Not a candidate: Drinkwitz shuts down Florida State rumors as Missouri focuses on Texas
Florida State opens its search
Florida State dismissed head coach Mike Norvell on Sunday. He had led the Seminoles since 2020, posting a 41-39 record across six-plus seasons and a 13-1 mark in 2023.
With the position vacant, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz appeared on several coaching hot boards, including lists from ESPN and CBSSports. He addressed the speculation Tuesday.
Drinkwitz rejects the rumors
“I'm not a candidate at Florida State,” Drinkwitz said, adding that he wanted to clear up the speculation. He called for attention to shift to Texas and for distractions to be removed for his team and others.
Drinkwitz also discussed the rumors Monday on The Brandon Walker Show. He said what bothered him most was the suggestion that Florida State was a better job than his position at Missouri, where he wanted to build something distinctive.
Earlier rumors and contract
Drinkwitz’s name had been linked to other head coaching vacancies in 2025, including Penn State, Auburn and Florida. Missouri and Drinkwitz then agreed to a six-year contract extension, keeping him with the Tigers through 2031 at an average annual salary of $10.75 million.
After Missouri’s win over Arkansas to end the 2025 season, Drinkwitz complained that he had been favored for a job he had never interviewed for. He called the situation annoying and used a blunt, profane description of it.
Missouri faces Texas next
Missouri is 6-2 and enters the final third of its regular season with games against No. 10 Texas, No. 2 Georgia and No. 8 Kentucky next. The Tigers will then host unranked Oklahoma in their regular-season finale.
Missouri is scheduled to host No. 10 Texas at 11 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The article says the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes remain alive.
Key points
- Florida State fired Mike Norvell on Sunday after six-plus seasons as head coach.
- Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday he is not a candidate for the Seminoles’ vacancy.
- Missouri’s six-year extension keeps Drinkwitz in place through 2031.
- The 6-2 Tigers host No. 10 Texas at 11 a.m. Saturday.