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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Saturday, Seminole!

It’s officially August, and things are heating up across the Florida State sports universe—on the field, in recruiting battles, and on the national stage.

🏀 FSU Women’s Hoops Sets Home-and-Home with UConn
The Noles are bringing powerhouse UConn to Tallahassee in 2026, with a trip to Storrs this fall. A true heavyweight non-conference clash.

⚽ FSU Soccer Starts Season Ranked No. 3
The reigning champs are locked in a top-4 ACC takeover and face one of the toughest schedules in the country. The title defense starts next week.

🏈 Derwin Sits, DJ Debuts in NFL Preseason Opener
The Chargers rolled without Derwin James, while rookie DJ Uiagalelei made his NFL debut with a quiet cameo.

🏀 Brandon Bass Jr. Lists FSU in Final 3
A top-100 2026 guard has the Seminoles in striking distance with an official visit to Tallahassee set for later this month.

📺 FSU Commits Headline ESPN HS Football Kickoff
From Brandon Bennett to Jasen Lopez to Jameis Winston’s younger brother, the next wave of Seminoles is getting national TV shine.

✉️ FSU Sends Wave of Official Offers to 2026 Recruits
The staff blanketed current commits, top targets, and even high-profile flips with official scholarships as August 1st hit.

🥵 Norvell Demands More Physicality in First Padded Practice
The head man wasn’t satisfied. He wants to feel this team in 2025—and the pads weren’t popping quite enough.

Let’s get into it 👇

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🏀 FSU Women’s Hoops Sets Home-and-Home with UConn 🏀

Florida State women’s basketball just added a heavyweight to its upcoming schedules: the UConn Huskies.

📍 Key Dates:
• Nov. 9, 2025 – FSU travels to Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT
• 2026–27 – UConn will make the return trip to Tallahassee

This will be the 11th meeting in the series dating back to 2002—and the first time the Seminoles play in Gampel.

🎯 Non-Conference Outlook:
• Hosts Georgia on Dec. 3 in the ACC/SEC Challenge
• Will face Alabama in an Oct. 16 exhibition in Birmingham as part of Ballin’ in Boutwell

📺 TV designations and full schedule coming soon.

👉 Read more on the UConn series and non-conference plans.

⚽ FSU Soccer Ranked No. 3 in Preseason Top 25 ⚽

The reigning national champs are starting 2025 right near the top.

Florida State women’s soccer was voted No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll—part of a stacked top four dominated by ACC powerhouses.

📊 Top 5 Rankings:

1. North Carolina

2. Notre Dame

3. Florida State

4. Duke

5. USC

🌟 Key Matchups:
FSU’s gauntlet of a schedule includes six ACC games vs. ranked or receiving-votes teams:
• 📍 Home: No. 7 Stanford (Oct. 16), RV Cal (Oct. 19), No. 10 Wake Forest (Oct. 30)
• ✈️ Away: No. 1 UNC (Sept. 17), No. 2 ND (Oct. 9), No. 15 UVA (Oct. 23)

🏟️ First Three Games (All at Home):
• Aug. 8 (Exhibition): vs. Alabama
• Aug. 14 (Season Opener): vs. Florida
• Plus one more TBA

The chase for another title begins in just one week.

👉 Full schedule and preseason rankings here.

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🏈 Derwin James Sits as Chargers Cruise in Hall of Fame Game 🏈

The NFL preseason officially kicked off as the Los Angeles Chargers topped the Detroit Lions 34–7 in Canton.

🔒 What You Missed:
• Chargers star safety Derwin James did not suit up.
• Rookie QB DJ Uiagalelei saw late action, finishing 2-of-3 passing for 25 yards and three kneel-downs.

📅 What’s Next:
Preseason Week 1 begins Thursday with Colts vs. Ravens at 7 p.m. EST.

Stay tuned—more updates coming this week on Seminoles in the league.

👉 Full schedule and Noles NFL tracker coming soon.

🏀 Brandon Bass Jr. Names FSU in Final 3 🏀

Another top-100 basketball prospect is eyeing Tallahassee.

🔒 The Update:
• Brandon Bass Jr., a 6'4" shooting guard ranked No. 94 nationally in 2026, is down to Florida State, LSU, and Purdue.
• He’ll take an official visit to FSU on August 29.

📍 The Timeline:
Bass visited Purdue in March and LSU last year, and will likely visit Baton Rouge again before making a decision.

🎯 Why It Matters:
Leonard Hamilton has FSU firmly in the mix for one of Florida’s top guards—and a decision is expected soon.

👉 Read more on where things stand in Bass Jr.’s recruitment.

