Forwarded this email from a friend? Subscribe at the button below

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve, Chief - while the calendar slows down, Florida State athletics doesn’t. This edition is all about foundation-building: strong performances, elite recruiting momentum, and championship programs continuing to raise the bar as the year winds down.

🏀 Statement Win at Tuck 🏀
FSU men’s basketball put together one of its cleanest, most controlled performances of the season in a wire-to-wire win over Jacksonville — and it doubled as a recruiting showcase.

⚾ Excellence Beyond the Field ⚾
FSU baseball closed the fall semester with a program-best GPA, proving once again that championship standards apply everywhere.

🏀 Future Five-Star Eyes on Tallahassee 🏀
An elite 2028 prospect watched up close as Luke Loucks’ program showed what its next era can look like.

⚽ Champions Reload ⚽
Fresh off a national title, FSU soccer added proven, international-level attacking talent to gear up for another run in 2026.

🏈 Roster Movement & Portal Reality 🏈
A young wide receiver departs as FSU continues reshaping its depth chart heading into the offseason.

🧠 Recruiting Board Heating Up 🧠
From early 2027 linebackers to blue-chip defensive linemen and EDGE prospects, Florida State remains active and competitive on multiple fronts.

👉 Bottom line: While others unplug for the holidays, FSU is stacking wins, relationships, and long-term momentum, exactly how sustainable programs are built.

Let’s get into it. 🎄🔥

Banish bad ads for good

Google AdSense's Auto ads lets you designate ad-free zones, giving you full control over your site’s layout and ensuring a seamless experience for your visitors. You decide what matters to your users and maintain your site's aesthetic. Google AdSense helps you balance earning with user experience, making it the better way to earn.

Take control of your ads

🏀 FSU Men Roll Past Jacksonville, 87–63, as Depth and Control Shine 🏀

Florida State delivered one of its most complete performances of the season Monday night, cruising past Jacksonville at the Tucker Center behind balanced scoring, dominant rebounding, and crisp ball movement.

🔥 Somerville Sets the Tone

• Martin Somerville poured in a season-high 23 points, leading FSU in scoring for the first time this year.

• He knocked down five threes, went a perfect 8-for-8 at the line, and extended his made-three streak to 42 straight games.

💪 Playmaking + Balance

• Chauncey Wiggins added 16 points, while Alex Steen (11), Lajae Jones (10), and Thomas Bassong (10) rounded out five Seminoles in double figures.

• Robert McCray V dished out 10 assists, marking the fourth double-digit assist game of his season — a first in FSU history.

📉 Jacksonville Overwhelmed Early

• FSU jumped out 6–0, then blew the game open with a 15–2 run to lead 27–7 midway through the first half.

• The Seminoles took a commanding 43–21 lead into halftime, never allowing the Dolphins back within striking distance.

🧠 Winning the Margins

• Rebounding edge: 44–28, including 16 offensive boards — FSU’s fifth straight game winning the glass.

• Steen led with four offensive rebounds and remains the ACC leader in that category.

• Florida State controlled the paint (28 points) and went 11-of-12 from the free-throw line in the second half.

📅 What’s Next

• FSU improves to 7–6 and has now won seven home games this season.

• The Seminoles head to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean E. Smith Center on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Read more here

⚾ FSU Baseball Sets Academic Record with Fall GPA Surge ⚾

Florida State baseball raised the standard off the field this fall, posting the highest team GPA in program history.

🧠 By the Numbers

• Team GPA: 3.367 — best ever for FSU baseball

• 20 players earned spots on the Dean’s List with GPAs of 3.50 or higher

🎓 Culture Check

• Head coach Link Jarrett praised the group’s discipline and credited the support system behind the scenes, highlighting daily academic structure, mentoring, and leadership across the program.

Read more here

🏀 FSU Showcases the Future as Five-Star Bamba Touray Attends Jacksonville Win 🏀 

Florida State’s dominant home win over Jacksonville doubled as a high-profile recruiting moment, with one of the nation’s top young prospects in attendance.

