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Yesterday’s Poll Results

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Victory Sunday, Seminole!

It was a weekend Seminole fans won’t soon forget. Florida State not only opened the 2025 season with a sweep on the volleyball court and a commitment from Jameis Winston’s younger brother, Jonah — it also stunned the college football world with a statement win over No. 8 Alabama inside a roaring Doak Campbell Stadium.

⚡ What’s Inside Today:

• 🏐 Volleyball stays perfect at 2-0 with a sweep of UNF.

• 🌟 Jonah Winston commits to FSU, continuing the family tradition.

• 🔥 5⭐ QB Kavian Bryant visits Doak for the season opener.

• 🏈 Noles shock Alabama 31–17 — redemption, swagger, and grit on display.

• 🌟 Recruits rave about the Doak atmosphere and vision for the program.

• 📊 Five surprises from the upset — OL dominance, defensive edge, and more.

After a 2–10 nightmare in 2024, this weekend felt like a reset — a new era of edge, heart, and swagger for Florida State athletics.

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🏐 Noles Sweep UNF to Go 2-0 🏐

Florida State volleyball stayed perfect to open the 2025 season, grinding out two close sets before cruising in the third for a sweep of UNF (25-23, 25-22, 25-17) on Saturday night in Jacksonville.

🔥 Match Flow

• Set 1: Iane Henke powered FSU with 9 kills, including back-to-back points at 23-all to seal it.

• Set 2: Noles rallied from a 14-9 deficit with an 8-1 run, finishing with clutch plays — a Whalen kill, Yamamoto ace, and blocks from Henke & Kpea.

• Set 3: FSU jumped out to an 11-3 lead and never looked back, closing the sweep with ease.

🌟 Standouts

• Henke: 17 kills on .350 hitting, second straight dominant outing.

• Filimaua: 12 kills, steady presence offensively.

• Kpea: 8 kills on 12 swings + 5 blocks.

• Yamamoto: Team-high 12 digs.

📅 What’s Next
FSU heads to Tampa next Friday to face USF in its first in-state road test.

📌 Why It Matters
The Seminoles start 2-0 behind stellar serving and balanced offense, with Henke establishing herself as the early offensive leader.

👉 Full recap via Seminoles.com

🌟 Jonah Winston Commits to FSU 🌟

The Winston legacy lives on in Tallahassee — three-star WR Jonah Winston, younger brother of Heisman winner Jameis Winston, committed to Florida State just before Saturday’s opener against Alabama.

🔥 Why FSU?

• “The real question is, why not FSU,” Winston told Warchant. “They treat me like family, and that’s really what we are.”

• He praised Mike Norvell’s energy and authenticity: “He wasn’t recruiting me because of my brother. He believes in me.”

• WR coach Tim Harris Jr. also earned high marks for trust and consistency throughout his recruitment.

🏈 The Fit

• Expected to primarily play slot receiver, though FSU plans to move him around in special packages.

• Joins a stacked 2026 WR class that already includes four-stars Devin Carter, Jasen Lopez, Brandon Bennett, and Darryon Williams.

📣 Family Legacy

• Jonah grew up cheering Jameis through the 2013 national title run, but says: “It’s not as much pressure as people may think. Me and my brother bring different things to the game. I’m looking forward to making a name for myself.”

👉 Full commitment interview and coverage via Warchant

🔥 5⭐ QB Kavian Bryant Visits Doak 🔥

Palestine (Texas) Westwood standout Kavian Bryant, the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the 2027 class per Rivals, is in Tallahassee this weekend for Florida State’s opener against Alabama.

🏈 Bryant’s Resume

• Dominant season opener: nearly 300 passing yards + 3 TDs, plus 2 rushing scores by halftime in a 54–14 win over Mexia.

• Strong early interest from FSU, Texas, Texas Tech, and more — with Oregon and other national powers expected to join the race.

🌟 Why FSU?

