By: Joseph Stuckey

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Mike Norvell is the 4th Power-4 coach to be fired this season.

He joins Dave Aranda (Baylor), Dave Doeren (NC State), and Mike Locksley (Maryland).

Norvell was 3-5 this season, but FSU decided to pull the plug after the loss to Clemson. The search will now begin for a new head coach down in Tallahassee.

Here are 5 potential choices:

First is FSU alum Deion Sanders, who is the current head coach of Colorado. I know it’s a long shot, and his time as a head coach has basically been a media circus, but it would almost be too perfect a fit for him to return home to his alma mater.

He has had peaks and valleys during his time in Colorado, but if he were given the resources that FSU has along with being able to recruit athletes from the state of Florida, it is possible FSU could be in the CFP next season. I know that is a stretch, but it is possible.

Next is Memphis’ Charles Huff, who seems to be destined to land a P4 job this cycle. He has had success and will most likely go to the biggest P4 opening this cycle.

In my opinion, it would take something really historic for FSU not to be the biggest P4 opening during this coaching carousel. I think Huff would be a good fit, as he has bounced all around the area, and again he seems destined to land a P4 job.

An interesting hire would be Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert; they have had a heck of a run this season, and he may have the Demon Deacons headed to their first CFP appearance.

The only problem here is that I think the deep-pocket alumni of Wake Forest will do everything in their power to keep him in Winston-Salem and away from an ACC rival.

Another candidate who is in a similar situation to Dickert is Manny Diaz of Duke. The Blue Devils won the ACC last season, which would put them in the CFP going forward.

It would put Diaz back in the state of Florida; however, just like Dickert, the deep pockets of Duke alumni will overpay to keep him from leaving for another ACC program.

Finally, there is Billy Napier, who is back in the Sun Belt with James Madison University and having a great season despite 2 recent losses.

Wouldn’t it be ironic for him to be headed back to the Sunshine State after just 1 season from being fired from coaching the rival Gators? He knows the area and has proven he can win at the G6 level, so he should be back at the P4 level very soon, maybe this winter.

It is going to be a very interesting 2 months to close out 2026 as the coaching carousel is beginning to turn very rapidly. I expect FSU to get their pick, as I’m sure it is a dream job for a lot of coaches out there.