has the Easiest Schedules?
17. Who Has the Hardest Schedules?
16. Who Might Be the Next Indiana?
15. Group of Six Teams with Best CFP Shot
14. 5 Teams Headed For a Letdown
This had better freaking work.

This is either going to be a trailblazing moment that changes how college sports operate, or it's a massive misfire that will turn into a huge financial loss for the university.

Sacramento State is paying a total of $23 million over five years to be part of the MAC. Not only that, but it has to pay for teams to travel to Sacramento, and even wilder, the school doesn't get anything from the media rights deals.

This is strictly a move to raise the profile of the school. Considering the lack of out-of-state students - under 5% - the faster the football team can generate interest, the sooner this might work.
- Sacramento State 2026 Team Preview
Florida State was among the consistently great football powerhouses for close to two decades under Bobby Bowden. Jimbo Fisher revived the brand name and the program in the mid-2010s, but he left for Texas A&M after the 2017 season.

Since then, the Seminoles have suffered through six losing seasons in eight years - FSU went from 1977 to 2018 without a losing campaign, and has just 16 losing seasons in 77 years of playing college football.

Miami almost won the national ***** le last season, Florida has the new-coach energy with Jon Sumrall taking over, and after going 7-17 over the last two seasons, this is when Florida State needs to take a big step to reestablish itself as a Sunshine State school that can win big again.
- Florida State 2026 Team Preview
The Volunteers need more of a tweak than a total overhaul.

There isn't anything disastrously wrong, but the national ***** le season of 1998 is now close to three decades ago. For a football-mad school with all the will and resources to win big, it could use a huge season to show that it's not far away from taking that one extra step.

#Florida #school #teams

Under former head coach Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M's wide receiver rotations struggled to find any consistency, no matter who was throwing the ball, and even after landing five-star Evan Stewart and four-star Noah Thomas in the historic 2022 recruiting class, injuries, a lack of development, and poor usage derailed both players' careers in College Station.
Stewart, who transferred to Oregon after the 2023 season, is currently a redshirt senior with the Ducks, while Noah Thomas transferred to Georgia after three seasons with the Aggies, appearing in 35 games and recording 73 receptions for 934 yards and 15 touchdowns, serving as A&M's starting X receiver during his final season, which was by far his most productive.
Why Thomas decided to transfer to Georgia is still surprising to this day, appearing in 10 games with the Bulldogs and recorded just 16 receptions for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Even after landing transfer wide receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion, Thomas would have still seen extensive playing time as the X receiver, especially after Jerome Myles' injury before the 2025 season.
The Aggies lacked size, which became an issue late in the year after starting 11-0, but after adding Alabama transfer WR Isaiah Horton this offseason, who is 6'4" and 215 pounds, A&M has likely solved its size issue, while Noah Thomas, who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, is looking to stand out with the Cincinnati Bengals during NFL Training Camp.
On Thursday, Thomas made the "catch of the day," which was captured by local Bengals media, as the rookie's physicality and concentration were on full display, pulling down the catch against veteran cornerback D.J Ivey. Thomas certainly possesses the traits to make an NFL roster.

