Florida State is searching for its next head coach after firing Mike Norvell, and one prominent analyst is making a bold prediction that James Franklin will leave Virginia Tech to take the job in Tallahassee.
Brandon Walker of Barstool Sports said on his show that the Seminoles’ decision creates more than one vacancy in the ACC.
“Florida State has not just created one job opening in the ACC; they have, in fact, created two job openings in the ACC. Because when they (FSU) fill their coaching spot, the Virginia Tech Hokies will have a coaching vacancy, as Florida State will hire James Franklin as its next head Seminole in Tallahassee,” Walker said.
He added that Franklin, in his first season at Virginia Tech, is not locked in. “He’s a year in at Virginia Tech, he is not entrenched, Florida State shakes up the coaching cycle and the carousel by hiring James Franklin.”
Norvell was dismissed Sunday after the Seminoles fell 36-24 at home to Clemson, dropping them to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the ACC. He finished his seven seasons with a 41-39 record.
The move comes with a massive financial cost. Multiple reports place Norvell’s buyout at roughly $50 million, ranking among the largest in college football history, subject to mitigation if he lands another job.
Rick Stockstill, the program’s director of scouting and a former Middle Tennessee coach, was named interim head coach. Florida State also parted ways with defensive coordinator Tony White.
President Richard McCullough said the school will conduct a thorough national search for a leader who embraces the program’s tradition of championship athletics.
Franklin, 53, arrived at Virginia Tech in November 2025 after being fired by Penn State. The Hokies are 6-2 this season, including a 3-2 mark in ACC play, and have already secured bowl eligibility.
His overall head coaching record stands at 134-62. That includes a 104-45 mark at Penn State, where he won a Big Ten title in 2016 and guided the Nittany Lions to multiple double-digit win seasons and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024.
Franklin’s teams at Penn State were consistently competitive but often fell short against the highest-ranked opponents, a point of criticism throughout his tenure there.
Florida State’s 2026 season has been uneven. The Seminoles opened with wins over New Mexico State, Central Arkansas and Virginia, but dropped games to SMU, Alabama, Louisville, Miami and Clemson.
The program has gone 10-22 since the start of the 2024 season after finishing 13-0 in the regular season and winning the ACC title in 2023.
Other names have surfaced in early speculation for the Florida State job, including Duke’s Manny Diaz and Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert. Former Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher has also been linked to the opening in some reports.
Walker’s prediction stands out because it would force Virginia Tech to begin its own search less than a year after hiring Franklin on a multi-year deal.
Florida State still has games remaining against Boston College, Pittsburgh, NC State and Florida under Stockstill. Those results will shape the roster and the narrative as the search unfolds.
The coaching carousel has already been active this fall, and Florida State’s move adds a high-profile opening with significant resources and expectations attached.
Whether Franklin becomes the choice remains to be seen, but the prediction has quickly drawn attention across college football circles.
