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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF, Seminole!

Today’s edition is about momentum swings — on the court, on the track, and especially in the portal. Some teams finally closed. Some rooms stabilized. And after a chaotic stretch, Florida State football quietly stacked real answers instead of questions.

Here’s what’s inside 👇

🏀 FSU Women’s Hoops Finally Finishes One 🏀
A gritty road win at Pitt delivers FSU’s first ACC victory, powered by a takeover performance from the backcourt and the kind of late-game composure that had been missing.

🏃‍♀️ Track Season Begins, Tennis Keeps Rolling 🏃‍♂️
FSU track opens the indoor slate with All-Americans, record-holders, and real title-level depth, while men’s tennis stays perfect and dominant at home.

🧱 Portal Chaos → Portal Clarity (Finally) 🧱
The Desir twins are expected back. Two linebackers are in the fold. The defensive spine stabilizes in a matter of hours after weeks of uncertainty.

🏈 Eyes on the Future at Quarterback 🏈
Four-star QB Champ Monds is back on campus after reclassifying — a reminder that even amid portal turbulence, long-term relationships still matter.

Let’s get into it.

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🏀🔥 FSU Women’s Hoops Grinds Out Road Win at Pitt 🔥🏀

Florida State delivered its best late-game execution of the season Thursday night, closing strong to beat Pitt 69–65 at the Petersen Events Center for its first ACC win.

🔥 Backcourt Takes Over

• Sydney Bowles led all scorers with 24 points, tying her career high with six made threes.

• Amaya Bonner added a career-best 22 points, scoring the final seven points for FSU to seal the win.

• Tatum Greene continued her defensive surge with four steals for the second straight game.

📊 How It Unfolded

• FSU opened hot with a 14–2 first-quarter run, but Pitt answered to tie it at 16.

• A 12–0 run late in the second quarter gave the Noles a 34–28 halftime edge.

• Strong defense held Pitt to two points in the first five minutes of the third, helping FSU build an 11-point lead.

• Pitt made one final push, cutting it to 62–61, before Bonner closed it out.

💪 Other Contributors

• Pania Davis controlled the glass with 10 rebounds.

• Allie Kubek sparked momentum with a key second-quarter three.

🧠 Why It Matters
After several close losses, FSU finally finished one, showing growth in poise, defense, and late-game confidence as ACC play rolls on.

⏭️ What’s Next
Florida State hosts RV/23 North Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. on The CW.

👉️ Read more here

🏃‍♂️🔥 FSU Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Jimmy Carnes Invitational 🔥🏃‍♀️

Florida State track and field kicks off the 2026 indoor season Friday at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, marking the first competitive test of the year.

🔥 Meet Details

• Friday, Jan. 16 in Gainesville

• Field events begin at 9 a.m.; running events start at 1:30 p.m.

• Full slate of sprints, hurdles, distance events, and relays, closing with the 4x400

📈 Why This Meet Matters

• Early-season opportunity to set marks and build momentum

• FSU posted 33 top-five finishes at this meet last year across 17 events

⭐ Returners to Watch

• Bieke Schipperen: Facility-record mile (4:35.15), fourth-fastest in FSU history

• Suus Altorf: Won the 3,000 with a top-10 time in program history

• Shenese Walker: Two-time indoor All-American (60m)

• Andre Korbmacher & Tyson Williams: Second-team All-Americans (60 hurdles)

• Micahi Danzy: Dual-sport standout returns after ACC-record 400m gold (44.38)

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU enters the indoor season with elite returning talent, All-American depth, and a history of fast starts. Gainesville is about laying the foundation — the real racing comes later.

👉️ Read more here

🎾✅ No. 22 FSU Men’s Tennis Sweeps College of Charleston 7–0 ✅🎾

Florida State men’s tennis stayed perfect on the season Thursday night, rolling past College of Charleston with a dominant 7–0 home victory.

🔥 How It Happened

• Seminoles locked up the doubles point quickly with wins on all three courts

• Singles followed suit, with FSU taking every match in straight sets except one

📊 Key Performances

• Brancatelli / Sebesta opened doubles with a 6–1 win

• Felipe Miguel / Schiessl clinched the doubles point with a 6–2 victory

• Oren Ezerzer was first off in singles (6–2, 6–2)

• Felipe Miguel sealed the team win on court one

• Erik Schiessl capped the night with a marathon tiebreak win (16–14)

📈 Why It Matters
FSU improves to 3–0 on the season and continues to look sharp across the lineup, showing depth, composure, and consistency early in the year.

⏭️ What’s Next
The Seminoles wrap up the weekend Sunday with a doubleheader vs. Alabama State (1 p.m.) and The Citadel (4 p.m.) at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Courts.

👉️ Read more here

A.I. & Robotics is Reshaping the Smart Home and Big Tech Wants In

Apple is rolling out Face-ID door locks and robotic smart displays. Elon Musk is quietly building the Tesla Smart Home. A.I. and robotics are driving the next wave of smart home innovation — and the window is open to invest in the companies that can define it.

One category is far bigger than most people realize: window shades. There are billions across homes, offices, and hotels — and almost all of them are still manual.

The last wave created major outcomes. Google bought Nest for $3.2 Billion. Amazon bought Ring for $1.2 Billion. Investors are now hunting for the next category leader — the one that can deliver real exit potential.

RYSE is leading this market with 10 patents, $15 million in revenue, and 200% annual growth. Their a prime acquisition target in a massive, untouched market. And RYSE is pre-IPO with a reserved Nasdaq ticker, giving investors exposure to multiple potential exit paths.

At $2.35 per share, this is your moment to get in before the next wave hits.

