Next Florida State Coach Odds: Jake Dickert Leads Seminoles' Search

By Bill Speros

Nov 2nd, 2026 12:18 PM EST

Who will be the next coach at Florida State?

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Wake Forest's Jake Dickert (+275) is the favorite to be Florida State's next head coach, according to Bookies.com's projected odds as of Monday (Nov. 2), followed by Duke's Manny Diaz (+400) and former FSU coach Jimbo Fisher (+700).

The Seminoles fired Mike Norvell on Sunday after a 3-5 start and ate a $50 million buyout to rid themselves of the coach.

Norvell went 41-39 in his seven seasons at Florida State, a run that included a 13-1 season and an ACC title in 2023. FSU lost 36-24 at home to Clemson on Saturday, and the school moved on a day later. Rick Stockstill, a former Middle Tennessee head coach who works in FSU's scouting department, will serve as interim coach for the final four games, starting Saturday at Boston College.

The search is unusual because Florida State is also looking for an athletic director. The school fired Michael Alford on Sept. 14, and Bruce Warwick is serving as interim AD. President Richard McCullough says he will make the final call, and the school has hired Parker Executive Search to run the coach and AD searches at the same time. No candidate has been reported as contacted.

Next Florida State Coach Odds

Here are Bookies.com's projected odds for who becomes Florida State's next head coach. For more from the sport, check out our college football odds and college football picks.

Next Florida State Coach Odds: Who Will Replace Mike Norvell?

Here's a breakdown of the top candidates to get the head coaching job at Florida State.

Jake Dickert - Wake Forest Head Coach (+275): The biggest obstacle facing Dickert may be his lack of ties to the Sunshine State. The Demon Deacons would face Miami in the ACC Conference Championship game if the season ended today. They might snag a College Football Playoff berth. Wake Forest's program mirrors Florida State in that it lives below the radar of other major schools in its home state. Familiarity with the ACC helps. Dickert finds hope in the path taken by the Gators last offseason. After being spurned by Lane Kiffin (see Garth Brooks: "Unanswered Prayers"), the Gators hooked Jon Sumrall. A Texas native, Sumrall had no visible ties to the state before being hired.

Manny Diaz - Duke Head Coach (+400): Diaz led Duke to the ACC title last season and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Bobby Bowden at Florida State, which fits the school's stated preference for someone with Garnet and Gold in their coaching DNA. It's hard to imagine the Seminoles hiring a coach who was fired by Miami after going 21-15 from 2019 to 2021. Especially with the Hurricanes in contention for the national championship.

Jimbo Fisher - Former Florida State & Texas A&M Head Coach (+700): Fisher won a national championship coaching the Seminoles and Jameis Winston in 2013. His return to Tallahassee would be hailed by Seminoles fans from Pensacola to Key West. Fisher has been critical of his former school in recent years - without targeting Norvell specifically. On3's Pete Nakos reported that he has been lobbying behind the scenes, including conversations with donors about NIL and the transfer portal. Fisher immediately connects with those donors who drive NIL funding. FSU may need to bring in a "name coach" to compete with Mario Cristobal in Miami and the resurgent Sumrall in Gainesville. Whether Florida State has any interest in a reunion is unclear. Fisher would likely cost far less than the $76 million Texas A&M owed after ditching him in 2023.

Kenny Dillingham - Arizona State Head Coach (+900): The Sun Devils have struggled to break through into the top tier of the newly expanded Big 12. Dillingham is a familiar face inside Doak Campbell Stadium and on Bobby Bowden Field. He served as the Noles' offensive coordinator in 2020-21.

Eli Drinkwitz - Missouri Head Coach (+1400): Missouri is 6-2 and Drinkwitz is 64-32 as an FBS head coach. Reporters Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman discussed him on a podcast as a strong option for a school that wants a proven head coach. He has ACC experience from NC State but no Florida ties, and his record against ranked teams is the main knock. But his Tigers knocked the Gators out of the top 10 this season. That means free beer for life in Tallahassee.

Jason Eck - New Mexico Head Coach (+1600): Eck is 42-18 as a college head coach, and New Mexico has the nation's top scoring defense this fall. He built programs at Idaho and New Mexico, but he has no power-conference head-coaching experience and no ties to the Southeast.

Glenn Schumann, Georgia Defensive Coordinator (+2000): Schumann was a graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama and a co-defensive coordinator on Georgia's 2021 and 2022 national champions. He was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and his grandfather, Jack Haskin, coached at FSU. He has never been a head coach, and one report said it would take a marquee job to pull him from Athens.

Rhett Lashlee, SMU Head Coach (+2200): Lashlee is 43-18 at SMU and led the Mustangs to a College Football Playoff appearance in their first ACC season. SMU's deep NIL funding and his recent contract extension would make him hard to pull away.

Blake Baker, LSU defensive coordinator (+3000): Baker is LSU's defensive coordinator and has South Florida recruiting relationships. The obstacle is that he has no head-coaching experience, and Florida State's president has stressed fit in the search.

The Field (+1000): The Field covers everyone else. UCLA's Bob Chesney, Brian Kelly, Deion Sanders, Dan Mullen and Charles Huff are among the other names that have been floated. With no candidate reported as contacted, a name that is not yet on the radar can still emerge.

What Will It Cost Florida State To Hire A New Coach?

Money is part of the story. Norvell's buyout is estimated at roughly $47 million to $50 million, which equals 85% of his remaining salary through 2031 and could be reduced if he takes another job. Buying out his assistants would push the total higher. The athletic department also ended fiscal 2025 with $437 million in athletics-related debt.

That context helps explain why a lower-cost option such as Fisher draws attention. The calendar adds pressure, too: the transfer portal opens in January, and the school has called the searches a top priority. For more on the sport, see our college football betting coverage.

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Florida State Coaching Search FAQ

Who is the favorite to be Florida State's next coach?

Wake Forest's Jake Dickert is the favorite at +275 (26.7% implied) in Bookies.com's projected odds as of Nov. 2, ahead of Duke's Manny Diaz (+400) and Jimbo Fisher (+700).

Who is Florida State's interim coach?

Rick Stockstill, a former Middle Tennessee head coach who works in FSU's scouting department, will lead the team for the final four regular-season games.

Why did Florida State fire Mike Norvell?

Florida State fired Norvell on Sunday after a 3-5 start and a 36-24 home loss to Clemson. He finished 41-39 at the school.

How much is Mike Norvell's buyout?

Reports put it at roughly $47 million to $50 million, depending on the source. It is 85% of his remaining salary through 2031 and could be offset if he takes another job.

Who decides who the next coach is?

FSU President Richard McCullough says he makes the final call. The school hired Parker Executive Search to run the football coach and athletic director searches at the same time.

Is Jimbo Fisher a candidate to return to Florida State?

Fisher has reportedly been lobbying for the job, but it is unclear whether Florida State has any interest in rehiring him.

Odds are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps. 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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