Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

From dominant sweeps on the field to buzzer-beating drama on the court, Florida State is firing on all cylinders!

⚾ FSU Baseball (3-0) completed a series sweep of James Madison with a 10-0 run-rule win, powered by Wes Mendes' dominant start and 18 hits from the lineup.
🏀 No. 23 FSU Women’s Basketball pulled off a thrilling 83-82 win over Miami, capped by Makayla Timpson’s buzzer-beating jumper!
🥎 No. 9 FSU Softball (8-1) stayed perfect in Clearwater, closing out the tournament 4-0 with an 8-1 win over UCF—their third undefeated run at the event!
⛳ No. 7 FSU Women’s Golf sits in first place after Round 1 of the Moon Invitational, led by Lottie Woad and Layla Pedrique.
🏈 FSU defensive recruits are raving about Tony White’s aggressive 3-3-5 scheme, emphasizing versatility, pass-rushing, and physicality.
🚀 Early enrollee WR Jayvan Boggs arrives with elite high school production and a shot to contribute early in a rebuilding receiver room.

Let’s dive in! ⬇️

⚾ No. 9 Florida State Sweeps Opening Series with Dominant 10-0 Run-Rule Win

Florida State (3-0) capped off a perfect opening weekend with a 10-0 run-rule victory over James Madison (0-3) on Sunday, showcasing dominant pitching, relentless offense, and an aggressive baserunning attack.

🔥 Offensive Explosion
✅ Gage Harrelson – 3-for-5, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases
✅ Alex Lodise – 3-for-4, 2 RBIs
✅ Drew Faurot, Myles Bailey, Chase Williams, Nathan Cmeyla – 2 hits each
✅ Noah Sheffield – Hit in first career at-bat (MLB legend Gary Sheffield in attendance!)

🔥 Dominant Pitching
✅ Wes Mendes (W, 1-0) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 8 Ks, 1 BB (FSU debut)
✅ Weekend Starters (Arnold, Volini, Mendes) – 15.2 IP, 0 ER, 23 Ks, 2 BB, 5 H

🔥 Speed Kills
✅ FSU Stole 8 Bases – Harrelson & Cmeyla with 2 each
✅ 25-2 Combined Score – Seminoles outscored JMU by 23 runs over three games!

💬 Coach Link Jarrett on FSU’s Performance:
“Having different offensive mechanisms to create is very important. Yesterday, a couple of home runs, and today the baserunning. Just the thought and the pressure is difficult to deal with when you’re on the other side of it.”

📅 What’s Next?
🏆 FSU at USF – Tuesday, 6 PM ET
📺 Watch: ESPN+

🔗 More on FSU’s series sweep here.

🏀 No. 23 Florida State Stuns Miami at the Buzzer!

Florida State (20-6, 10-4 ACC) escaped Coral Gables with a thrilling 83-82 victory over Miami (13-12, 3-11 ACC) on Sunday, as O’Mariah Gordon found Makayla Timpson for the game-winning jumper with 3.3 seconds left. The Seminoles’ defense held strong on the final play to secure their 10th ACC win of the season.

🔥 Clutch Performances

• O’Mariah Gordon – Career-high 34 PTS, 7 AST, 14 field goals (career-best), 5-5 FT

• Makayla Timpson – 22 PTS, 9 REB, 3 STL, 1 BLK (game-winner!)

• Sydney Bowles – 18 PTS, 4 three-pointers

🎬 How It Happened

• 💥 Fast Start – Five first-quarter threes and a 10-0 run gave FSU an early 25-19 lead.

• 🔥 Offensive Firepower – Seminoles shot over 50% in the first half to lead 49-45 at halftime.

• ⏳ Late-Game Drama – Miami took a four-point lead late, but Timpson’s three-point play helped FSU reclaim control.

• 🎯 Final Shot – Gordon-to-Timpson for the buzzer-beating bucket.

📅 What’s Next?

🏠 FSU vs. Pitt – Thursday, 6 PM ET
📺 Watch: ACC Network Extra

🔗 More on FSU’s thrilling win here.

🔥 No. 9 FSU Softball Stays Perfect in Clearwater with 8-1 Win Over UCF

The Florida State softball team (8-1) capped off an undefeated run at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational with an 8-1 victory over UCF (7-5-1), marking the third time in tournament history that FSU has gone a perfect 4-0.