🧱🔁 Desir Twins Expected to Return to FSU After Portal Whiplash 🔁🧱

Just one day after officially entering the Transfer Portal, defensive linemen Mandrell Desir and Darryll Desir are now expected to return to Florida State Seminoles football, per confirmation from their agency.

🔥 What Changed

• After nearly two weeks of negotiations — and a brief portal entry — FSU and the Desirs agreed to revised terms late Thursday

• Sources indicate the new deal includes a multi-year framework, addressing prior sticking points around compensation structure, buyout/offset language, and contract length

📊 Why This Is Huge

• Mandrell Desir

  • Team-high 6.5 sacks, 7.5 TFLs as a true freshman

  • Earned the Devaughn Darling Award (FSU’s top defensive freshman)

  • Holds a 96 transfer grade, placing him Top 10 nationally in the portal

• Darryll Desir

  • Played all 12 games with two starts

  • Posted 23 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 sack

  • Finished with a 94 transfer grade, well above his prep ranking

🧠 Bigger Picture
Both sophomores are viewed internally as cornerstone pieces of FSU’s defensive front, with starting roles firmly in play this season. Head coach Mike Norvell publicly cited the twins as building blocks late in the 2025 campaign — and this resolution keeps that vision intact.

🧠 Why It Matters
In a portal cycle defined by leverage and instability, retaining elite young trench talent isn’t just a win — it’s damage control avoided. The Desirs leaving would’ve forced FSU to chase production that simply isn’t available at their level. Getting them back resets the floor of the defense and stabilizes the most volatile position group on the roster.

👉️ Read more here and here

🛡️🔁 FSU Lands LB Commitment Mikai Gbayor After Campus Visit 🔁🛡️

Florida State has secured a commitment from linebacker Mikai Gbayor, who wrapped up a visit to Tallahassee on Thursday and chose Florida State Seminoles football following meetings with Mike Norvell and the defensive staff.

🔥 Player Background

• Began career at Nebraska Cornhuskers football (2021–24) after redshirting as a true freshman

• 2023: 24 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 0.5 sack (12 games, 4 starts)

• 2024: Career highs with 49 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 3 PBUs, 2 FRs (11 starts)

• Spent 2025 at North Carolina Tar Heels football: 39 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 FF; 67.1 PFF grade

🧠 Familiar Fit

• Reunites with Tony White, his defensive coordinator at Nebraska

• Prior system familiarity should accelerate transition and role clarity

⏳ Eligibility Note

• Not yet ranked by 247Sports as a transfer

• Expected to need an NCAA waiver to secure another season of eligibility

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU needed playable linebacker snaps immediately. Gbayor brings experience, scheme familiarity, and functional production — not flash, but reliability. In a portal cycle where readiness matters as much as upside, this is a stabilizing add to a thin room.
👉️ Read more here

🛡️🔥 FSU Lands Impact LB Chris Jones to Anchor the Middle 🔥🛡️

Florida State has added a major piece to its linebacker room, landing a commitment from Chris Jones, a productive transfer from Southern Miss Golden Eagles football, per CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz.

🔥 What to Know

• Jones previously signed with Ole Miss Rebels football before ultimately choosing Florida State Seminoles football

• Transfer Portal grade: 86

• Size/Year: 6’0”, 230 lbs | Rising junior

📊 Production Snapshot

• 133 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks

• 1 forced fumble, 1 interception

• 67.1 PFF grade

🧠 Immediate Role

• Jones is expected to step in as a starter, joining a rotation that previously returned only Blake Nichelson and Omar Graham

• His commitment follows FSU adding Mikai Gbayor earlier in the day, signaling a decisive push to stabilize the second level

🧠 Why It Matters
This is the kind of linebacker FSU needed now: proven production, physicality, and snap-ready reliability. After weeks of uncertainty at the position, Jones gives the Seminoles a clear tone-setter in the middle — and pairs with Gbayor to finally solidify a thin room heading into camp.

Read more here

🧲🏈 FSU Back in the Mix for 4⭐ QB Champ Monds After Reclassification 🏈🧲

Vero Beach (Fla.) High four-star quarterback Champ Monds — recently reclassified from the 2028 class to 2027 — has scheduled key January visits, including a return trip to Florida State Seminoles football on Friday.

🔥 Visit Outlook

• FSU visit: Friday (family visit)

• Florida visit: Weekend of Jan. 24 with Florida Gators football

• Notre Dame interest: Emerging after QB Teddy Jarrard reclassified to 2026

• Other programs staying in touch include Tennessee Volunteers football, Ohio State Buckeyes football, and Georgia Bulldogs football

🧠 Why FSU Stands Out

• Longstanding relationship with Mike Norvell dating back to Monds’ youth

• Clear quarterback need moving forward

• Consistent communication and familiarity with the staff

📊 On-Field Resume

• Freshman season: 67% completion, 2,234 yards, 23 TDs, 5 INTs + 502 rush yards, 9 TDs

• Sophomore season (injury-limited): 71% completion, 691 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs

• Size: 6’3”, 220 lbs

📈 Recruiting Profile

• Rivals rank: No. 11 QB in the 2027 class

• No. 138 overall prospect nationally

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU getting Monds back on campus this quickly after his reclassification is notable. Relationships matter more than ever at quarterback — and this one has real roots. With national powers circling and the board reshuffling for 2027 QBs, this visit feels less exploratory and more like positioning.

Read more here

And that’s a wrap!

After weeks of noise, this one finally had resolution:

• Close the game.

• Keep the core.

• Fill real needs.

• Get the right people back in the building.

Nothing’s fixed overnight — but this was the kind of week that stops the bleeding and lets progress breathe again.

We’ll be back tomorrow.
Same standard.
No fluff.

— Chief