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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

It’s finally here — Game Day at Doak. Florida State kicks off the 2025 season against No. 8 Alabama in a matchup that has Doak Campbell Stadium buzzing with anticipation. From the debut of Game Day Live and record ticket sales, to new faces across FSU sports, there’s no shortage of storylines.

⏱ Today’s Lineup:

🏃 Cross Country Opens Strong — Women finish 2nd, men 4th in Jacksonville as Nicole Dinan and freshman Margaret Bartlow headline.

🏐 Volleyball Serves Up History — Iane Henke’s seven aces power a sweep of UIC in the season opener.

📺 Game Day Live Debuts — Bud Light-backed pregame show launches across FSU platforms before every home game.

🏀 Derwin Kitchen Returns — The former Sweet 16 guard joins Luke Loucks’ staff as an assistant coach.

🎟️ Ticket Sales Surge — Over 30,900 season tickets sold, generating $8M more revenue than 2024.

🐘 Keys to the Upset — How FSU can shock Alabama behind Castellanos’ legs, Malzahn’s trickery, and defensive pressure.

🏈 Predictions & Matchups — Media leans Bama, but with Tide injuries and FSU’s new look, some see a closer fight than Vegas expects.

👉 Buckle up — the 2025 season is here, and it all starts today in Tallahassee.

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🏃 Cross Country Opens with Strong Showing 🏃

Florida State cross country launched its 2025 campaign Friday at the Florida Intercollegiate Invite, with the women’s squad taking second place overall and the men finishing fourth.

🔥 Women’s Highlights

• Nicole Dinan: 5th (17:18.0 PB) – first career top-5 finish.

• Margaret Bartlow: 6th (17:23.5) in her collegiate debut.

• Lindy White (7th, 17:48.3 PB) and Ava Povich (8th, 17:52.3) followed close behind.

• Avery Cahoon (26th, 18:46.9) rounded out FSU’s scorers.

• Team placed second behind No. 11 Florida in a nine-team field.

🔥 Men’s Highlights

• Kaden Levings led FSU with a 14th-place finish (25:17.9).

• Lucas Bouquot (25th), Zach Trotter (28th), Bernardo Barnhart (31st, collegiate debut), and Garrett Stickley (32nd) completed the scoring.

• Team finished fourth overall with 98 points.

📅 What’s Next
The Seminoles return Sept. 12 for the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama.

📌 Why It Matters
The women showed strong depth with multiple top-10 finishes, while the men gained valuable early-season experience. Both teams now look to build momentum ahead of October’s Seminole Invite at Apalachee Regional Park.

👉 Full meet results available via Seminoles.com

🏐 Noles Dominate UIC in Season Opener 🏐

Florida State volleyball (1-0) started its 2025 campaign in style, sweeping UIC (0-1) in straight sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-11) behind a record-setting serving display.

🔥 Key Performers

• Iane Henke: 9 kills + 7 service aces (tied 4th-most in program history; only 2nd Nole in 20 years with 7+).

• Kyleene Filimaua: 8 kills + career-high 5 aces.

• Nenu Kpea: Match-high 8 blocks.

• Mio Yamamoto: 9 digs.

🔥 By the Numbers

• 16 team aces — most since October 2022.

• Closed the match on a 9-0 run in the third set.

📅 What’s Next
The Seminoles return to the court Saturday at 6 p.m. vs. UNF, live on ESPN+.

📌 Why It Matters
A historic serving performance set the tone for FSU’s season, showcasing both veteran leadership and impact from newcomers.

👉 Full match recap via Seminoles.com

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📺 Game Day Live Debuts at Doak 📺

Saturday’s opener won’t just showcase the refurbished Doak Campbell Stadium — it’ll also feature the launch of Game Day Live presented by Bud Light, a brand-new pregame show designed to bring fans even closer to the action.

🔥 The Details

• Airs 60 minutes before kickoff of every FSU home game.

• Hosted by Ariya Massoudi and Eric Luallen of Seminole Sports Network.

• Available via:

  • Seminoles Unconquered app

  • FSU Athletics’ official digital platforms

  • Internal Channel 18.1 in premium seating

  • Livestreamed on @FSUFootball (X/Twitter).

👉 Full streaming info via FSU Athletics

🏀 Derwin Kitchen Returns as Assistant Coach 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball is bringing a familiar face back home — Derwin Kitchen, a three-year starter on three NCAA Tournament teams, has been named assistant coach for player development by first-year head coach Luke Loucks.

🔥 Kitchen’s Legacy at FSU

• Starter on the 2011 Sweet 16 team and three top-4 ACC finishers (2009–11).

• Ranks in FSU’s all-time top 25 in assists (308, 18th), steals (133, T-19th), and games started (82, T-24th).

• Helped FSU to its first-ever ACC Tournament title game (2009) and nine wins over ranked teams, including two No. 1s (UNC in 2009, Duke in 2011).

🌍 Beyond Tallahassee

• Played professionally for eight years in Greece, Israel, France, and Turkey.

• NBA Summer League run with the Denver Nuggets in 2012.

📣 From the Staff
Loucks: “Derwin’s character, work ethic, and ability to build authentic relationships will be a representation of what means most to our program. He’ll be a strong asset as a connector, teacher of the game, and mentor for our roster.”