🔥 Elite Visitor in the House

• Bamba Touray, a five-star, 7-foot center from IMG Academy, was on campus Monday and Tuesday for an unofficial visit.

• Ranked No. 1 center and top-two overall prospect nationally in the 2028 class, Touray already holds an offer from FSU — one of only three schools to extend one this early.

🧠 Why FSU Appeals

• Touray told Warchant he wanted to see style of play, atmosphere, and facilities — all on display during FSU’s wire-to-wire win.

• He’s known not just for size, but for mobility, rim protection, and shooting touch, traits that fit Luke Loucks’ recruiting blueprint.

📈 Bigger Picture

• Despite on-court growing pains, FSU continues to attract elite talent under Luke Loucks, building off one of the strongest recruiting foundations in program history.

• The staff’s IMG ties are real, too; freshman guard Cam Miles also came from the academy.

👉 Why It Matters: Hosting a top-two national prospect during a convincing win sends a clear signal that Florida State’s present may be developing, but its future is being built at the highest level.

The Cookware Set That Does It All

At Our Place, the mission has always been simple: to create cookware that brings people together around the table – without compromising on safety, design, or performance. That’s why every piece is thoughtfully designed with safe, non-toxic materials – so you can cook with confidence and peace of mind.

The 4-Piece Cookware Set is the easiest way to transform your kitchen. With two Always Pans and two Perfect Pots in both Full and Mini sizes, this set replaces a cluttered stack of traditional cookware while letting you sear, sauté, fry, boil, steam, roast, and bake – all while saving you $150 when you bundle.

Designed in Los Angeles with over 200 patents, trusted by Michelin-starred chefs, and backed by more than 80,000 five-star reviews, Our Place cookware is as beautiful as it is high-performing – built to make every meal easier, healthier, and more joyful.

⚽ Champions Reload: FSU Soccer Adds Trio of Impact Transfers for 2026 ⚽

Fresh off a 2025 College Cup National Championship, Florida State isn’t easing up. The Seminoles added three proven attackers via the transfer portal, reinforcing a roster built to defend the crown in 2026.

🔥 Ashley Henderson (Memphis)

• Junior forward and AAC Offensive Player of the Year; United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American.

• Led Memphis to a 17–1–3 season and NCAA Tournament berth with 10 goals, 9 assists, and 101 shots.

• Brings international experience from the U.S. Women’s National Futsal Team at the inaugural CONCACAF W Futsal Championship.

🌍 Nyah Rose (SMU)

• Canadian international forward with elite tournament pedigree.

• Scored Canada’s first goal at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 and helped Canada reach the Round of 16.

• Called up to the Canada Women’s National Team, debuting in a 5–1 win over Korea Republic.

• Former AAC Co-Rookie of the Year and All-AAC First Team selection.

💨 Anaiyah Robinson (Tennessee / Arkansas)

• Explosive forward with SEC production.

• As an Arkansas freshman: 11 goals, three braces, three game-winners; All-SEC Third Team and SEC All-Freshman Team.

• Multi-sport athlete with youth international experience (Canada U17, Jamaica U20).

👉 Why It Matters: With elite scoring resumes, international experience, and proven big-stage production, FSU soccer is reloading with intent as it eyes another national run in 2026.

🏈 FSU WR Elijah Moore Enters Transfer Portal 🏈

Florida State will lose a young depth piece at wide receiver as Elijah Moore moves on.

📉 What Happened

• The redshirt freshman appeared in 10 games during the 2025 season but saw limited offensive usage.

• Finished the year with 3 receptions for 52 yards.

🧠 Background

• Moore played in four games as a true freshman in 2024 while preserving his redshirt, totaling 2 catches for 17 yards.

• A former Top247 recruit, the 6’4”, 206-pound wideout will have three years of eligibility remaining.

