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Yesterday’s Poll Results
Today’s Poll
How do you feel about the direction of FSU men’s basketball right now?
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Momentum is building across Tallahassee — from gritty road wins to historic program debuts and recruiting traction on the trail. Here’s what’s inside today:
🏀🛣️ Road Grit Pays Off in South Bend 🛣️🏀
Florida State men’s basketball survives foul trouble and a late surge to earn its third straight win, closing strong at Notre Dame and setting up a massive home test next.
🥍🚀 A Program Is Born 🚀🥍
FSU lacrosse makes history with a dominant inaugural win, showcasing depth, composure, and a clear blueprint for what this new program wants to be.
🥎🔥 Softball Keeps Rolling 🔥🥎
The No. 7 Seminoles stay perfect with a doubleheader sweep, powered by freshmen, pitching depth, and relentless pressure at the plate.
🏈⭐ Recruiting Spotlight: Playmakers & Defenders ⭐🏈
FSU continues to gain traction with elite 2027 targets — from a top-40 national athlete trending toward Tallahassee to a fast-rising linebacker feeling the pull of consistent relationships.
Let’s get into it.
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🏀🛣️ FSU Survives Late Push, Wins Third Straight at Notre Dame 🛣️🏀
A gritty road win keeps Florida State trending the right way.
Florida State men’s basketball held off a furious second-half rally to defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball 82–79 at Purcell Pavilion, earning its third straight win and fourth in its last five games.
🔥 Fast Start, Stressful Finish
FSU led 41–31 at halftime and jumped out to a 27–9 opening run
Notre Dame briefly took a 75–74 lead with 2:07 left
Chauncey Wiggins drilled a clutch three to reclaim control
Lajae Jones added late free throws to extend the margin
Alier Maluk iced it with 2 clutch free throws to go up 3 with seconds left
🧊 Cold-Blooded at the Line
With three starters fouled out, Alier Maluk stepped in and calmly hit two game-sealing free throws
His first points since Jan. 10 — and arguably the biggest of the season
⭐ Key Performers
Chauncey Wiggins: 22 points (on his birthday)
Robert McCray V: 15 points (fouled out)
Lajae Jones: 11 points
Alex Steen: 10 points, 9 rebounds (fouled out)
Martin Somerville: 7 points, team-high 6 assists
📊 By the Numbers
15 threes made (40.5%)
Just 5 turnovers
17–22 at the free-throw line
Led for nearly 38 minutes of game time
🧠 Why It Matters
This wasn’t clean, but it was meaningful. Florida State won a true ACC road game despite foul trouble, rebounding deficits, and late pressure — the exact type of test that often flips close seasons. Confidence is building.
📍 Up Next
Home vs. Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball
Tuesday, 7 p.m. | Doak Campbell Civic Center
Virginia enters 20–3, ranked No. 18
🥍🚀 FSU Lacrosse Makes History With Dominant Inaugural Win 🚀🥍
A statement start for a brand-new program.
Florida State women’s lacrosse opened its inaugural season in emphatic fashion, defeating Stetson Hatters women's lacrosse 14–4 on Saturday afternoon at the Seminole Lacrosse Complex.
🎉 A Historic First
Ceremonial opening draw included FSU President Richard McCullough, First Lady Jai Virtikar, and AD Michael Alford
Summer Harrell scored the first goal in program history, putting FSU on the board five minutes in
🔥 How It Broke Open
FSU jumped out to a 4–2 lead after one quarter
A seven-goal scoring run spanning the second and third quarters buried the game
Seminoles led 12–4 entering the fourth and never looked back
⭐ Offensive Leaders
Lydia Ward: 4 goals
Brynn Perkins: 2 goals (including the first of her career)
Amelia Brite: 2 goals
Lola Mancuso: Multi-goal performance
Additional goals from Faith Wooters, Katherine Rathjen, Meg Kenny, and Summer Harrell
🧤 Between the Pipes
Senior captain Catrina Tobin anchored the defense with 5 saves
📍 Up Next
vs. Kennesaw State Owls women's lacrosse
Monday at 1 p.m. | Seminole Lacrosse Complex
Tickets & live coverage available via Seminoles.com
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🥎🔥 No. 7 FSU Softball Sweeps Marshall, Improves to 4–0 🔥🥎
Depth, discipline, and freshman impact powered another dominant day at JoAnne Graf Field.