👉 Full release available via FSU Athletics

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🎟️ Season Ticket Sales Surge + Facility Update 🎟️

With kickoff against Alabama just a day away, FSU athletics director Michael Alford shared some encouraging numbers and facility updates with the Board of Trustees on Friday.

🔥 Ticket Sales Momentum

• 30,900 season tickets sold for 2025 — up from 28,735 in 2024.

• Second-highest total in five years (trailing only 2023’s 34,060).

• Represents 80% of the allotment, compared to 69% last season.

• Renovation-driven pricing has boosted revenue by $8 million.

🏟️ Facility Progress

• The new Dunlap Football Facility will be completed in October.

• The Seminoles plan to move in during the bye week after the Stanford game.

📣 From Alford
“Coming off a 2-10 season, I’m really proud of our fans and how they have stepped up. It really also tells you how excited they are about all opportunities and the different options we have now within the new Doak Campbell Stadium.”

👉 Full report via FSU Athletics

🐘 How FSU Could Pull the Upset 🐘

Vegas has Florida State as a 13.5-point underdog against Alabama — not surprising given the 2-10 record and total roster overhaul from a year ago. But if the Seminoles want to shock the college football world in Week 1, here are the keys:

🔥 Inside Zone Must Click

• FSU’s offense is built on the inside zone (IZ) run game with Tommy Castellanos as a dual-threat.

• Even modest success (around 55% success rate) could open play-action and misdirection.

• Alabama DT Tim Keenan III (elite run-stopper) is out, giving FSU a small window of opportunity.

🎭 Trick Plays Have to Hit

• Gus Malzahn’s offense thrives on screens, sweeps, and trickery.

• Any “gimme” touchdowns dialed up must be executed cleanly — FSU can’t afford to leave free points on the field.

😰 Fluster QB Ty Simpson

• Alabama’s new starter is making his first career start in Doak.

• FSU’s defense under Tony White must dial up pressure, force 3rd-and-longs, and test his nerves.

• Making him win with consistent precision throws is the ideal formula.

🏃 Castellanos Has to Carry

• Norvell says Castellanos is “playing as well as he ever has.”

• His legs and ability to manage the offense will be the X-factor.

• To compete, he has to at least break even in the QB battle against Simpson.

❤️ Heart + Hustle

• Out-talenting Alabama isn’t realistic — out-fighting them is.

• Edge, grit, and sheer effort must show up for four quarters. As one analyst put it: “You beat Alabama only by caring to beat them more than they care to beat you.”

👉 Full breakdown here

🏈 Predictions & Matchups: FSU vs. Alabama 🏈

Florida State opens the 2025 season as a 13.5-point home underdog to No. 8 Alabama, and the national media isn’t exactly expecting an upset at Doak. But with new faces on both sidelines — Ty Simpson making his first start for Bama, Tommy Castellanos debuting in garnet & gold under Gus Malzahn, and Tony White’s defense installed at FSU — intrigue is high.

🔥 Matchup Analysis

• Alabama Offense: Simpson leads an elite WR corps with Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton. But RB Jam Miller and DT Tim Keenan are out, and RG Jaeden Roberts is questionable.

• FSU Defense: CB Jeremiah Wilson (Houston transfer) is the proven anchor, while Ja’Bril Rawls and Earl Little Jr. step into bigger roles. DL Darrell Jackson Jr. anchors the front, with Nebraska DE transfer James Williams and Tennessee transfer Jayson Jenkins expected to pressure Simpson.

• FSU Offense: Castellanos’ legs will be the X-factor, with Duce Robinson (6’6” USC transfer), Squirrel White (speedster from Tennessee), and freshman Jayvan Boggs leading the WR group. The run game will rotate Roydell Williams (ex-Bama), Gavin Sawchuk (Oklahoma), and freshman Ousmane Kromah.

• Alabama Defense: Corners Domani Jackson (USC transfer) and Zabien Brown are strong, while safeties Keon Sabb and Bray Hubbard hunt turnovers. Alabama’s pass rush is talented but unproven; losing Keenan weakens the interior.

• Special Teams: Both teams debut new kickers. FSU’s Jake Weinberg was the top HS kicker in his class, while Alabama turns to Conor Talty. Punting edge may lean FSU.

📊 Staff Predictions

• Bama247 (Rodak, Scarborough, Greenberg): All pick Alabama, scores ranging from 30–20 to 34–17.

• Noles247: Mixed bag — most pick Alabama (31–21, 34–21, 35–24, 31–20), but Adam Brown calls the upset: FSU 27–24.

• Warchant: All staff lean Alabama, with closer margins (27–20, 30–24, 31–21, 27–21, etc.).

📌 Why It Matters
Consensus says Alabama’s depth and trench strength are too much for a rebuilt FSU roster. Still, with Castellanos’ dual-threat ability, Malzahn’s unpredictability, and key Tide injuries, there’s a narrow path for the Seminoles to make this one closer than Vegas thinks.

👉 Full breakdowns via Bama247, Noles247, and Warchant

And that’s a wrap!

That’s it for today’s edition — the wait is over. By tonight, we’ll know whether FSU’s rebuilt roster and fiery new staff can push Alabama further than Vegas thinks. Between a roaring Doak, the debut of Game Day Live, and the energy of a sold-out crowd, the table is set for one of the most memorable season openers in program history.

No matter the result, today feels like a turning point.

Catch your breath, Nole Nation — kickoff is finally here.