Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy snowy hump-day, Seminole!

Here’s what we’ve got in store for you today:

🏀 Ta'Niya Latson's Dominance:
Fresh off her second AP Player of the Week honor this season, Latson continues to lead the nation in scoring while powering FSU’s record-breaking offense.

🏀 Seminoles Head West:
FSU men’s basketball kicks off their California road trip against Cal, aiming to extend their win streak in tonight’s late-night clash.

💼 FSU’s Revenue Revolution:
Josh Turner steps into a game-changing role as Deputy AD and CFO, tasked with navigating the future of revenue sharing and NIL strategies.

🏈 Tide Trouble:
The countdown is on for Florida State’s season opener against Alabama. Will a rebuilt FSU roster rise to the challenge?

🌟 Recruiting Highlights:

• OL Malcolm Gaston: FSU leads for the towering 6’5” lineman.

• Edge Trenton Henderson: Seminoles and Tigers battle for this elite 2026 prospect.

• WR Somourian Wingo: A Florida recruiting war heats up with FSU making a strong push.

• CB Samari Matthews: FSU cracks the top three for this Top247 cornerback.

🏀 Ta'Niya Latson Garners AP Player of the Week Honors 🏀

Florida State junior guard Ta'Niya Latson has added another accolade to her remarkable season, earning the Associated Press Player of the Week honor for the second time this year. This comes on the heels of her being named ACC Player of the Week on Monday.

🌟 Standout Performances:

• Against Clemson: Latson delivered her fourth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 assists, joining an elite group of Power 4 guards with three double-doubles by points and assists this year.

• Against Miami: She led FSU’s record-breaking 18 three-pointers, going a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, and finished with 30 points. This marked her seventh 30-point game of the season and 21st of her career.

🌟 Nation-Leading Numbers:
Latson tops the country in total points (478) and points per game (26.6), spearheading FSU’s high-octane offense, which ranks second nationally at 92.0 PPG.

📅 Up Next:
Florida State travels to Chapel Hill to face No. 13 North Carolina on Sunday, January 26, at 12:00 p.m. on ACC Network.

👉 Read more about Latson’s incredible season here.

🏀 Seminoles Hit the West Coast to Face Cal 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball (13-5, 4-3 ACC) takes on Cal (9-9, 2-5) tonight at 9 p.m. ET in Haas Pavilion, Berkeley. The game airs on ACC Network and the Seminole Sports Network, with streams available here and here.

🌟 Matchup Highlights

• FSU Momentum: The Seminoles are riding a two-game win streak, defeating Pitt and Georgia Tech, but are just 1-3 in true road games this season.

• Cal’s Home Advantage: The Golden Bears boast a 7-3 home record.

• Series History: This is only the second meeting between the teams, with FSU claiming an 80-77 win in 2008 at the Global Sports Classic.

🌟 Key Players to Watch

• FSU Standouts:

  • Jamir Watkins (18.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG)

  • Malique Ewin (14.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG), riding a five-game double-double streak.

• Cal Leaders:

  • Andrej Stojakovic (18.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG)

  • Jeremiah Wilkinson (11.7 PPG) leads scoring off the bench.

📅 Up Next:
The Seminoles continue their California swing against Stanford on Saturday at 7 p.m.

👉 Get ready for tonight’s game with the full preview here.

💼 FSU Taps Josh Turner as New CFO to Navigate Revenue Sharing Era 💼

Florida State is finalizing a deal to hire Josh Turner as Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Turner, currently at Georgia Southern, brings extensive experience in financial management from roles at Miami and the Tampa Bay Rays.

🌟 Turner’s Responsibilities:

• Oversee FSU’s revenue-sharing strategy with the upcoming $20.5M annual cap.

• Manage NIL deal distribution and athletic department finances.

• Leverage experience with $164M budgets and facility upgrades.

🌟 Industry Shifts:
The forthcoming House settlement (effective July) mandates NCAA institutions share 22% of defined revenues with athletes, marking a transformative change in college athletics.

👉 Read more about Turner’s hire and its impact here.

🏈 FSU’s 2025 Opener: Alabama, Challenges, and Opportunities 🏈

Florida State’s 2025 football season kicks off with a high-stakes matchup as the Seminoles host Alabama on August 30 at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Crimson Tide opens as a touchdown favorite, but the Seminoles are banking on major offseason changes to spark a resurgence.

🌟 A Formidable Opponent:
Alabama, ranked No. 12 in ESPN’s "Way-Too-Early Top 25," brings a reloaded roster featuring one of the nation’s top receiving corps. However, questions loom at quarterback, with three inexperienced contenders vying to replace Jalen Milroe.

🌟 FSU’s Rebuilding Effort:
Coming off a challenging 2-10 season, Florida State has overhauled its coaching staff and added roughly 40 new players to the roster. Former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn joins as offensive coordinator, and head coach Mike Norvell hopes to use this marquee matchup as a statement game for the program’s new direction.

🌟 Challenging Schedule:
The Seminoles face four ESPN-ranked opponents in 2025:

• Clemson (#7): Led by Cade Klubnik and a strong defense, FSU’s toughest challenge will be on the road.

• Florida (#18): The Gators, riding high on sophomore QB DJ Lagway’s breakout potential, host the Seminoles in Gainesville.

• Miami (#23): Despite a late 2024 collapse, Miami returns with veteran QB Carson Beck.

• Alabama (#12): A chance to prove FSU’s rebuild is on track.

