Is Buster Faulkner the $64M Answer for FSU’s Head Coach Search?

Would Gators OC Buster Faulkner Be a Good Fit as FSU's Next Head Coach?

Florida State is searching for its next head football coach after firing Mike Norvell.

Florida Gators offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner is an intriguing name to consider.

Faulkner does not have the head coaching experience of several other names connected to the opening.

His offensive background could make him an appealing option for the Seminoles.

WHY BUSTER FAULKNER MAKES SENSE FOR FSU

Florida State's next coach will inherit a program with plenty of expectations.

The Seminoles went 13-0 during the 2023 regular season and won the ACC championship.

They then fell into a significant decline.

Norvell's final three seasons included a 2-10 campaign in 2024.

That was followed by a 5-7 record in 2025.

He started 2026 with a 3-5 mark before being fired.

The program needs someone who can restore confidence.

It needs someone who can develop talent.

It needs someone who can build an offense capable of competing with the best teams in the country.

Faulkner has demonstrated an ability to produce offensively at multiple stops.

He has spent more than a decade as an offensive coordinator.

He most recently oversaw a successful Georgia Tech offense from 2023 to 2025.

He helped the Yellow Jackets improve from a 5-7 team in 2022 to consecutive seven-win seasons.

That improvement culminated in a 9-3 campaign in 2025.

Georgia Tech ranked first in the ACC in rushing offense during Faulkner's three seasons.

The Yellow Jackets averaged 197.8 yards per game on the ground.

They also ranked second in total offense during that span.

They ranked third in passing efficiency.

They ranked fifth in scoring offense.

Faulkner also has experience at Georgia.

He was part of the Bulldogs' back-to-back national championship teams in 2021 and 2022.

He served in an offensive quality-control role rather than as a coordinator.

That experience gave him exposure to a championship-level program.

Florida State would be betting on Faulkner's ability to translate his offensive success into a larger leadership role.

His offensive background could also help the Seminoles attract quarterbacks.

It could help them establish a clear identity on that side of the football.

THE BIGGEST CONCERN WITH HIRING FAULKNER

The obvious concern is that Faulkner has never been a head coach.

That is a significant distinction when evaluating him against other candidates.

Florida State is not simply looking for an offensive coordinator who can improve its production.

It needs someone capable of overseeing an entire program.

It needs someone who can build a coaching staff.

It needs someone who can recruit at a high level.

Those are all responsibilities Faulkner has never shouldered.

OTHER NAMES IN THE MIX

Urban Meyer has raised a major concern about the FSU job.

Brian Kelly has also been named in replacement speculation.

Brando, speaking on Fox News with Dan Dakich, called FSU "a hell of a good job."

He said it would be great to see Florida State relevant again.

He added that it is unfortunate Norvell got screwed the way he did.

Brando specifically cited the playoff situation as the thing that screwed Norvell.

He noted that FSU had a backup quarterback for the last three weeks of that season.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MIKE NORVELL

Norvell was fired after a 3-5 start to the 2026 season.

That followed a 5-7 campaign in 2025.

That followed a 2-10 campaign in 2024.

The collapse was stunning given the 2023 season.

In 2023, the Seminoles went 13-0 in the regular season.

They won the ACC championship.

They were left out of the College Football Playoff despite being undefeated.

The playoff committee's decision sparked national debate.

Many believe that snub started the program's downward spiral.

Norvell never recovered from that moment.

The roster lost key players to the NFL and the transfer portal.

Recruiting momentum stalled.

The 2024 season was a disaster from the start.

WHAT THE FSU JOB REALLY OFFERS

Florida State remains one of the most recognizable brands in college football.

The program has three national championships (1993, 1999, 2013).

The facilities are among the best in the country.

The recruiting base in Florida is rich with talent.

The ACC, while not the SEC, offers a viable path to the playoff.

The new 12-team playoff format makes the job even more attractive.

A quick turnaround is possible with the right hire.

But the job also comes with pressure.

The fan base is impatient after the Norvell collapse.

The administration has shown it will fire a coach quickly.

The schedule includes annual games against Miami, Clemson, and Florida.

There is no margin for error in rebuilding.

WHAT FAULKNER WOULD NEED TO PROVE

Faulkner would need to prove he can recruit at an elite level.

He would need to prove he can build a staff.

He would need to prove he can manage a full program.

He would need to prove he can handle the media pressure in Tallahassee.

He would need to prove he can develop a quarterback at a program that has struggled at that position since Jameis Winston left in 2014.

None of those things can be evaluated from his coordinator resume alone.