👉 Why It Matters: This is a classic numbers-and-opportunity portal exit — a highly regarded prospect looking for a clearer path to snaps as FSU continues to reshape its receiver room.

🏈 FSU in the Mix Early for 2027 LB Michael Griffin 🏈 

Florida State is firmly in the early conversation for one of North Carolina’s top linebacker prospects in the 2027 class.

🔥 Recruiting Snapshot

• Michael Griffin, a three-star LB from West Charlotte, holds nearly 20 offers, including FSU, Michigan, and Oklahoma.

• Ranked No. 24 player in North Carolina, No. 43 LB, and No. 605 overall in the 2027 Rivals Industry Ranking.

🧠 Why FSU Stands Out

• Griffin visited Tallahassee this summer for a camp and wants to return.

• He praised Mike Norvell, the program’s culture, and the player environment, saying he feels FSU “will be back next year.”

📅 What’s Next

• Griffin plans to take official visits and aims to commit June or July, with FSU, Michigan, and Oklahoma emerging as early favorites.

👉 Why It Matters: Linebacker recruiting is heating up early for 2027, and Florida State’s ability to stay involved now could pay off later especially with relationship-building clearly driving Griffin’s process.

🏈 FSU Staying Active with Four-Star EDGE Cam Pritchett 🏈 

Florida State continues to apply steady pressure in the recruitment of one of the South’s top defensive prospects.

🔥 Recruiting Snapshot

• Cam Pritchett, a four-star EDGE from Thompson (Ala.), is currently committed to Oregon Ducks but says the process is far from closed.

• Ranked No. 178 overall in the Rivals Industry Ranking, the 6’2.5”, 250-pound pass rusher posted 92 tackles, 30 QB pressures, 14 TFLs, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles this season.

🧠 Where FSU Fits

• Pritchett praised Florida State’s consistency, noting continued contact and a strong relationship with the staff.

• He plans to return to Tallahassee soon, keeping the Seminoles firmly in the mix alongside Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee.

📌 Recruitment Reality

• While Oregon remains his top school, Pritchett has made it clear he intends to keep visiting and evaluating options through junior days and official visits.

👉 Why It Matters: This is a long game. FSU’s ability to stay present and relationship-driven with a committed blue-chip EDGE gives the Seminoles real staying power if the recruitment opens up down the line.

🏈 2027 DL Amari Vickerson Sets Commitment Date 🏈 

One of the nation’s top interior defenders in the 2027 class is nearing a decision — and Florida State is firmly in the mix.

🔥 Decision Incoming

• Amari Vickerson, a top-50 DL prospect from Cy Ranch (Houston), will announce his commitment on January 18.

• Finalists include Texas A&M, SMU, Texas, Michigan, and Florida State.

💪 On-Field Production

• Junior season: 48 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, consistently disruptive inside.

• Ranked No. 48 DT and No. 432 overall in the 2027 Rivals Industry Ranking.

🧠 Where FSU Fits

• Vickerson has strong ties to FSU, including a long-standing relationship with DL coach Terrance Knighton, a former NFL teammate of his father.

• He’s praised Florida State’s tradition and defensive freedom under Mike Norvell and staff.

📈 Recruiting Pulse

• SMU is viewed as the current trend team after multiple visits, but FSU remains a legitimate contender as the clock winds down.

👉 Why It Matters: Interior defensive linemen with this profile don’t come around often and if FSU can leverage relationships and pedigree late, Vickerson could become a cornerstone piece in the 2027 class.

And that’s a wrap!

As Christmas Eve approaches, this is the part of the calendar where things slow down but the best programs never stop stacking days. From statement wins and academic excellence to elite recruits circling Tallahassee, Florida State is quietly laying bricks while others exhale.

Whether you’re traveling, unplugging, or sneaking in one last refresh before the holidays, appreciate the moment and the momentum.

Merry Christmas, Chief Nation.