Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

Here’s everything you need to know:

🏈 2025 Football Schedule Revealed: Florida State’s schedule features marquee matchups, including Alabama, Clemson, and Florida, alongside historic firsts like the program's inaugural game against Stanford.

🥎 Softball in the National Spotlight: FSU Softball heads to the Clearwater Invitational, with all games airing on ESPN platforms, solidifying their must-watch status.

🏀 Latson Earns Back-to-Back ACC Honors: Ta’Niya Latson’s game-winner against No. 13 UNC capped a stellar week, earning her a fifth ACC Player of the Week honor this season.

🏊 Swimming Dominates Miami: The Seminoles extended their win streak over the Hurricanes to 21 meets, thanks to standout performances from seniors Maddy Huggins and Gloria Muzito.

🚨 FSU’s 2025 Football Schedule Ranked 10th Toughest: Facing four projected Top 20 opponents, the Seminoles’ season opener against Alabama sets the tone for a challenging road ahead.

✍️ 4-Star RB Amari Clemons Commits: Local star Amari Clemons joins FSU’s 2026 class, adding explosive talent to the Seminoles’ recruiting efforts.

🌀 QB Recruiting Reset: After losing Brady Smigiel, FSU pivots to targeting dual-threat prospects Bowe Bentley, Landon Duckworth, and Keisean Henderson.

📏 Senior Bowl Standouts: Joshua Farmer and Azareye’h Thomas impress NFL scouts with elite measurements that highlight their pro potential.

🏈 Florida State’s Full 2025 Football Schedule Revealed

Florida State’s 2025 football schedule is here, and it’s packed with marquee matchups, historic showdowns, and intriguing storylines. The ACC Huddle unveiled the full slate Monday night, setting the stage for a highly anticipated season.

🌟 Key Matchups & Schedule Highlights:

• Home Games:

  • October 11: Pittsburgh (FSU is 5-6 all-time, 2-1 since Pitt joined the ACC in 2013)

  • November 1: Wake Forest (31-9-1 all-time, with a dominant 20-4-1 at home)

  • November 15: Virginia Tech (FSU leads 24-13-1, including a 39-17 win in 2023)

• Road Games:

  • October 18: Stanford (First-ever meeting against the Cardinal; FSU’s last regular-season game in California was in 1997 vs. USC)

  • November 8: Clemson (FSU snapped Clemson’s 25-game ACC home streak with an OT win in 2023)

  • November 21 (Friday): NC State (First meeting since 2022; FSU leads the series 27-16)

• Previously Announced Games:

  • Home:

    • August 30: Alabama

    • September 6: East Texas A&M

    • September 20: Kent State

    • October 4: Miami (FSU leads the rivalry 29-28)

  • Road:

    • September 26 (Friday): Virginia

    • November 29: Florida

🔥 Historic Notes:

• FSU’s visit to Stanford will mark the program’s first-ever meeting with the Cardinal and its first game in California since the 2014 College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl.

• The Seminoles will play two Friday road games in a season for the first time since 1958.

• A rematch against Clemson at Death Valley, where FSU broke Clemson’s ACC home dominance in a thrilling OT game in 2023, adds extra intrigue.

👉 Check out the full 2025 schedule and more details here.

🥎 FSU Softball Set for National Spotlight at Clearwater Invitational

The Seminoles are gearing up for another big stage as ESPN revealed its coverage plans for the 2025 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational. All of Florida State’s games will be broadcast on ESPN networks, offering fans nationwide the chance to follow the action.

🌟 FSU’s Clearwater Invitational Schedule:

• Thursday, Feb. 13 – vs. No. 15 Missouri (10 a.m. on ESPN2):
  The Noles kick off the invitational against a 2024 Super Regional participant.

• Friday, Feb. 14 – vs. Ohio State (2 p.m. on ACC Network):
  FSU leads the all-time series 11-3 and won their last Clearwater matchup in 2019, 3-1.

• Saturday, Feb. 15 – vs. Wichita State (7 p.m. on ESPN+):
  Just the second meeting ever between these two programs, with FSU claiming a 1-0 victory in their lone matchup back in 1990.

