In partnership with

Forwarded this email from a friend? Subscribe at the button below

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

We have a packed Monday edition and FSU delivered storylines everywhere you look.

⚡ Volleyball survives a five-set battle at Notre Dame, powered by a career night from Kyleene Filimaua and huge performances across the stat sheet.

💥 Recruiting momentum is surging, with FSU trending for a top JUCO EDGE, a major RB flip, and another key defensive target after a strong weekend in Tallahassee.

🏀 Women’s hoops pushed No. 4 Indiana to the wire, dropping a 76–72 thriller on Natasha Howard Jersey Retirement Night — with a massive 3rd-quarter surge nearly stealing it.

🎰 FSU opens as a six-point road favorite at NC State, setting up a Friday night showdown with bowl eligibility on the line.

🌟 Duce Robinson’s rise is becoming a national headline, as the 6’6” star inches toward a 1,000-yard season and cements himself as one of the country’s elite receivers.

📒 Final notes, PFF grades, and snap counts reveal FSU’s cleanest, most complete statistical game of 2025 — with breakout freshmen, elite efficiency, and record-setting performances across the board.

Let’s dive in.

Fuel your business brain. No caffeine needed.

Consider this your wake-up call.

Morning Brew}} is the free daily newsletter that powers you up with business news you’ll actually enjoy reading. It’s already trusted by over 4 million people who like their news with a bit more personality, pizazz — and a few games thrown in. Some even come for the crosswords and quizzes, but leave knowing more about the business world than they expected.

Quick, witty, and delivered first thing in the morning, Morning Brew takes less time to read than brewing your coffee — and gives your business brain the boost it needs to stay sharp and in the know.

Try Morning Brew for free

🏐 FSU Volleyball Outlasts Notre Dame in Five-Set Thriller 🏐

Florida State bounced back in the win column Sunday with a gritty five-set road victory over Notre Dame, powered by career nights and clutch performances across the board.

🔥 Filimaua Takes Over

• Kyleene Filimaua dominated every phase: 19 kills, 5 aces (tied career high), 13 digs, 3 blocks

• Marked her 11th double-double of the season

• Served as the spark in multiple momentum swings

💨 Multiple Noles Deliver Double-Doubles

• Iane Henke: 19 kills, 11 digs

• Lily Nicholson: 25 assists, 10 digs

• Nellie Stevenson: 20 assists, 10 digs

🌟 Freshman Breakout: Nenu Kpea

• Birthday statement game: 9 kills on 14 swings

• Career-best 9 blocks, anchoring the front line

🔒 Set-by-Set Flow

• Set 1: Noles cruise 25–19 behind a 6–0 run and .300 hitting

• Set 2: Late 9–2 comeback falls short, ND steals it 25–23

• Set 3: FSU opens 5–0 and never trails

• Set 4: Roles reverse as ND forces a deciding set

• Set 5: Noles respond from down 4–2 with a 7–2 surge; Henke delivers the dagger at 13–12

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU moves to 14–11 (8–8 ACC) and extends its winning streak over Notre Dame to five straight, setting up a pivotal home matchup vs No. 15 North Carolina on Friday.

👉 Full Match Recap via Seminoles.com

🔮 FSU Trending Toward Multiple Recruiting Wins After Big Weekend 🔮 

Florida State’s No. 14–ranked Rivals class is heating up after a strong visit weekend, with the Noles surging for several priority flip and JUCO targets.

🔥 JUCO Star Jalen Anderson Trending Heavily to FSU

• Rivals Industry No. 2 JUCO EDGE

• Anderson called the visit “as close to perfect as it could be”

• Raved about Norvell’s authenticity and the staff’s detailed plan for his role

• Highlighted resources across academics, strength, recovery, and nutrition

• Said he “felt comfortable in a future as a Nole” and saw a path for instant disruption

💨 Momentum Building for RB Amari Thomas (South Carolina Commit)

• Former FSU pledge who’s been on campus multiple times this fall

• Though committed to South Carolina, FSU now holds clear momentum

• RPM now favors the Seminoles following another positive visit

🔒 Edge Target Kamron Wilson (Syracuse Commit) Also Trending Upward

• Miami Southridge standout has visited FSU multiple times

• Official visit “went well,” and FSU continues to narrow the gap

• Not as far along as Anderson or Thomas, but trajectory is solidly upward

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU’s late-season surge on the trail positions the staff to land instant-impact defenders and reclaim a major in-state RB target — laying groundwork for a rapid turnaround in 2026 and beyond.