#receiver #aggies #bengals

Texas A&M's 2026 season is just eight weeks away, as the Aggies will kick off the new campaign against Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, and after leading the program to its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, Mike Elko enters his third season at the helm with even higher expectations after signing his six-year extension back in November.
After a record 10 players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko and his staff landed 17 additions from the transfer portal, with more than half coming on defense, while former Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton stands out due to his 6'4" frame and ability to stretch the field, providing starting quarterback Marcel Reed much-needed size and a reliable red zone target.
After losing unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, who led the SEC with 11.5 sacks last season, the hope is that rising sophomore Marco Jones and Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka provide stability to the pass rush that will yet again require a collective effort to match last season's production.
Mike Elko has earned the national praise that's come his way this offseason, but compared to the other 15 SEC head coaches, nearly every college football ****** yst has placed the New Jersey native in the top 5, while USA TODAY's Blake Toppemeyer placed Elko 6th behind Josh Heupel (Tennessee), Lane Kiffin (LSU), Kalen DeBoer (Alabama), Steve Sarkisian (Texas), and, at a deserving No. 1, Georgia coach Kirby Smart.
"Elko needed just two seasons to take Texas A&M to the playoff. By early November, the Aggies had an argument for being the nation's best team. That unraveled after a scare from South Carolina, followed by losses to Texas and to Miami in the CFP's first round. Still, the Aggies' momentum is palpable. Elko must continue elevating and prove last year was no fluke. His recruiting success suggests he's building Texas A&M for staying power, and he's proven more reliable than predecessor Jimbo Fisher at developing talent."

Texas A&M's pursuit of 2027 four-star linebacker Mikahi Allen has been successful for the Aggies thus far, receiving a prediction from AggieYell's Jaxson Callaway earlier this month, and will likely fend off Syracuse ahead of the New Jersey-based prospect's commitment announcement on Saturday, July 11.
Third-year coach Mike Elko and his staff are close to securing their first No. 1-ranked recruiting class since former coach Jimbo Fisher landed the still historic 2022 class, which did not pan out, but remains steady in the record books.
Compared to the 2022 class, Elko's ability to develop prospects with NFL potential is already cemented after seeing a record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, which has led to the Aggies' building the No. 1-ranked 2027 cycle. After landing five-star linebacker Kaden Henderson, landing Mikahi Allen would solidify the Aggies' future LB rotation under new linebackers coach Travis Williams.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that Mikahi Allen will announce his commitment live on the CBS Sports College Football YouTube channel, as the four-star defender will choose between the Aggies, Texas, and South Carolina, surprisingly leaving Syracuse out of the mix.
During his 2025 junior season, Allen recorded 58 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions on the year.

It's hard to argue that Texas A&M's No. 1-ranked recruiting class isn't reaching historic levels, even compared to the Aggies' 2022 recruiting cycle, which featured eight five-star commits, while the 2027 cycle is currently made up of 25 commitments and six five-star commitments, now including linebacker Kaden Henderson and wide receiver Eric McFarland.
Before Elko was hired just weeks before the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, former head coach Jimbo Fisher's six-year career was marred by on-field mediocrity, while his recruiting chops never faltered. While some worried that Elko would not be able to match Fisher's recruiting success, that concern was quickly eliminated after the New Jersey native locked down back-to-back top 10-ranked recruiting cycles.
However, nothing matches the elite high school talent in the Aggies' 2027 class, as nearly every prospect possesses NFL-level potential, and given Elko's background as one of the top developers after a record 10 players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, more than half of the program's commits are expected to compete for starting jobs by their first or second seasons.
This week, Rivals named Texas A&M one of seven "recruiting winners" this summer, as writer Hunter Shelton laid out every reason the Aggies continue to dominate the cycle, starting with Elko's strategic approach to loading up at every position, especially along the offensive line.
"It’s only right to start with the team that continues to sit atop the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Texas A&M has been red-hot on the trail all cycle long and Mike Elko’s staff has continued to build a landmark class this summer.

There aren’t many college programs on the kind of recruiting heater Texas A&M is riding right now. Every time another school lands a major commitment and threatens to close the gap, the Aggies answer with a heavyweight pledge of their own, and the latest addition only widens the margin.
With the commitment of five-star Eric McFarland, head coach Mike Elko now holds eight top‑50 recruits in the 2027 class. Outside Aggieland, the predictable chatter has resurfaced: “Remember the Jimbo era.” But this cycle doesn’t just feel different, it’s being directly addressed by the recruits themselves, including five-star linebacker and Aggie commit Kaden Henderson.
“I know a lot of people want to think, ‘Oh, this is like the Jimbo (Fisher) class.’ I think it’s completely different. I think this is a class that’s going to stick,”
Of course, no ink has hit paper yet, and flip season hasn’t even begun. And while the Aggie staff has been elite on the trail coming off a historic season, a disappointing fall, especially with similar NIL packages in play, could complicate the finish. That bridge will be crossed when the time comes.
For now, the good guys in Maroon and White sit firmly atop the mountain. Every challenge has been met with an answer. Every push from another contender has been countered with a bigger swing. As June closes, Texas A&M is not just leading the 2027 cycle, they’re defining it.

