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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Saturday and Happy Gameday, Seminole!

⚽ Soccer Starts Another Trophy Run ⚽
FSU opened the NCAA Tournament with a stress-free 4–0 domination of Samford — extending its absurd First Round streak to 25 straight advances and giving Brian Pensky his 250th career win.

🏃‍♀️ XC Stacks All-Region Honors 🏃‍♂️
Four Noles earned All-Region at the NCAA South Regional, led by freshman Rylee Blade’s breakout 7th-place finish, as both the women and men posted PR-heavy days with NCAA Championship hopes still alive.

❤️‍🩹 “Go Win”: Pritchard’s Return Lights a Fire ❤️‍🩹
Just weeks after a life-threatening shooting, freshman LB Ethan Pritchard surprised the team at practice and delivered a two-word message — “Go win” — ahead of a must-have night in Doak.

🏈 Senior Night Spotlight at Doak 🏈
From Tommy Castellanos and Squirrel White to Shyheim Brown and a rebuilt veteran O-line, FSU will honor 20+ seniors who helped hold the program together through a chaotic stretch — some playing their last snaps in Tallahassee, some possibly not.

🌱 Future Noles Flock In for Final Visit Weekend 🌱
Doak doubles as a recruiting showcase: six defensive official visitors, flip targets like TE Heze Kent and DB Jordan Crutchfield, and a headliner in 4⭐ 2027 QB (and Texas A&M commit) Jayce Johnson — a South Georgia dual-threat who grew up an FSU fan.

🔮 Media Split on FSU–VT, But Most Lean Noles 🔮
Across Noles247, Warchant, and Tomahawk Nation, 18 of 21 pick FSU to beat Virginia Tech — usually in the 30–mid-30s range — while a stubborn minority keeps betting on Hokie chaos in a season where nothing has come easy.

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⚽ FSU Rolls Samford 4–0 to Advance to NCAA Second Round ⚽

Florida State cruised into the NCAA Second Round on Friday night with a commanding 4–0 win over Samford at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

🔥 Statement Win to Open the Tournament

• FSU dominated from whistle to whistle, outshooting Samford 22–4 and 11–1 on target in a 4–0 shutout — the Noles’ 10th clean sheet of the season.

• The win extends FSU’s absurd First Round history to 25–0–1 all-time and marks the program’s 26th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 21st straight trip to the Second Round.

• Brian Pensky earned the 250th win of his career and is now 65–7–12 in four seasons at FSU.

💨 Offensive Fireworks

• Taylor Suarez delivered her best postseason performance yet: 1 goal, 2 assists, tying career highs in points (4), shots (4), and assists (2).

• Yuna McCormack opened the scoring in the 11th minute — her fifth of the season and second career NCAA Tournament goal.

• Wrianna Hudson added her team-leading 12th goal, finishing a beautiful sequence from Suarez and freshman Nyanya Touray.

• Lara Dantas capped the night with her first goal of the season in the 79th minute.

🔒 Defensive Lockdown

• FSU allowed zero corner kicks and held Samford without a shot on goal for the final 62 minutes.

• Freshman GK Kate Ockene recorded her second straight full-match shutout, needing just one save.

👉 Full Match Recap via Seminoles.com

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ FSU XC Earns Four All-Region Honors at NCAA South Regional 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

Florida State wrapped up its NCAA South Regional run on Friday with four All-Region performances and another standout showing from both the women’s and men’s squads.

🔥 Women Shine With Four Career Bests

• True freshman Rylee Blade delivered a breakout performance, finishing 7th overall (19:29.1 PB) — FSU’s best freshman regional finish since 2019.

• Bieke Schipperen earned All-Region for the second straight year with a 9th-place PR (19:40.9).

• Suus Altorf added another lifetime best (19:55.7) to place 19th.

• Nicole Dinan and Maggie Bartlow also set personal-bests (20:43.8 and 21:13.6).

• The women finished 6th overall (157 points) in a stacked regional field.

💨 Men Add Two All-Region Performances

• Isaac Hirshman Chandler led FSU for the fourth straight meet, placing 12th (29:49.5) to earn All-Region honors.

• Kaden Levings finished 30th with a career-best 30:28.6, followed by another PR from Lucas Bouquot (50th, 30:58.8).

• Aidan Ryan (82nd) and Gino Palazzolo (111th) rounded out the top five as the men placed 10th overall (270 points).

🔮 Why It Matters
FSU posts four All-Region selections, multiple lifetime bests, and competitive team finishes — setting up a potential NCAA Championship berth when selections are announced Saturday at 5 p.m.

👉 Full Results via Seminoles.com

❤️‍🩹 FSU Freshman LB Ethan Pritchard Makes Emotional Return to Practice ❤️‍🩹

Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard made an emotional return to the practice fields Friday morning, just weeks after surviving a gunshot wound to the head.