Florida State took both games of Saturday’s doubleheader against Marshall, winning 6–2 and 10–2 (run rule), to remain unbeaten through four games.
🔥 Game 1: FSU 6, Marshall 2
Isa Torres set the tone with a leadoff triple and later drove in two more runs
Freshman Makenna Sturgis launched her first career home run (2-run shot)
FSU finished with 9 hits, 6 walks, and just one strikeout
🧤 In the Circle
Jazzy Francik: 5 IP, 3 H, 8 K, 1 BB (72 pitches) — moved to 2–0
Bella Dimitrijevic made her FSU debut, striking out three across two innings
🔥 Game 2: FSU 10, Marshall 2 (F/5)
Freshman Hayley Griggs hit her first career home run
FSU broke it open with a 4-run third and ended it with a 3-run fifth
RBI doubles from Madi Frey, Torres, and Marin Heller sealed the run rule
🧠 Freshmen Everywhere
Griggs, Heller, Sturgis, Frey, and Torres all delivered key offensive moments
FSU scored 16 runs across the day with production throughout the lineup
📊 By the Numbers
FSU improves to 7–0 all-time vs. Marshall
33–5 all-time at the JoAnne Graf Classic
Now 4–0 to open the 2026 season
📍 Up Next
FSU wraps up the JoAnne Graf Classic Sunday morning vs. UConn at 9 a.m.
🏈🔥 FSU Emerging as a Leader for Elite 2027 Playmaker Keyon Standifer 🔥🏈
Florida State is firmly in the mix for top-40 national athlete Keyon Standifer, who reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Georgia Tech.
📊 The Profile
No. 38 ATH nationally
1,600+ receiving yards, 25 TDs in 2025
30+ offers from Power programs
📞 Recruitment Update
Current top schools include Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee, LSU, Texas, and others
January in-person visits from FSU and several SEC programs
Daily communication and strong staff-wide relationships are separating contenders
⭐ Where FSU Stands
Standifer says Florida State and Tennessee are standing out, citing consistent contact, multiple coaches involved, and comfort with both locations.
📅 What’s Next
Return visit to Tallahassee on March 21
Tennessee visit follows March 31
Spring visits will shape his eventual top group
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🥊🛡️ FSU Makes Early Move With Fast-Rising Linebacker Theo Wilson 🛡️🥊
Armwood (Fla.) three-star linebacker Theo Wilson has seen his recruitment surge after a dominant junior season.
📊 Why He’s Blowing Up
96 tackles, 34 TFL
13 sacks, 17 QB pressures
Multiple forced turnovers
Offers since January: Georgia, Alabama, Florida State, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech
⭐ Where FSU Stands
Wilson earned his Florida State offer during a January unofficial visit and says the relationship with linebackers coach Ernie Sims stands out.
“Calls me every day. Calls my mom every day. That means a lot.”
FSU is firmly in his early top group alongside Missouri and Georgia.
🔁 Other Factors
Strong connection with Georgia DC Glenn Schumann
Most memorable January visit came from Missouri LB coach Derek Nicholson
Official visit set with Missouri (June 5–7)
Florida State, Georgia, and Virginia expected to host OVs
📅 Timeline
Wilson plans to commit after official visits and before his senior season.
And that’s a wrap!
Not pretty — but meaningful. Florida State found a way to win on the road, launched a brand-new program the right way, and continues stacking small victories across the athletic department.
Momentum doesn’t always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it just keeps showing up.
See you tomorrow,
— Chief 🏹
