🏹 January 31st- The Chief Brief 🏹

🔴⚡ FSU Shakes Up the ACC, Dominates on the Court & Makes Moves on the Recruiting Trail ⚡🔴

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The Chief
January 31, 2025

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

With ESPN locking in the ACC media deal, what’s the next move for FSU?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF Seminole!

We are absolutely loaded today, with dominant wins, major recruiting shake-ups, and key developments off the field. Here’s what’s on deck:

🏀 No. 25 FSU Women’s Basketball broke a program record while rolling past Boston College.
⛳ FSU Women’s Golf kicks off the spring season in Mexico as defending champions.
🏃‍♂️ Track & Field heads to Louisville after a record-setting meet in Gainesville.
🏊‍♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving wraps up the regular season against No. 4/5 Florida.
⚾ FSU Baseball lands at No. 2 in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll.
📺 ESPN extends its ACC media deal through 2036—what does it mean for FSU’s lawsuit?
🏈 FSU linebacker DJ Lundy applies for a waiver to return in 2025.
📈 Final 2025 recruiting rankings drop—where does FSU stand?
🔥 5-star edge rusher Tylon Lee is now one of the highest-rated signees in the class.

Buckle up, Noles fans—let’s get into it!

🏀 No. 25 FSU Women’s Basketball Rolls Past Boston College, Breaks Scoring Record

Florida State women’s basketball (17-4, 7-2 ACC) put on an offensive clinic in a 104-80 road victory over Boston College, setting a program record for most 100-point games in a season (6).

🌟 Standout Performers:

  • Makayla Timpson – 21 points, 11 rebounds (43rd career double-double, most in FSU history)

  • Ta’Niya Latson – 21 points, 7 assists (14 points in the second half)

  • O’Mariah Gordon – 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists

  • Malea Williams – 10 points (matched season high)

🔥 Game Breakdown:

  • FSU dominated from start to finish, leading for 39:40 of the game’s 40 minutes.

  • The Seminoles closed strong with a 31-point fourth quarter, featuring eight different scorers.

  • FSU capitalized on turnovers, scoring 14 points off seven BC miscues in the first half alone.

🏠 What’s Next:
The Seminoles return home for ‘Paint it Pink’ Night vs. Wake Forest on Sunday at 6 p.m. (ACC Network).

⛳ No. 12 FSU Women’s Golf Opens Spring Season in Mexico

The Florida State women’s golf team is set to kick off its spring season in style, competing in the Collegiate Invitational at Guadalajara Country Club under perfect weather conditions in Mexico.

🏆 Defending Champions

  • FSU won this event in 2024, marking the program’s 20th team title under head coach Amy Bond.

  • The Seminoles aim to become the first two-time champion in tournament history.

🌟 Key Players to Watch

  • Lottie Woad – World’s No. 1 ranked amateur, two-time top-five finisher in this event.

  • Mirabel Ting – World’s No. 4 ranked amateur, ranked in the top 10 since September 2024.

  • Kaylah Williams, Katherine Cook, Sophia Fullbrook – Experienced core ready to lead the charge.

🔥 The Competition
FSU faces a stacked 12-team field, including No. 11 Virginia, No. 23 TCU, No. 25 Houston, and No. 45 NC State.

📅 What’s Next?

  • Friday-Saturday (Jan. 31 - Feb. 1): 54-hole tournament play.

  • Feb. 16-18: Moon Invitational in Melbourne, Fla.

  • March 21-23: FSU hosts The Florida State Match at Seminole Legacy.

🏃‍♂️ FSU Track & Field Heads to Lenny Lyles Invitational

The Florida State indoor track and field teams are set to compete at the Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky, from January 31 - February 1. The action kicks off Friday with the men's long jump, and live results will be available throughout the event.

🔥 Recap: Dominant Showing in Gainesville
FSU secured five top-10 finishes and six event victories at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational, including:

🏆 Record-Setting Performances

  • Bieke Schipperen – Broke the facility record in the women’s mile (4:35.15, 4th-fastest in FSU history).

  • British Wilkerson – Ran the 17th-fastest 300-meter time in collegiate history (32.66).

  • Kaelyaah Liburd – Won the 400 meters (53.90, 10th-fastest in FSU history).

  • Zach Trotter & Anthony Herrera – Finished 1st & 2nd in the 800, both running FSU all-time top-10 times.

🏊‍♂️ No. 21/25 FSU Swimming & Diving Faces No. 4/5 Florida in Rivalry Clash

The nationally-ranked Florida State swimming and diving teams will take on in-state rival No. 4/5 Florida in their final dual meet of the season on January 31 - February 1.

📅 Schedule & Locations

  • Swimming: Friday, 12 p.m. ET at Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training (Ocala, FL)

  • Diving: Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. ET at UF’s O’Connell Center Natatorium

🔥 FSU’s Season & What’s at Stake

  • The Seminoles remain undefeated in 2025, securing wins over Villanova, Tampa, and Miami.

  • Rivalry Test: Florida is ranked No. 4 (women) & No. 5 (men), presenting FSU with a high-level postseason preview.

  • Postseason Selections: This meet will play a crucial role in determining FSU’s ACC Championship roster.

💬 Coach Neal Studd on the Challenge
"We have to pick our postseason team, so the athletes know what’s at stake. UF is an amazing team, and we’ll get a good look at what to expect in the postseason."