🔥 Back on the Field After Life-Threatening Injury

• Freshman LB Ethan Pritchard, who survived a gunshot wound to the head the day after the Alabama game, returned to FSU’s practice fields Friday morning.

• The shooting — ruled mistaken identity — left Pritchard hospitalized for weeks before being moved to a Jacksonville rehab facility.

💪 A Powerful Message to the Team

• Pritchard left rehab Thursday and surprised the team at practice Friday.

• When Mike Norvell asked if he wanted to address the players, Pritchard kept it simple:
  “Go win.”

🙏 Why It Matters
Pritchard’s presence was a jolt of emotion and perspective for a team heading into a must-win matchup vs. Virginia Tech — and he’s expected to be in attendance Saturday.

👉 Full Story via Warchant

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🏈 Senior Day Spotlight: FSU Honors 20+ Veterans of the Program 🏈

Florida State will celebrate a massive Senior Day on Saturday as more than 20 Seminoles — including four true seniors and 16 redshirt seniors — are recognized before kickoff against Virginia Tech.

🔥 Who’s Being Honored
Four true seniors:

• QB Tommy Castellanos

• WR Squirrel White

• LB Elijah Herring

• CB Jerry Wilson

Sixteen redshirt seniors, including:

• RBs Roydell Williams, Caziah Holmes

• WR Gavin Blackwell

• TE Markeston Douglas

• OL Luke Petitbon, Gunnar Hansen, Micah Pettus, Richie Leonard IV, Adrian Medley, Jacob Rizy

• DL Darrell Jackson Jr., Jaden Jones, Deamontae Diggs

• LB Stefon Thompson

• S Shyheim Brown

• LS Mason Arnold

(Rizy and Diggs may not participate as of Thursday.)

💫 Headliners to Know
QB Tommy Castellanos
FSU’s 2025 starter and former Boston College standout has thrown for 2,128 yards and rushed for 359 more. The door remains open for a 2026 return pending an NCAA waiver tied to his UCF freshman-year eligibility.

RBs Roydell Williams & Caziah Holmes
Williams (Alabama transfer) and Holmes (Penn State transfer) both battled injuries but brought veteran stability to the room.

OL Revamp: Six Seniors
Petitbon, Medley, Pettus, Hansen, Leonard, and Rizy helped reshape the 2025 offensive line — four of them first-year transfers who became instant anchors.

DL Darrell Jackson Jr.
FSU’s most reliable defensive tackle, starting all 22 games he’s been available for with 60+ tackles across two seasons.

DBs Jerry Wilson & Shyheim Brown
Wilson has been a breakout transfer with two interceptions; Brown is a multi-year starter and homegrown leader entering his fifth season with the program.

🧠 Why It Matters
This is one of FSU’s largest Senior Day groups in recent memory — a blend of long-time Noles, key transfers, and multi-year starters who stabilized the roster through chaotic seasons. Several could return in 2026, but Saturday serves as a chance to honor the backbone of the program.

👉 Full Senior Day Breakdown via Noles247

🏈 Massive Recruiting Weekend: 2027 QB Target Headlines Final Home-Game Visitor List 🏈

Florida State’s final home game doubles as one of its biggest recruiting moments of the year — with FSU hosting six official visitors, multiple flip targets, and a loaded group of elite 2027+ prospects, including a major SEC quarterback commit making the trip to Tallahassee.

🔥 Headliner: 4⭐ QB Jayce Johnson (Texas A&M commit — 2027)
One of FSU’s top long-term QB targets will be inside Doak tonight.

• Committed to Texas A&M in August

• Continues steady communication with FSU

• Grew up a Seminoles fan and has visited multiple times

• This visit keeps FSU firmly in the flip conversation

The Player Profile (via 247Sports)

• 6’3”, 210 lbs — physically advanced, dual-threat frame

• No. 64 overall player, No. 7 QB in 2027

• 928 passing yards, 8 TD, 4 INT this season

• 544 rushing yards, 12 rushing TD

• Dynamic playmaker with torque, touch, and off-script mobility

• Elite 11 regional standout

• Projects as a future Power Four starter in a power-spread system

If FSU stabilizes its offensive identity, this is a recruitment that can get real.

🔥 Six Official Visitors (All Defense)
This weekend’s OV group is loaded with edge rushers and DB help — FSU’s biggest roster needs.

• 4⭐ LB Izayia Williams (FSU commit)

• 3⭐ S Jordan Crutchfield (Kentucky commit — top flip target)

• 3⭐ EDGE Kamron Wilson (Syracuse commit — longtime priority)

• 3⭐ EDGE Jalen Anderson (No. 1 JUCO EDGE)

• 3⭐ EDGE Josh Warren Jr. (JUCO; FSU trending)

• 3⭐ TE Corbyn Fordham (FSU commit — converted athlete)

This group is central to FSU’s defensive rebuild for 2026.

