The 2024 college football season is roughly one third of the way over, giving fans enough time to determine which programs are legit contenders and who might need to reevaluate things at the end of the year – if not sooner.
There’s a little bit of both in the ACC, with Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes looking like legit contenders to not only win the ACC, but to compete for a national championship.
The Clemson Tigers stumbled in Week 1 but have looked much better under Dabo Swinney, while much has been made about the massively surprising early season struggles seen by Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles.
Three ACC coaches are feeling their seat get a little warmer after about one month of game action, and we detail what a buyout would look like for each coach and what they need to do the rest of the season to keep their job heading into 2025:
Mack Brown – North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina has a Mack Brown problem. Brown of course took the Tar Heels from complete obscurity to national relevance in the 1990’s, going 1-10 in 1988 and 1989 and then 67-26-1 from 1990-1997, a streak which included Peach Bowl, Carquest Bowl, and Gator Bowl victories.
Brown returned to Chapel Hill in 2019 after a five year absence, having spent 1998-2013 leading Texas to 158 wins and 10 bowl victories. Brown helped revitalize North Carolina football for a second time, leading the Tar Heels to five straight seasons of bowl eligibility – although UNC is just 1-4 in said games.
Now, after the team was properly thrashed by James Madison at home in Week 4, losing 70-50, it’s clear North Carolina needs to make a change.
Brown is a college football legend, and has a huge role in the history of North Carolina football – a role it would be sad to see him tarnish by hanging on too long. His contract runs through 2027, and would cost the ‘Heels $20 million to buyout, but perhaps a mutual parting of ways is the best path forward for both parties.
Dave Doeren – NC State Wolfpack
Brown isn’t the only ACC coach in the state of North Carolina who is feeling the pressure so far this season. Dave Doeren is under fire after a disaster start to the season for NC State. The Wolfpack are 2-2 so far this year, suffering a 41 point loss at home against Tennessee in Week 2 and then giving up a whopping 59 points to Clemson in Week 4, losing by 24 points.
Doeren has long had difficulty winning big games, and for the Wolfpack to ever compete for more than just bowl eligibility they need someone who can lead them to big time victories.
Buying out Doeren would cost the school just under $35 million, a hefty sum for a coach who has won eight or more games in six of the past seven seasons. It’s unlikely, but if this team fails to qualify for a bowl game there will be unrest in Raleigh.
Mike Norvell – Florida State Seminoles
Mike Norvell felt his seat cool thanks to a Week 4 victory over Cal, although it certainly didn’t inspire a ton of confidence. Coming into the season with expectations of competing for a national championship and going undefeated, Florida State hasn’t looked anywhere near that level this month.
FSU offensive coordinator Alex Atkins returned in Week 4 after a three-game suspension, but the ‘Noles managed just 14 points at home against the Golden Bears – a clear sign the offense still has a lot of work to do.
It would cost Florida State roughly $65 million to move on, and for a school that has had financial instability, firing a coach who led them to an undefeated regular season and ACC championship last year seems very unlikely.
Still, it’s fair to say any momentum Norvell gained last year is now completely gone, and while this team could still right the ship and qualify for a bowl game, his seat will remain on the warm setting all season long.