📺 FSU Commits Featured in ESPN HS Football Kickoff 📺

Florida State commits and top targets will be in the national spotlight as part of ESPN’s High School Football Kickoff event this August.

🗓️ The Event:
Six games will air between August 14–23, featuring powerhouse programs and elite talent across the country.

🎯 Notable FSU Connections:
• Brandon Bennett – 4⭐ WR commit out of American Heritage (Ft. Lauderdale) will face St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) on Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
• Jasen Lopez – 4⭐ WR and FSU two-sport commit (also basketball) from Chaminade-Madonna plays St. Frances Academy (MD) on Aug. 23 at 8 p.m.

🧨 Targets to Watch:
• 5⭐ OT Mark Matthews (2027) – St. Thomas Aquinas
• 4⭐ WR Julius Jones (2027) – St. Thomas Aquinas
• 4⭐ CB Raylaun Henry (2027) – St. Frances Academy
• 4⭐ LB Duyon Forkpa Jr. (2026) – IMG Academy
• 3⭐ WR Jonah Winston – Hoover HS, brother of Jameis Winston
• 4⭐ TE Grant Haviland (2027) – Milton HS

📍 Big Picture:
From commits to top targets, this ESPN showcase gives Seminole fans an early look at the future of the program.

👉 View the full schedule and game breakdowns.

✉️ FSU Sends Out Wave of Official Offers to 2026 Recruits ✉️

August 1 marked a major recruiting milestone—colleges could officially extend scholarship offers to rising seniors, and Florida State didn’t hold back.

🏹 Who Got Official Offers?

Current Commits Receiving Letters:
• 3⭐ DB Sean Johnson – featured a voice message from Coach Norvell
• 3⭐ DB Darryll Bell III – longest-tenured commit, unwrapped offer with family
• 3⭐ DB Tedarius Hughes
• 3⭐ OL Jakobe Green – recent flip from Mississippi State
• 3⭐ OL Michael Ionata – legacy recruit, committed since March

Targets Committed Elsewhere:
• 5⭐ Edge Trenton Henderson – LSU commit, still hearing from FSU
• 4⭐ OT Johnnie Jones – UCLA commit, visited FSU in June
• 4⭐ Edge Asharri Charles – Miami commit, could help fill JACK role
• 4⭐ LB Izayia Williams – Ole Miss commit, ex-FSU pledge
• 4⭐ DB Brody Jennings – Miami commit, FSU legacy
• 5⭐ WR Calvin Russell – Syracuse commit, major target out of SoFla
• 3⭐ Edge Kamron Wilson – Syracuse commit
• 3⭐ Edge Elijah Satchell – NC State commit
• 3⭐ OT Aaron Thomas – Ohio State commit, FSU legacy
• 4⭐ RB Carsyn Baker – Florida commit, FSU still RB hunting

Notable Uncommitted Target:
• 3⭐ ATH Jonah Winston – younger brother of Jameis Winston. FSU didn’t host him this summer, but an official offer signals they view him as a take. Decision could come soon.

📍 What It Means:
FSU is playing both offense and defense—solidifying pledges while continuing to pursue elite flips and legacies. The 2026 class is heating up.

👉 Full list and offer breakdowns here.

🥵 Norvell Wants More Physicality After First Padded Practice 🥵

Florida State’s third practice of fall camp marked the first in full pads—but head coach Mike Norvell didn’t feel the physical edge he was looking for.

🗣️ Norvell’s Frustration:
• “I want more physicality. I wanted to feel them.”
• Called the middle portions of practice “just average”
• Criticized the lack of emotion when there was “no music, nothing external—just ball”
• Said response improved in the final team drills

🔥 Why It Matters:
Norvell is pushing for a tougher, grittier team in 2025—and early on, he’s not seeing it consistently. Practices are being designed to be uncomfortable on purpose to test pace, endurance, and discipline.

🎯 Player Perspective:
Nebraska transfer DL James Williams echoed his coach:
• “We let the humidity and speed get to us”
• Took ownership for the DL’s slow start
• Said intensity improved by the end

💡 Bright Spots:
• Earl Little Jr. has emerged as one of the top defensive performers so far
• WR Elijah Moore continues to impress, stacking strong days to start camp

👉 Read more on Norvell’s comments and the early tone of fall camp.

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks for reading today’s edition of The Chief Brief.

If you’re keeping score:

• We’ve got future legends suiting up in ESPN showcases.

• Coach Norvell wants more smoke in full pads.

• And both hoops squads are chasing big fish—and big games.

📬 Forward this email to a fellow Nole.
🧠 Stay sharp. Stay dialed. Stay with The Chief.

—Chief