🏆 Tournament Dominance
✅ 4-0 record in Clearwater
✅ Outscored opponents 41-8 over four games
✅ Third undefeated run in tournament history

💪 Key Performances vs. UCF
🔹 Kennedy Harp – 3-for-4, 2 RBI, extends her hitting streak to 11 games and her RBI streak to 9 games (FSU record for the start of a season!)
🔹 Katie Dack – 2 RBI, sac fly in the 5th & 7th
🔹 Jaysoni Beachum – 2 hits, 1 run
🔹 Jahni Kerr – 2 hits, 1 run
🔹 Annabelle Widra (W, 3-0) – 5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 Ks, 0 BB, has allowed just 1 run in 16.2 IP this season
🔹 Jazzy Francik – 2.0 IP, 1 R, 1 K, closed out the win

📅 What’s Next?
🏠 FSU Home Opener – JoAnne Graf Classic
🆚 Florida A&M – Thursday, 3:30 PM
🆚 Southeastern Louisiana (DH) – Friday
🆚 No. 5 Texas A&M (DH) – Saturday

🔗 More on FSU’s dominant Clearwater run here.

⛳ No. 7 FSU Women’s Golf Leads After Round 1 of Moon Invitational

Florida State is in first place after the opening round of the Moon Invitational, positioning itself for a potential third consecutive tournament title—something never before accomplished in program history!

🔥 Top Performers

• Lottie Woad (-1, T-3rd) – Birdied two of her final three holes, 16 pars/birdies in 18 holes

• Layla Pedrique (-1, T-3rd) – Freshman debut, birdied No. 17 to finish under par

• Mirabel Ting (E, T-11th) – No. 3 amateur in the world, finished with back-to-back birdies

• Sophia Fullbrook (E, T-11th) – Three birdies, strong closing stretch

• Alexandra Gazzoli (+4, T-47th) – Solid round despite windy conditions

💪 Team Leaderboard (After Round 1)
🏆 1st – Florida State (-4, 284)
🥈 2nd – UCF (+1, 291)
🥉 T-3rd – Texas A&M & Ole Miss (+2, 292)

📅 What’s Next?

🏌️‍♀️ Round 2 – FSU tees off at 9:40 AM alongside UCF and Texas A&M

🔗 More on FSU’s strong start here.

🔥 Florida State Recruits Impressed by Tony White’s Defensive System

Florida State’s January Junior Day visits gave recruits a firsthand look at new defensive coordinator Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme, and the early reviews are glowing. The message? Versatility, aggression, and putting players in positions to make plays.

🔑 Key Takeaways from Recruits:
🔹 Flexibility on the Line – Four-star DL James Johnson: “I’d play in a three, four, or five-man front, so I’ll be able to fit in.”
🔹 Linebackers Play Free – Three-star LB Duyon Forkpa: “Most schools have linebackers do one thing, but here, he lets them do everything.”
🔹 Physicality First – Four-star DB Kaiden Hall: “First thing [White] said: make sure nobody can run the ball.”
🔹 Aggressive Pass Rush – Johnson noted FSU’s coaches showed him film of Nebraska’s defensive front under White, praising how well the linemen stunted and moved to create pressure.

White’s system is built on adaptability—letting linebackers blitz from different gaps, defensive backs play aggressively, and linemen shift to maximize pressure. It’s a scheme recruits see as a difference-maker.

🔗 More on FSU’s defensive recruiting push here.

🔥 Early Enrollee WR Jayvan Boggs Ready to Make an Impact

Florida State freshman wide receiver Jayvan Boggs arrives in Tallahassee with one of the most productive high school résumés in Florida history. The former Cocoa High standout racked up 4,363 yards and 50 touchdowns in his prep career—including a 99-catch, 2,133-yard senior season that helped his team win its third straight Class 2A state championship.

🔑 Why FSU?
Boggs flipped from UCF late in the recruiting process, drawn by his long-standing relationship with Gus Malzahn and Tim Harris Jr., as well as the fast-paced offensive system FSU is building.

💬 Boggs on FSU’s Offense:
"It’s very fast, explosive. Malzahn has a bunch of great guys he’s put in the NFL. I had a lot of trust in him and his offense."

🚀 How He Fits at FSU
With the Seminoles rebuilding their receiver room, Boggs has a real opportunity to make an early impact. Transfers Duce Robinson and Squirrel White headline the group, but beyond them, FSU lacks an established go-to target.

🏈 Boggs’ Strengths:
🔹 Elite production – One of Florida’s all-time most prolific receivers
🔹 Versatility – Can play both inside and outside
🔹 Sure hands – Reliable pass-catcher who consistently gets open
🔹 Blocking ability – Takes pride in being physical on the perimeter

💬 Coach Tim Harris Jr. on Boggs:
"When you match his God-given ability with his development over the years, you get a guy ready to contribute right away."

The last FSU freshman WR to record 20+ catches in a season was Travis Rudolph in 2014. Can Boggs break that decade-long streak? His spring performance will be one to watch.

🔗 More on Boggs’ path to early playing time here.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap on another action-packed weekend in Tallahassee! With FSU Baseball, Softball, and Women’s Basketball all stacking up big wins, plus recruiting and golf making headlines, there’s plenty to be excited about.

Stay locked in for more updates as FSU gears up for another big week on the field, court, and recruiting trail.

📬 Make sure to vote in today’s poll and let us know your thoughts!

Until next time—Go ‘Noles!