⚾ FSU Baseball Picked to Finish 2nd in ACC Preseason Coaches Poll

With 15 days until Opening Day, the ACC released its preseason coaches poll, and Florida State is projected to finish second in the conference, behind Virginia.

📊 2025 Preseason ACC Coaches Poll
1️⃣ Virginia (13 first-place votes)
2️⃣ Florida State (2 first-place votes)
3️⃣ Clemson (1 first-place vote)
4️⃣ North Carolina
5️⃣ NC State
6️⃣ Wake Forest

🏟️ Key Home Series at Dick Howser Stadium
FSU will host Virginia, North Carolina, Clemson, and Wake Forest, all top-six teams in the poll.

🔥 Looking Ahead

  • The Seminoles won 49 games last season and were the last ACC team standing in Omaha.

  • Opening Day: February 14 vs. James Madison at 5:00 p.m.

📺 ESPN Extends ACC TV Deal Through 2036, Impacting FSU’s Lawsuit

ESPN has picked up its option to continue broadcasting ACC sports through 2036, ensuring the conference's media rights deal remains in place for the next decade.

🔑 Key Details:

  • ESPN had until February 1 to exercise the option; if declined, the deal would have ended in 2027.

  • “Value Adds” Approved: The ACC Board of Directors approved a plan to create more marquee football & basketball matchups to boost ratings.

  • New Revenue Model in the Works: The ACC is considering a “brand fund” that would allocate a greater share of TV revenue to top programs like FSU, Clemson, Miami, and UNC.

  • Lawsuit Implications: If finalized, the new model could lead FSU and Clemson to drop their lawsuits against the ACC.

🚨 FSU’s Next Move?

FSU is still pushing for:
✅ More revenue to compete with SEC & Big Ten schools.
✅ Lower penalties for leaving the ACC after 2031, when major TV deals expire.

👉 How will this impact FSU’s future? Full breakdown here and here and here

🏈 DJ Lundy Seeks NCAA Waiver for 2025 Season

Florida State linebacker DJ Lundy is hoping for one more year in the Garnet and Gold. Originally planning to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, Lundy confirmed he has applied for an NCAA waiver to extend his college career after a 2024 injury limited him to just five games.

🔑 Why He Needs a Waiver:

  • Lundy did not redshirt in his first four seasons but can apply for one due to a 2020 COVID eligibility exemption.

  • NCAA rules typically allow a redshirt if a player competes in four or fewer games.

💪 What Lundy Brings:

  • 2023 Standout Season: 47 tackles, 5 TFLs, 4 pass deflections, 1 interception, and a TD on offense.

  • If cleared, Lundy would join a deep linebacker group including key transfers like Stefon Thompson and experienced returners such as Omar Graham and Blake Nichelson.

📈 Final 2025 Recruiting Rankings: Where FSU Stands

With National Signing Day just a week away, the final Top247 rankings have been released, giving a clearer picture of how the nation’s top recruiting classes stack up.

🔝 Top 5 Recruiting Classes:

1️⃣ Texas – 309.33 pts (4 five-stars)
2️⃣ Georgia – 300.78 pts (4 five-stars)
3️⃣ Ohio State – 296.73 pts (3 five-stars)
4️⃣ Alabama – 294.90 pts (3 five-stars)
5️⃣ Oregon – 292.03 pts (2 five-stars)

🍢 Where Florida State Ranks:

⭐ No. 18 Nationally (243.03 points)
🥈 No. 2 in the ACC (behind Miami at No. 14)

While the SEC dominates the top 10, Florida State remains in the mix as they aim to close strong before the final signing period wraps up.

🔥 5-Star Edge Rusher Tylon Lee a Major Win for FSU

One of Florida State’s biggest late flips in the 2025 recruiting class, Pace High (Fla.) edge rusher Tylon Lee, has officially earned five-star status in the final On3 rankings.

📈 Rapid Rise in the Rankings

🔺 Unranked → No. 71 → No. 24 overall prospect
🔺 Seventh-best edge rusher → No. 3 edge rusher in the country
🔺 No. 4 overall prospect in Florida

At 6-foot-5.5, 260 pounds with 34-inch arms, Lee dominated his senior season with a staggering 40 tackles for loss in just 11 games. His blend of size, speed, and relentless motor made him a major priority for FSU’s coaching staff.

🎯 What Makes Lee Special?

🏆 Elite Power & Speed: Can bowl over offensive linemen and chase down ball carriers from the backside.
💪 Physical Development: Went from 245 to 265 pounds without losing athleticism.
🔥 High-Motor Disruptor: Plays with intensity and an instinct for making game-changing plays.

Lee is FSU’s first five-star defensive end signee since Joshua Kaindoh (2017) and Josh Sweat (2015)—a major win for Mike Norvell and defensive coordinator Tony White.

👉 More on Lee’s rise and potential impact at FSU here and here

And that’s a wrap!

From record-breaking performances to high-stakes recruiting battles and critical conference shake-ups, this week had it all. As the countdown to National Signing Day and the spring season heats up, Florida State remains at the center of the action.

👀 What’s next?
🔜 FSU Women’s Basketball looks to keep rolling at home vs. Wake Forest.
🔜 FSU Baseball gears up for Opening Day with major expectations.
🔜 National Signing Day looms—can FSU close strong?
🔜 The ACC’s future is shifting—will FSU’s legal battle take a new turn?

📬 Stay locked in, and we’ll be back with all the latest from the Seminole world!

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