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Yesterday’s Poll Results
Today’s Poll
If FSU adds a jersey patch… who should it be?
- 🏦 Publix — Florida roots, clean look, cultural fit
- ✈️ Delta — national brand, premium feel, travel power
- 🥤 Coca-Cola — global icon, Atlanta tie-in, legacy brand
- 🏦 Regions Bank — SEC footprint, NIL-friendly, financial muscle
- 🌴 Seminole Hard Rock — on-theme, bold, controversial
- ❌ No Patch — keep the uniform sacred
- 🤷 Highest bidder — don’t overthink it
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy Monday, Seminole!
We know who’s going to be in the super bowl and made some strides with high school recuits:
🏀📉 Missed Chances & Thin Margins 📉🏀
FSU women’s hoops and both tennis programs showed fight — but late execution against ranked opponents proved decisive. Effort wasn’t the issue; closing was.
🏈🔥 Seminoles on the NFL’s Biggest Stage 🔥🏈
Conference Championship Sunday set the Super Bowl — and former Noles made real noise, with Jared Verse and Braden Fiske delivering impact performances.
🧲🏈 Junior Day: Substance Over Flash 🏈🧲
A quieter recruiting weekend still moved needles. Derrick Baker, Nigel Newkirk, and multiple OL targets reinforced priority boards and future visit plans.
💰🏈 The Jersey Patch Era Arrives 🏈💰
The NCAA just unlocked a massive new revenue stream — and FSU now has six months to decide which brand earns a spot next to the spear.
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🏀📉 FSU Women’s Hoops Can’t Finish Rally vs. Georgia Tech 📉🏀
Florida State women’s basketball fought, flashed, and defended — but a decisive fourth-quarter run by Georgia Tech sent the Seminoles to an 80–69 home loss Sunday at the Tucker Center.
🔥 Who Produced
Solè Williams: 18 points, 6 rebounds (career-high), 3 assists
Pania Davis: 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal
Amaya Bonner: 14 points, 4 assists (team-high)
🛡️ Defense Was There
8 blocks, 7 steals
Forced 13 Georgia Tech turnovers
Strong interior presence from Davis all afternoon
⏱️ How It Slipped
FSU led after the first quarter (21–19)
Georgia Tech seized control late in the second
Seminoles cut it to three early in the fourth
Yellow Jackets answered with a 12–0 run at the foul line
📊 At the Break
FSU trailed 44–35
Bonner led first-half scoring
Davis already had three blocks by halftime
⏭️ What’s Next
At Clemson
🗓️ Sunday, Feb. 1
🕓 4:00 p.m. ET | 📺 ACC Network
🎾📉 Tough Sunday for FSU Tennis at ITA Kickoff Weekend 📉🎾
Florida State wrapped up ITA Kickoff Weekend with losses on both sides, facing ranked opponents and razor-thin margins that didn’t swing their way.
🔵 Men’s Tennis Falls to No. 16 Arizona
The No. 20 Seminoles dropped a 4–1 decision in the ITA Kickoff consolation match after Arizona grabbed the doubles point and clinched in singles.
Doubles point decided before FSU could finish strong starts on Court 1
Luis Felipe Miguel earned FSU’s lone point with a straight-set win (his 6th of the season)
Two singles matches were deep into third sets when the match was clinched
⏭️ Next up: at Florida — Friday, Jan. 30 (5:00 p.m.)
🟠 Women’s Tennis Runs into No. 4 Auburn
FSU women’s tennis saw its run end with a 4–0 loss to the host Tigers in the regional final.
All three doubles courts were competitive (two decided 6–4)
Eva Shaw and Tina Li were tied late in first sets before Auburn pulled away
Mary Boyce Deatherage had claimed a first set win before play was stopped
⏭️ Next up: vs. No. 24 UCF
🗓️ Friday | 4:00 p.m.
📍 Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center
🇺🇸 Military Appreciation Match (Free admission)
🧠 Why It Matters
ITA Kickoff Weekend doesn’t forgive small lapses. Both squads competed, but ranked opponents converted late moments — the difference between advancing and resetting.
🏈🔥 FSU Watch: Super Bowl Set, Seminoles Shine on Championship Sunday 🔥🏈
Conference Championship Weekend delivered the Super Bowl matchup — and Florida State was well represented on the biggest stage.