• Sunday, Feb. 16 – vs. UCF (8 p.m. on ESPN):
  For the sixth consecutive Clearwater Invitational, FSU earns a prime-time national TV slot.

🔥 Noles Under the Bright Lights:
Since 2022, FSU boasts a dominant 55-13 record in games aired on national television, solidifying the Seminoles as a must-watch program.

🏟️ Before Clearwater:
FSU opens the season with the Garnet and Gold Scrimmage and Fan Day this Sunday at noon. The regular season begins Feb. 6 at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico.

👉 Check out more about FSU’s Clearwater schedule here.

🏀 Latson Earns Back-to-Back ACC Player of the Week Honors

Florida State junior Ta’Niya Latson was named ACC Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, marking her fifth weekly honor this season—more than any other player in the league. Latson’s late-game heroics on Sunday lifted the Seminoles (16-4, 6-2 ACC) to an 86-84 win over No. 13 North Carolina.

🌟 Key Highlights:

• Game-Winner: With 3.2 seconds left, Latson received a perfect inbound pass from Sydney Bowles and drove to the basket for the game-winning shot, securing FSU’s first ranked victory of the season and its first walk-off win since 2007.

• Stat Line: Latson led the team with 25 points and 7 assists, adding 17 points in the second half after a quiet start.

• ACC Leader: She remains the only player to earn the award outright in back-to-back weeks this season.

📈 FSU Returns to the AP Poll:
The Seminoles jumped to No. 25 in the AP Poll on Monday following the win. After starting the season ranked No. 19, this marks their first re-entry to the rankings since October.

🗓️ What’s Next:
FSU continues its road stretch, taking on Boston College on Thursday at 6 p.m.

👉 Read more about Latson’s dominance here.

🏊‍♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving Defeats Miami, Extends Rivalry Streak

The No. 21/25 Florida State swimming and diving team edged Miami, 157-143, on Monday at the Morcom Aquatic Center. The win marked the Seminoles’ 21st consecutive victory over the Hurricanes, a streak that dates back to 1999.

🌟 Meet Highlights:

• Senior Standouts:

  • Maddy Huggins: Won three individual events, including the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 200 IM, and contributed to a relay victory.

  • Gloria Muzito: Secured one individual win and was part of both relay victories.

• Key Relay Wins:

  • FSU started strong with a 200 medley relay victory and sealed the meet with a 400 freestyle relay triumph.

• Depth in Action:

  • The Seminoles swept the top four spots in the 100 freestyle and secured 1-2 finishes in two additional events.

🗣️ Coach Neal Studd on the Win:
“Miami is a very good team, but our depth really shone today. So many stepped up, and I’m thrilled with where we’re at heading into the ACC Championships.”

🗓️ What’s Next:
FSU closes the regular season against in-state rival Florida on Friday, January 31, in Ocala, Fla.

👉 Check out more about FSU’s win here.

🏈 FSU Ranked Among Toughest 2025 College Football Schedules

Florida State’s 2025 football schedule has been ranked the 10th toughest in the nation by 247Sports, underscoring the significant challenges ahead for the Seminoles.

🌟 Key Matchups:

• Top Opponents: Alabama, Clemson, Miami, and Florida (all projected preseason Top 20).

• Road Games: Trips to Virginia, NC State, Stanford, and Florida present additional hurdles.

• Tough Start: The season opener against Alabama sets the tone for a grueling slate.

👉 Read more about FSU’s 2025 challenges here.

🏈 4-Star RB Amari Clemons Commits to FSU

Florida State has secured a key commitment from four-star running back Amari Clemons, who announced his decision on social media after back-to-back visits to Tallahassee.

🌟 Why Clemons Chose FSU:

• Local Talent: Clemons hails from nearby Marianna, Fla., and his proximity to Tallahassee played a major role in his choice.

• Top Competition: He picked the Seminoles over offers from Florida, Auburn, Miami, and Ole Miss, among others.

🏃 Clemons' 2024 Stats:

• Rushing: 1,880 yards on 153 carries (12.3 YPC) with 34 touchdowns.

