Florida State's coaching search leans away from Deion Sanders despite want for an FSU name

Florida State wants its next head coach to have roots in Tallahassee. According to a report from EssentiallySports, the most famous candidate who fits that description is not the one school leaders want.

The Seminoles fired Mike Norvell this season. EssentiallySports reports that the administration likes the idea of hiring an "FSU guy," but word has come down from the top that Deion Sanders is not the answer. A source close to the search told the outlet that "some of the baggage that comes with Sanders is not desired" as the program starts its rebuild. The search is also happening while Florida State looks for a new athletic director, and the report says decision-makers want a steady, low-drama hire to go with that change.

EssentiallySports cites several reasons for the hesitation. The first is results. Sanders went 9-4 at Colorado in 2024, but the outlet puts his record at 5-14 since then, counting 2025 and the first part of 2026. For a school that just fired its coach for not winning enough, that record is hard to sell. The relationship has also had tense moments. Sanders once said publicly that he considered himself an HBCU graduate rather than a Nole, which bothered some boosters, and he flipped top recruit Travis Hunter away from Florida State to Jackson State. Then there is the scale of the Coach Prime operation. According to the report, it comes with its own media team and business setup, and FSU officials worry it would take over an athletic department that wants a leader who works within its existing booster and administrative structure.

The report does not say who has moved to the top of Florida State's list. What it does say is that the fan favorite is unlikely to be the pick.

What it means for Boston College

While the search goes on, the Seminoles still have games to play. They are 3-5 after three straight losses: 24-36 at home to Clemson, 35-43 at No. 3 Miami and 20-44 at Louisville. The defense has given up 36 or more points in each of those games, and in four of its five losses overall. Florida State's three wins came against New Mexico State, Central Arkansas and Virginia, and two of its losses were close ones, 24-27 to No. 19 SMU and 36-50 at No. 10 Alabama. The team needs three wins in its last four games to reach a bowl. That run starts Saturday, November 7, at Boston College on ACC Network.

The board for the game still has Florida State favored on the road. Novig has the Seminoles at -257 on the moneyline, and BetMGM's -250 is the best price on them among the 12 venues. Boston College is +223 on Novig and as high as +240 at theScore Bet. Florida State is favored by 6.5 points. Novig prices that line at -117, while Hard Rock Bet offers the same number at -110, and BetMGM has Boston College at +7. The total is 51.5 across the board. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.7% to 6.0% on the moneyline, so the gap between the cheapest and most expensive venues is real but modest.

The current market treats Florida State as the stronger team despite the losing streak. The Seminoles' recent defense is the main reason to doubt that margin on the road.