Junior Sam Erbach broke the scoreless tie in the 58th minute, and Tanner Strickland doubled the lead on a penalty kick just eight minutes later. Joelle Jung made it 3-0 less than two minutes after that, and Peyton McGovern capped the scoring with a 25-yard strike in the 82nd minute.

All three of FSU's first goals, and all three assists on the night, came from newcomers making their Seminole debuts. FSU out-shot Stetson 18-2 and sophomore keeper Kate Ockene needed just two saves for the clean sheet.

The win pushed FSU's unbeaten streak in regular-season non-conference games to 34 and extended the Seminoles' streak over Stetson to 10-0-0 all-time.

It's FSU's third straight season-opening win, and the Seminoles have now started 4-0-1 in openers immediately following a national championship.

Oklahoma State transfer Gabe Panikowski is the field goal kicker after going 4-for-4 from outside 45 yards in Thursday's practice, including a 52-yarder. "Been very pleased with Gabe since he stepped on campus, just his approach and how consistent and smooth he is," Scheier said. New Mexico transfer Daniel Hughes has the punting job locked down after a 45.4 yards-per-punt season and a Ray Guy Award semifinalist nod a year ago, while Conor McAneney has the edge on kickoffs.

North Dakota State transfer Caleb Bowers, an FCS All-America long snapper, rounds out the specialists. "Very steady, veteran presence," Scheier said of him.

Micahi Danzy and Samuel Singleton Jr. are the top options on kickoffs. "I think we've got two of the best returners in the country," Scheier said. "They're dangerous with the ball in their hands." Singleton returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown two years ago, and Danzy is one of the fastest players in college football.

On punts, freshman Jasen Lopez has taken the early lead over a deep group that includes Jayvan Boggs, Devin Carter, and even Duce Robinson. "Jasen Lopez has shown the ability, confidence, moxie for a true freshman to be the guy," Scheier said, though he was clear about his priorities: "Possession's key. It's gotta be first-and-10 Seminoles at the end of the day."

Panikowski's mom introduced him to former NFL kicker John Carney, a 23-year veteran, when Panikowski was a high school freshman, and the relationship became foundational to his development. "I just decided I might want to try something other than soccer," Panikowski said. "Since then I've just fell in love with the sport and everything that comes with it."

His path to FSU wound through Sacramento State, Riverside City College, an All-America season at FCS Idaho State, and a redshirt year at Oklahoma State before he picked the Seminoles in January, making FSU his fifth school.

Panikowski spent time with Sebastian Janikowski, whose jersey retirement was announced this week, during FSU's practices in Jacksonville. "As soon as I saw him, I was like, 'Holy cow, this guy is huge,'" Panikowski said. "He looked like a linebacker. I had a couple conversations with him. He is a really down to earth guy."

Chaplin's reported $800,000 NIL valuation is well below what other programs paid for portal tackles this cycle. LSU spent $4 million on Jordan Seaton, Miami paid $2.5 million for Jackson Cantwell, and Kentucky and Texas Tech each paid $2 million for their new left tackles. Chaplin started all 12 games at Auburn last season but allowed 18 pressures and three sacks, numbers that explain the relative discount.

Even at that price, it's just shy of quarterback Ashton Daniels' $1 million deal, making Chaplin one of the more significant investments on the roster regardless.

Edge coach Nick Williams said daily reps against Chaplin are sharpening his pass rushers: "He's a massive dude. He's hard to get around, and that's in the pass game and in the run game. He's made us a lot better." Rylan Kennedy, who faces Chaplin regularly, credited him directly for his own development this offseason.

With André Otto banged up, Troy transfer Paul Bowling got run at left guard, while Chimdia Nwaiwu worked with the first team at right tackle, a sign the staff may be gaining confidence in the FCS transfer after weeks of speculation he could be pushed. Norvell explained this week that he wants more than just a starting five: "You talk about five, but you want to be able to have eight or nine that can go into a game and obviously play at a high level." Phil Steele ranks the room 23rd nationally entering the season.

JUCO transfer Malachi Marshall worked with the second-team offense for the first time, a real signal in his ongoing battle with Kevin Sperry for the No. 2 quarterback job, though neither had a great day, according to sources.

Chris Jones and Caleb LaVallee worked as FSU's starting linebacker tandem, a pairing worth watching given LaVallee missed nearly all of last season with injury. An NFL scout at practice reportedly told sources that Darryll Desir already projects as a potential first-round pick based on his measurables alone.

Norvell called the secondary picture very competitive this week, naming Quindarrius Jones, Nehemiah Chandler, and Charles Lester III as players pushing for reps behind Ja'Bril Rawls and Ashlynd Barker: "Charles Lester had a really nice pick tonight. A guy that we're challenging, Ricky Knight. Who's going to emerge as those guys that can be counted on there at the corner position?" Rawls added his own highlight this week, picking off a pass from Ashton Daniels intended for Duce Robinson.

Along with Otto, Quintrevion Wisner, Izayia Williams, Chris Thomas, Mikai Gbayor, and Chase Loftin were all limited to varying degrees Thursday. Devin Carter and Tae'Shaun Gelsey worked in green non-contact jerseys, and Desirrio Riles practiced but looked banged up.

Whaley needed a playoff just to qualify for match play after finishing stroke play tied for 54th, then survived a four-lead-change opening round that went 22 holes before he beat a Florida Gator with a birdie on the par-5 fourth.

He followed that with wins over No. 37 Bowen Mauss (2&1) and No. 53 Christian Cavaliere (4&3) Thursday to move to 3-0 in match play, all after nearly acing the 13th hole during Wednesday's stroke play.

The Seminoles host Merrimack (Nov. 2), North Florida (Nov. 5), Florida A&M (Nov. 9), West Florida (Nov. 11), and Florida (Nov. 15) to open the year at the Tucker Center, the first time FSU has played five in-state opponents in a season since 1996-97. Missouri visits Dec. 3 for the SEC/ACC Challenge, and South Alabama closes the home slate Dec. 13.

FSU also plays in the WBCA Showcase at Disney World in late November, facing Purdue and UCF, and travels to Indiana on Dec. 20 for the program's first visit to Bloomington since 2009.