• Bryant: “I feel like they run an offense that fits my style of play. I believe I mixed well with the coaching staff.”

• His father: “I like how the staff expressed they wanted to see Kavian grow on and off the field. He could have an opportunity to play early.”

• Norvell’s impression: described as a “family-oriented staff” with energy and enthusiasm that stood out.

👉 Full recruiting coverage via Rivals & Warchant

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🏈 Noles Stun No. 8 Alabama in Season Opener 🏈

Florida State fans didn’t just get football back on Saturday — they got redemption. In front of a roaring Doak Campbell crowd, the Seminoles shook off the ghosts of 2024 and delivered a 31–17 upset of No. 8 Alabama, handing the Tide their first season-opening loss in 24 years.

🔥 How It Happened

• Early Punch: After Bama opened with a grinding 16-play TD drive, FSU answered quickly with a 75-yard march capped by a Tommy Castellanos rushing score.

• Explosive Plays: Castellanos connected on a 40-yard strike to Squirrel White and later a 64-yard bomb to Jaylin Lucas that set up a Caziah Holmes TD.

• Fresh Legs Shine: Micahi Danzy broke free for a 32-yard TD, and Oklahoma transfer Gavin Sawchuk iced it with a powerful 14-yard run in the fourth.

• Defense Stiffens: After giving up a first-drive TD, Tony White’s unit held Alabama to just 10 points the rest of the way, harassing new QB Ty Simpson into mistakes.

📊 By the Numbers

• Castellanos: 9-of-14 passing, 152 yards, 78 rushing yards, 2 total TDs.

• Team Rushing: 230 yards vs. one of the SEC’s toughest fronts.

• FSU Offense: Scored on 3 of 4 first-half drives to build a 17–7 lead.

💬 From the Noles

• LB Justin Cryer: “What happened in the game did not surprise anybody in that room. Maybe to y’all. But not to us. That is how we play Florida State football.”

• HC Mike Norvell: “Welcome back to Doak Campbell Stadium. It was incredible … and this is one game. We understand it’s one game. But it was a big game.”

🌟 Why It Matters
This wasn’t just a win; it was catharsis. After a 2–10 disaster in 2024, FSU showed grit, edge, and playmaking that screamed new era. Castellanos backed up his summer swagger, Gus Malzahn’s scheme kept Alabama guessing, and Tony White’s defense proved relentless.

📌 The Big Picture
Florida State isn’t “back” because of one upset — but this wasn’t last year’s ‘Noles either. The roar inside Doak, the swagger on the field, and the grit on both lines suggest something bigger: FSU is a Goliath, not a David.

👉 Full recap + fan reactions via Warchant

🌟 Recruit Reactions: Doak Makes an Impression 🌟

Florida State’s 31–17 upset of No. 8 Alabama didn’t just electrify fans — it made a lasting impression on the nation’s top prospects. From committed players to blue-chip targets in 2026–28, the buzz around Doak was loud and clear: this is a program on the rise again.

🔥 Atmosphere + Energy

• Recruits described Doak as “electric,” “crazy energy,” and “the best game I’ve attended.”

• Several noted that the noise and traditions gave FSU a real home-field edge, with one saying: “Nothing Bama did made the crowd quiet.”

• The storming of the field postgame capped off what many called an unforgettable experience.

🏈 Impressions of the Team

• QB Tommy Castellanos drew wide praise for both his leadership and big-play ability. One 2028 WR: “It was his first game with FSU and he took control of his team.”

• Earl Little Jr. stood out to multiple DBs for his physicality and speed.

• Freshman RB Ousmane Kromah turned heads as “a beast” in the rotation.

• OL play and Tony White’s defense were highlighted for their discipline and physicality.

💬 Recruit Quotes

• 2027 OL Reed Ramsier: “The OL dominated, and the defense was flying around. The atmosphere in the stands was awesome.”

• 2027 DB Kennedy Green: “Everyone was bought in and played together. Watching Edwin Joseph on the back end was great.”