• Receiving: 14 receptions for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns.

🔍 Recruiting Impact:
Clemons, ranked as the nation’s No. 24 running back in the 2026 class (247Sports Composite), becomes the sixth commitment for FSU's 2026 recruiting class. He joins a group featuring four-star athlete Efrem White, four-star WR Darryon Williams, and three others.

👉 Check out more about Clemons' commitment here.

🏈 FSU Adjusts QB Recruiting Focus After Smigiel's Decommitment

Florida State wasted no time pivoting after four-star quarterback Brady Smigiel decommitted on Sunday. The Seminoles immediately extended offers to three highly-rated 2026 signal-callers, all of whom fit Gus Malzahn's preference for dual-threat quarterbacks.

🌟 The QB Targets

4-Star QB Bowe Bentley (6-3, 200, Celina, Texas)

• Stats: 3,211 passing yards, 47 TDs, 7 INTs; 923 rushing yards, 16 TDs.

• Recruiting Notes: Bentley is a rising star whose mobility and ability to run RPOs fit Malzahn's system perfectly. FSU has established early connections, and Bentley is expected to visit Tallahassee this spring. Oklahoma and Missouri remain strong contenders.

4-Star QB Landon Duckworth (6-3, 190, Jackson, Ala.)

• Stats: 3,439 passing yards, 39 TDs, 10 INTs; 648 rushing yards, 12 TDs.

• Recruiting Notes: Duckworth has a pre-existing relationship with Malzahn from his UCF days. FSU is working to secure an early visit, with South Carolina and Ole Miss posing stiff competition.

4-Star QB Keisean Henderson (6-3, 170, Houston, Texas)

• Stats: MVP of the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl.

• Recruiting Notes: Henderson is committed to Houston but has drawn interest from Georgia, Ole Miss, and now FSU. While flipping him will be challenging, an upcoming in-home visit from FSU staff could open the door.

🔍 Takeaways

• Athletic QBs Only: All three prospects are dynamic athletes who excel as dual-threat quarterbacks, signaling FSU's full commitment to Malzahn’s offensive vision.

• Priority Order: Bentley appears to be the top target, with Duckworth also seen as an attainable option. Henderson, while immensely talented, is considered the biggest longshot.

👉 Learn more about FSU’s QB recruiting strategy here and here

🏈 FSU Standouts Impress at Senior Bowl Measurements

Florida State defensive tackle Joshua Farmer and cornerback Azareye’h Thomas turned heads with their measurements ahead of Senior Bowl practices, showcasing physical traits that boost their NFL Draft stock.

🌟 Joshua Farmer’s Elite Metrics:

• Height/Weight: 6’2.9”, 314 lbs.

• Standout Traits:

  • Hand Size: 10.5” (84th percentile).

  • Wingspan: 82.5” (88th percentile).

  • Arm Length: 35.25” (97th percentile).

Farmer’s rare arm length and wingspan are highly coveted by NFL teams, as they signal potential for high-level development in the trenches.

🌟 Azareye’h Thomas’ Exceptional Build:

• Height/Weight: 6’1.5”, 191 lbs.

• Key Measurements:

  • Hand Size: 10.13” (97th percentile).

  • Arm Length: 32.5” (85th percentile).

  • Wingspan: 77.25” (77th percentile).

Thomas’ long arms and large hands make him a nightmare for quarterbacks, aiding his ability to disrupt passing windows. This season, he didn’t allow a single touchdown reception.

Both players have set the stage for a strong week in Mobile, further cementing their cases as high-end NFL Draft prospects.

👉 Read more about Farmer and Thomas’ standout traits here.

And that’s a wrap!

Whether it's game-winning shots, recruiting victories, or setting the stage for a challenging season, Florida State continues to deliver excitement at every turn. Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming matchups and stay tuned as we track the Seminoles' journey to greatness.

As always, we’d love to hear from you—what are you most excited about this season? Let us know in today’s poll!

🍢 Until next time, stay sharp, Seminole Nation! 🍢