🌟 Bright Spots:
FSU’s other eight opponents posted a combined 34-65 record in 2024, offering opportunities to build momentum. Key matchups against Virginia, Wake Forest, and N.C. State highlight winnable games in ACC play.

👉 Read the full breakdown of FSU’s 2025 schedule and opening matchup here.

🌟 FSU Leads for 2025 OL Prospect Malcolm Gaston 🌟

North Augusta (S.C.) three-star offensive lineman Malcolm Gaston, a 6-foot-5, 330-pound standout, made a strong connection with Florida State during Saturday's Junior Day. The Seminoles, who first offered Gaston in August 2024, now sit atop his recruitment.

🌟 A Lasting Impression:
Gaston’s latest visit reaffirmed his admiration for FSU:

• “Florida State was amazing from the first time I came here, so I knew instantly I wanted to come back,” Gaston shared.

• The trip provided clarity as he prepares to narrow his options to a top three by February 1.

🌟 The Herb Hand Effect:
FSU’s new offensive line coach, Herb Hand, left a lasting impression:

• “He’s a family man who really takes pride in what he does. He cares about what happens after football,” Gaston said.

• Hand’s focus on player development and tradition resonated deeply with Gaston.

🌟 FSU in the Lead:
Gaston confirmed Florida State has secured the No. 1 spot in his recruitment:

• Other schools in the mix include Georgia, Liberty, East Carolina, and Virginia Tech.

• “They are going to make that top three,” Gaston said confidently about the Seminoles.

👉 Stay tuned for Gaston’s top three announcement on February 1.

🏈 Four-Star Edge Rusher Trenton Henderson Weighs Top Choices After FSU Visit 🏈

Pensacola’s Trenton Henderson, a top-25 prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, left Florida State’s Junior Day with a strong impression of the program. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound edge rusher, ranked No. 22 overall and No. 4 at his position by On3, is heavily weighing his options, with FSU and Auburn emerging as his top contenders.

🌟 A Strong Connection with FSU Coaches:
Henderson spent significant time learning about the Seminoles’ defensive strategies and connecting with the coaching staff:

• “I like the new system,” Henderson said of Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense, which envisions him as a versatile “Jack” linebacker.

• Henderson also built a rapport with defensive line coach Terrance Knighton:

  • “I like Coach T-Knight a lot … him and my dad kind of have the same personality, so it’s just like talking to another father-figure.”

🌟 FSU’s Standing in His Recruitment:
Henderson stated that Florida State and Auburn are his current top two:

• “FSU is definitely one of the top contenders … Really right now, I would say those are my top two.”

• Henderson plans to visit Auburn for its Junior Day this weekend before further evaluating his options.

👉 Stay tuned as Henderson continues to explore his top programs and finalize his decision-making process.

🌟 Four-Star WR Somourian Wingo's Recruitment Heats Up with Florida Schools 🌟

St. Augustine (Fla.) four-star wide receiver Somourian Wingo, one of the top prospects in the state, has been garnering significant interest from Florida’s powerhouse programs. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Wingo is coming off an impressive junior season with 62 catches for 1,040 yards and 12 touchdowns, solidifying his status as a highly coveted recruit.

🌟 In-State Contenders:
Wingo’s recruitment is currently focused on Florida’s top programs:

• Florida State: The Seminoles are building momentum with Wingo, thanks to new receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. Wingo highlighted his strong relationship with Harris, established during Harris’ tenure at UCF:

  • “Every time I was around Coach Harris, it was amazing. Now that he’s at FSU, it’s a blessing to continue that relationship.”

  • Wingo plans to attend FSU’s upcoming Junior Day, further solidifying his connection with the program.

• Florida: Wingo will visit Gainesville this weekend, where he’ll shadow a Gators football player to gain insight into their program.

  • “I just can’t wait to see what it’s like to be a player there.”

• Miami: Fresh off a 7-on-7 tournament in South Florida, Wingo expressed appreciation for the Hurricanes’ consistent interest.

🌟 What’s Next for Wingo:

• Wingo plans to make his college decision this summer after completing official visits in June.

• While Florida and Miami remain formidable challengers, Florida State’s recent offer and Harris’ influence could play a pivotal role in the battle for the talented receiver.

👉 Stay tuned as Wingo navigates this in-state recruiting battle among the Big 3.

🌟 Top247 Cornerback Samari Matthews Places FSU in Top 3 🌟

Samari Matthews, a highly sought-after Top247 cornerback from Cornelius (N.C.) Hough, emerged from Florida State’s Junior Day with the Seminoles firmly in his top three schools. The 6-foot, 180-pound standout is ranked No. 136 overall and as the No. 13 cornerback in the 2026 class by 247Sports.

🌟 FSU’s Rising Position:

• Matthews shared his impression of Florida State:
  “I will say Florida State is in my top three.”

🌟 Recruitment Snapshot:

• His current top eight schools include FSU, Tennessee, Penn State, Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia.

• Matthews has shifted his visit schedule, rescheduling Clemson for March 8 and canceling a planned trip to Tennessee.

👉 As Matthews narrows his focus, FSU’s strong showing at Junior Day has bolstered its standing in this competitive recruitment.

And that’s a wrap!

Whether it’s making a statement on the court, hitting the recruiting trail hard, or gearing up for marquee matchups, Florida State continues to build momentum. Stay tuned as the Seminoles aim higher and push boundaries—because the climb is just getting started.

👉 Until next time, keep the Garnet and Gold spirit strong!