The Miami Hurricanes' Dominating Victory Over Florida State And Its Consequences

The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Florida State Seminoles 27-10 this past Saturday. This outcome marks the Hurricanes' most significant win in the long-standing rivalry since 2001. For Florida State, this defeat brought their season record to 4-5 and raised concerns about the future of their head coach, Willie Taggart, who has had a challenging tenure with a record of just 9-12 over a season and a half. The once-prominent Seminoles, who claimed the National Championship in 2013, are now staring down the barrel of back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1975 and 1976.

This alarming trend prompted Florida State to make a significant decision: they fired Taggart. This move, however, is expected to be a costly one for the university. Taggart's buyout is projected to exceed $18 million, which is the second-largest in college football history, trailing only Charlie Weis's $18.9 million buyout after his dismissal from Notre Dame.

Moreover, should Florida State opt to terminate their assistant coaching staff, the total financial fallout could reach closer to $22 million. As the dust settles, Florida State is also contemplating the financial implications of hiring a new coaching staff, which could push their total expenditures to a staggering $30 million or more as the new season approaches. The terms of this buyout remain undisclosed, leaving fans and stakeholders eager to see how the university will navigate these turbulent waters.

Florida State's financial decisions will be crucial moving forward. They may choose to pay Taggart's buyout as a lump sum or spread it out over several years. Looking back at Weis's situation, Notre Dame continued to pay him until December 2015 after his firing in 2009, a scenario Florida State may wish to avoid, though it might be financially viable. Ultimately, the Seminoles are in a significant rebuilding phase, and their new coach must be equipped to tackle this challenge head-on to prevent further setbacks in the future.