🟦 AFC Championship
New England Patriots 10, Denver Broncos 7
DT Joshua Farmer remained on injured reserve
No FSU players appeared for Denver
🟥 NFC Championship
Seattle Seahawks 31, Los Angeles Rams 27
Braden Fiske: 2 solo tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs, QB hurry
Jared Verse: 3 tackles, 1 sack, TFL, 3 QB hurries
Cam Akers was active for Seattle after a practice-squad elevation (no stats)
OLB Keir Thomas remains on injured reserve
🏆 Super Bowl LX
The Super Bowl LX is set:
🗓️ Sunday, Feb. 8
📍 Levi’s Stadium — Santa Clara, CA
🕡 6:30 p.m. ET
📺 NBC
Matchup: Patriots vs. Seahawks
🌟 Pro Bowl Tie-In
Before kickoff, four former Seminoles will be featured at the 2026 Pro Bowl Games in San Francisco:
Brian Burns (Giants)
Jared Verse (Rams)
Jalen Ramsey (Steelers)
Derwin James Jr. (Chargers)
Here’s to your teen’s next big step
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🧲🏈 Junior Day Offensive Takeaways: Who Mattered, Who Moved the Needle 🏈🧲
Florida State hosted another Junior Day on Jan. 24, and while the list was long, a few offensive visitors clearly stood out based on priority, traction, and next steps.
🔥 QB Derrick Baker: Still the Guy
The lone quarterback on campus — and that wasn’t accidental.
Spent extended time with new QB coach Austin Tucker
Continued whiteboard work with Gus Malzahn
Longstanding relationship with the staff remains strong
Bottom line: FSU is clearly in this one for the long haul, and Baker remains a legitimate board priority.
🏃♂️ RB Nigel Newkirk: Tone-Setter Weekend
One of the most important offensive visits of the day.
Arrived Friday, stayed through Saturday with family
Deepened relationship with Kam Martin
Continues to be a top Malzahn priority
This wasn’t a courtesy visit — it was about momentum and alignment.
👀 RB Javarris Warner: Monitoring, Not Pushing
The Cincinnati commit checked out FSU, but nothing suggests an imminent flip.
Likes Kam Martin’s RB usage history
Values workload and opportunity
No flip buzz at this stage
Worth tracking, but not a battle yet.
🧱 OL Jatori Williams: OV Locked In
Arguably the most important offensive lineman on campus.
Former Alabama commit
Confirmed official visit to FSU
Emphasized how strongly Herb Hand is recruiting him
This is a real trench fight — and FSU is firmly in the final mix.
🧱 OL Kyson Mallard: Culture Buy-In Is Real
Mallard just keeps coming back — and that matters.
Fifth visit to Tallahassee
Openly praised FSU’s culture and tradition
Spring practice return + OV discussions coming
FSU is doing everything right here.
🎯 WR Tramond Collins: Priority Receiver
If one pass-catcher stood above the rest, it was Collins.
Met individually with Norvell, Malzahn, and Tim Harris Jr.
Former Florida commit
Top-10 athlete nationally in the 2027 class
This was a serious evaluation visit — not a casual stop.
🧠 Quick Hit Notes
Deron Foster (RB): Returned after Norvell school visit — still on the board
Emerson Walker (2029): Offered as a TE; major upside piece
Bryson Sanderson (OL): Surprise visit after school stop by Herb Hand
New Offers:
2028 TE J.C. Wessel
2029 WR Braylen Averett
Quiet weekends like this are where recruiting foundations actually get built.
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💰🏈 Jersey Patches Are Coming — And FSU’s Brand Is About to Cash In 🏈💰
College athletics just opened a brand-new revenue lane — and Florida State is positioned to benefit in a big way.
Starting August 1, the NCAA will officially allow commercial sponsor patches on team uniforms, unlocking a potential seven-figure opportunity per sport.
What Changed
Division I programs can now display:
🧵 Up to two sponsor patches on regular-season uniforms (max 4 sq. inches each)
🧢 One patch on equipment
➕ An extra patch during conference championships
Postseason rules are still being explored, but here’s the key caveat:
❌ Sponsors that directly compete with NCAA corporate partners won’t be allowed.
The College Football Playoff, which operates outside NCAA championship rules, is also expected to allow uniform sponsor patches — meaning FSU football is very much in play.
Why This Matters
According to Sports Business Journal, schools could earn anywhere from:
$500,000 on the low end
$12 million annually on the high end
That’s real money — and it hits at a time when:
NIL budgets are ballooning
Revenue diversification matters more than ever
Brand leverage separates haves from have-nots
FSU now has roughly six months to line up the right partner.
The Bigger Question
This isn’t just about who pays the most — it’s about brand fit.
Florida State has one of the most recognizable identities in college sports. The logo next to the spear will say a lot.
Some brands will feel natural.
Others will feel… off.
And that choice matters.
🧠 The Takeaway
Jersey patches are inevitable.
Smart partnerships are optional.
FSU has the chance to turn its brand power into long-term financial leverage — without cheapening the uniform.
The only real question left:
And that’s a wrap!
On the field, the margins are thin.
On the recruiting trail, relationships matter more than headlines.
And off the field? The money is about to get very real.
The jersey patch isn’t just a logo — it’s a signal.
About who FSU is, who it aligns with, and how seriously it plans to compete in this new era.
Choose wisely.
See you tomorrow.
— The Chief