• 2028 RB TJ Williamson: “One of the best games I’ve witnessed so far! The freshman, Kromah, is a beast.”

• 2027 LB DQ Forkpa Jr.: “Everything went exactly as they planned this whole spring and summer. Everything is coming together now.”

• 2028 DB Kahmaree Crumity: “This was a statement win. Castellanos is a DOG.”

🎯 Recruiting Momentum

• New WR commit Jonah Winston (brother of Jameis) pledged before kickoff, adding to an already strong receiver class.

• Rivals No. 1 QB in 2027, Kavian Bryant, and his family praised the staff’s vision and atmosphere.

• Multiple blue-chips — including WR Lawrence Britt, LB Gregory Batson, and DB Man Robinson — said FSU is now at or near the top of their list after the weekend.

📌 Why It Matters
FSU didn’t just beat Alabama — they sold the vision of a turnaround to dozens of future stars. In a sport where recruiting drives everything, Saturday felt like a pivot point, positioning Mike Norvell and staff for a crucial talent surge in 2026–28.

👉 Full recruit reaction breakdowns via 247Sports & Rivals

🔥 Five Surprises from FSU’s Upset of Alabama 🔥

Florida State didn’t just beat No. 8 Alabama on Saturday — the Seminoles dominated 31–17 in a way few outside Tallahassee could have imagined. Here are the five most surprising takeaways from the win:

⚔️ Offensive Line Ahead of Schedule

• Four new transfer additions plus Richie Leonard IV looked like a seasoned unit.

• Allowed just one sack and three negative plays over 63 snaps.

• Paved the way for 5.0 yards per rush while giving Tommy Castellanos clean pockets.

• OL coach Herb Hand deserves credit for molding cohesion in just one offseason.

📈 Offensive Efficiency

• Averaged 6.1 yards per play and 16.9 per completion.

• Converted 5-of-12 third downs, 2-of-2 on fourth downs.

• Scored on 5 of 8 meaningful drives (TDs on half of those).

• Heavy ground attack: 49 rushes vs. 14 passes, showcasing Malzahn’s creativity and physicality.

• Castellanos: 9-of-14, 152 yards passing + 78 rushing yards.

🛡️ New Defensive System, No Growing Pains

• Tony White’s 3-3-5 showed no major communication breakdowns despite being new.

• 20 defenders recorded a stat; group played with “controlled physicality.”

• Limited Alabama to just one run of 10+ yards.

• Harassed Ty Simpson into a 53% completion rate.

• Finished with 7 tackles-for-loss and 3 sacks.

🌟 Unexpected Defensive Standouts

• Daniel Lyons: Sack, QB hurries, forced fumble — a disruptive force up front.

• Blake Nichelson: 4 tackles, TFL, pass breakup, strong presence at LB.

• Ashlynd Barker: 3 solo tackles + 2 PBUs, flashed speed and assertiveness at safety.

💪 The Dominant Factor

• FSU wasn’t just opportunistic — they were better for most of four quarters.

• Controlled the line of scrimmage, out-hit Alabama, and avoided costly mistakes.

• Offense delivered explosives and balance; defense swarmed and dictated tempo.

• The win was shocking not just for happening, but for how decisive it was.

📌 Why It Matters
This wasn’t a fluky upset — it was a tone-setting statement. FSU looked organized, physical, and confident in all phases. If they keep this brand of football rolling, 2025 could look far more like 2023 than the nightmare of 2024.

Read more here

And that’s a wrap!

That roar you heard Saturday night wasn’t just about one upset — it was a reminder of what Florida State football, and Florida State athletics as a whole, can be at its best. From volleyball’s perfect start to Jonah Winston joining the family legacy, and from recruits raving about Doak to a team that just toppled Alabama, this weekend felt like the true start of something new.

Enjoy it, Noles. You’ve earned it.

See you back here tomorrow.

— The Chief Brief