Heading into his third season at the helm, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko accomplished his first and primary goal of making it to the College Football Playoff, while starting the year off 11-0 for the first time since 1993, which was equally impressive. Still, after losing to Miami in the first round, making it past the opening round is the next goal, but another challenge has yet to be accomplished since the Aggies joined the SEC before the 2012 season.
Texas A&M's memorable 2012 campaign, led by star quarterback Johnny Manziel winning the program's second Heisman Trophy, while finishing 11-2 with the Aggies first ever road win over then No. 1-ranked Alabama, could have also resulted in A&M's first appearance in the SEC Championship Game, but due to early losses to Florida and LSU, that never came to fruition.
Since then, former coaches Kevin Sumlin and Jimbo Fisher never came close to accomplishing this goal, dominated by Georgia and Alabama, while even the Texas Longhorns, who made the SEC ******* le Game during the program's first year in the conference. While making any Power Four conference ******* le game isn't necessary to make the 12-team College Football Playoff, over the last two seasons, Texas A&M would have made the CFP and received a better seeding if the Aggies had made it to Atlanta.
Last season, entering the final regular-season road test vs. Texas at 11-0, Texas A&M would have made it to the conference ******* le game with a win, but ended up falling to the Longhorns after leading 10-6 at the half. Earning a 7-seed in the CFP, the Aggies faced a tough Miami Hurricanes team that went on to lose to Indiana in the national championship game.
This weekend, Pro Football Network released its SEC Championship predictions, with Texas A&M coming in with the second-best odds to take home the conference ******* le at 17.6%, with the Texas Longhorns in first with 19.1% odds.

Texas A&M's 2027 recruiting class is reaching historical levels, and while comparing the cycle to the, yes, historic 2022 signing class that didn't pan out under former head coach Jimbo Fisher, it isn't a fair comparison by any means, now knowing that third-year coach Mike Elko is a proven developer after seeing a record ten players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Luring talent at every position, Elko's background as a safety coach led to securing commitments from five-star Kamarui Dorsey and four-star JayQuan Snell, who have both shut down their recruitments and intend to sign with the Aggies in early December. In the trenches, the program's No. 1-ranked play, five-star OT Mark Matthews, is back in College Station for his OV, and leads a future OL group featuring five-star IOL Kennedy Brown and four-star tackles DeMarrion Johnson and Kaeden Kent.
One of the program's early 2027 commits, four-star quarterback Jayce Johnson, is now looking like a steal out of Georgia, while four-star wide receiver Jaden Upshaw is on the cusp of earning his fifth star by the fall based on his level of play and elite versatility with the ability to play all the receiver positions at a high level.
Texas A&M's defensive line additions might just be the most impressive of the 19 commitments in the cycle, as four-star DL Myels Smith shut down his recruitment on Sunday, followed by Elko and new D-line coach Elijah Robinson earning a key commitment from four-star edge Frederick Ards III, who possesses the size to move inside once he makes his way to College Station.
Nationally, 14 of the program's 19 2027 commitments are considered blue-chip prospects, which is tied for second most with Oklahoma, Miami, and Notre Dame, while the Florida Gators' 15 blue-chip commits lead the way. However, I expect the Aggies to take the lead in the coming days/weeks after another successful weekend hosting a long list of blue-chip priority prospects.

What has your football team done besides throw money at Jimbo Fisher