🔥 Key Flip Targets on Campus

• 4⭐ TE Heze Kent (Florida commit)
  Long-term FSU–Thomsen relationship keeps this one alive; tight end usage continues to attract him.

• 4⭐ QB Jayce Johnson (Texas A&M commit)

• 3⭐ RB Amari Thomas (South Carolina commit)
  Former FSU commit — interest still open.

• 4⭐ WR Trammond Collins (Florida commit)
  Keeping close tabs on the Noles.

These are the names with real flip potential heading into the winter.

🌟 Major 2027 Visitors: Loaded Skill Talent
FSU is stacking its board early for 2027, highlighted by:
4⭐ WR Nick Lennear (Miami Northwestern) — explosive, national-level recruit
4⭐ WR Tramond Collins (Cottondale)
4⭐ TE/Big WR George Lamons (Brooks County) — FSU very high on his board
4⭐ OL Timi Aliu, Sam Walker, Major Green, Jamarios Canton
4⭐ EDGE Anthony Cavallaro, Antonio Thomas Jr., Zylen Little

Plus several standout QBs:

• 4⭐ QB Jayce Johnson

• 3⭐ QB Derrick Baker

This is one of FSU’s deepest 2027 groups of the season.

🌱 2028–2029 Prospects Also in Town
Including:

• 4⭐ RB Elijah Newman-Hall (Ohio State commit — 2028)

• 4⭐ WR Tyree Mannings Jr. (Venice — 2028)

• 4⭐ DB Izayah Vickers (FSU High — 2028)

• Several 2029 rising national names like QB Khalif Morgan and DB Zacari Isaac

This weekend is shaping the 2027–2029 foundational recruiting board.

🧠 Why It Matters
This is the final home-game recruiting showcase of the year — and with coordinator uncertainty, key flips and top-50 prospects on campus, FSU’s ability to stabilize momentum begins tonight.
The presence of Johnson, Kent, Crutchfield, and Kam Wilson underscores how crucial this weekend is for both the 2026 and 2027 classes.

👉 Full Visitor Lists via Noles247 & Warchant

🏈 FSU vs. Virginia Tech: How the Media Sees Senior Night 🏈

Florida State enters Senior Night at 4–5, favored by nearly two touchdowns, and absolutely needing a win to keep bowl hopes realistic. The media? Mostly leaning Noles but with a few loud “don’t trust FSU” voices in the mix.

🔥 Noles247 Staff Predictions

• Trey Rowland: VT 27, FSU 24

• Zach Blostein: FSU 31, VT 20

• Adam Brown: FSU 34, VT 17

• Brendan Sonnone: FSU 30, VT 20

• Kevin Little: VT 28, FSU 17

• Chris Nee: FSU 31, VT 21

🧠 Read: Two pick Virginia Tech, four ride with FSU by 10–17 points.

🔥 Warchant Matchup & Staff Picks

• Gene Williams: FSU 38, VT 24

• Ira Schoffel: FSU 38, VT 31

• Corey Clark: FSU 38, VT 20

• Jeff Cameron: FSU 30, VT 21

• Tom Lang: FSU 27, VT 21

• Aslan Hajivandi: FSU 31, VT 20

• Matt LaSerre: FSU 35, VT 28

🧠 Read: Clean sweep for FSU, mostly in the 27–38 point range for the Noles in a one- to two-score game.

🔥 Tomahawk Nation Prognosticators

• Jordan Silversmith: FSU 27, VT 17

• Curt Weiler: FSU 35, VT 24

• Tim Scribble: FSU 24, VT 17

• NoleThruandThru: VT 24, FSU 22

• Matt Minnick: FSU 35, VT 20

• Jacob Smith: FSU 35, VT 24

• Frank Denole: FSU 41, VT 27

• Perry Kostidakis: FSU 31, VT 17

🧠 Read: Seven predict an FSU win, one leans into the chaos with a VT upset.

📊 Big-Picture Takeaways

• Vegas: FSU -13.5, total ~54.5

• Across 21 predictions, 18 pick FSU, 3 pick VT.

• Most see:

  • FSU in the 30–38 point range

  • VT somewhere between 17–27

  • Script: FSU’s run game + home field vs. VT’s shaky OL and limited passing attack

🧠 Why It Matters
Everyone agrees on two things:

1. FSU should win this game at home.

2. With this team’s volatility, nobody feels truly safe saying it out loud.

👉 Full breakdowns and context via Noles247, Warchant & Tomahawk Nation

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks for riding along on a massive game day edition of The Chief Brief.
Between Senior Night, a heavyweight recruiting weekend, and one of the most emotional practice moments of the season, tonight’s matchup carries more weight than a typical 4–5 record suggests.

Whether you’ll be in Doak or on the couch, enjoy it — and let’s see if the Noles answer Ethan Pritchard’s message.

See you tomorrow,
Chief