👉 Full Recruiting Update via Rivals

Cook Without Compromise: Nonstick That’s Nontoxic

Titanium Cookware Set from Our Place is the first of its kind – truly nonstick with zero coatings and zero forever chemicals. Made from pure titanium and ultra-hardened to be 300% stronger than stainless steel, it delivers a naturally nonstick surface that won’t degrade over time. Tough enough for open flames, daily scrubbing, dishwashers, and metal utensils, it blends the durability of stainless steel, the heat retention of cast iron, and the convenience of nonstick into one timeless design. It’s cookware built to last a lifetime.

Make the switch to Our Place’s Titanium Cookware Set today and get 10% off with code NEWSLETTER10 at fromourplace.com. Free shipping and free returns…

🏀 FSU Falls 76–72 to No. 4 Indiana on Natasha Howard Night 🏀

Florida State battled wire-to-wire in a physical matchup against the undefeated Hoosiers, but late free throws sealed a narrow 76–72 loss on Military Appreciation & Natasha Howard Jersey Retirement Night.

🔥 Bowles Leads the Charge

• Sydney Bowles: 19 points, 8-of-8 FT (ties career high)

• Jasmine Shavers: 16 points, huge 3rd-quarter spark

• Pania Davis: 12 points, 7 rebounds

• FSU shot 20-of-26 at the line and scored 40 paint points

💨 Game Flow

• Slow first quarter → FSU trailed 17–12

• Multiple ties before halftime; Hoosiers led 32–29

• Massive 27-point 3Q put FSU ahead 56–50

• Indiana answered with a big 4th; FSU cut it to 2 in the final minute but couldn’t close

🔒 Defense Showed Up

• FSU won on rebounds (36–34), steals (5–3), and blocks (3–1)

• Davis & Treadwell controlled the glass early

🌟 Natasha Howard’s No. 33 Retired
The three-time All-ACC star and 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year had her jersey lifted into the rafters — becoming just the fifth Seminole ever honored with a retirement.

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU drops to 3–2 but showed real grit against a Top-5 team — with a rivalry trip to Florida next.

👉 Full Recap & Stats

🎰 FSU Opens as Six-Point Favorite vs. NC State 🎰 

Florida State enters Friday night’s road test in Raleigh as a six-point favorite, per Circa Sports — with the total set at 60.5.

🔥 What the Line Tells Us

• FSU is coming off a decisive 34–14 win over Virginia Tech, its most complete outing in weeks.

• NC State is reeling after a 41–7 blowout loss at Miami.

• The Wolfpack, however, are 4–1 at home, and Carter–Finley on a Friday night has historically been a tough environment.

📺 Game Info
Kickoff: Friday, 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Records:

• FSU: 5–5 (2–5 ACC)

• NC State: 5–5 (2–4 ACC)

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU still hasn’t won a true road game this season — and bowl eligibility hangs in the balance.

More details available here.

🏈 Duce Robinson’s Breakout Season Reaches National Spotlight 🏈

Everyone expected an upgrade — but Duce Robinson has become one of the best wide receivers in America, not just at Florida State.

🔥 Another Night, Another Torch Job

• 6 catches • 134 yards • 1 TD vs. Virginia Tech

• Third straight 100-yard game

• Fifth 100-yard performance of the season

• The most receiving yards by a Seminole since 2019

He now sits at 947 yards, needing just 53 more to become:

• FSU’s first 1,000-yard receiver of the decade

• Only the 14th in program history

• No. 2 among all Power Four receivers nationally

💨 The Work Behind the Rise
Robinson insists it’s all execution around him:

Teammates disagree — they say it’s the grind:

• “First guy in, last guy out,” said TE Randy Pittman Jr.

• Takes care of his body, studies, leads Bible study

• Does constant extra work on the field

• Lives like a pro

🔥 Castellanos’ Most Trusted Target
Robinson has become the engine of FSU’s passing game:

• 41% of Tommy Castellanos’ passing yards

• Nearly half of all WR receptions

• Over half of all WR yardage

During the presser, Castellanos looked at him and said:

🧠 Norvell’s Challenge: Be a Complete Receiver
Mike Norvell praised Robinson’s blocking more than his catches:
He told Duce:

The 6’6” wideout delivered, sealing plays with key off-ball effort — and celebrating those blocks harder than the touchdowns.

🔮 Why It Matters
Robinson isn’t just FSU’s WR1 — he’s a culture-carrier, a future pro, and the clearest example of what this roster can become when talent meets leadership.

👉 Read the full breakdown — including deeper quotes and Norvell’s full evaluation

📒 Final Notes, PPF Grades, & Snap Count Takeaways from FSU’s 34–14 Win 📒 

Florida State’s 34–14 win over Virginia Tech doubled as its 600th program victory, highlighted by explosive playmaking, clean execution, and a surge of young defensive talent.

🔥 Senior Night + Key Lineup Notes

• FSU honored 18 seniors, including Tommy Castellanos, Shyheim Brown, Jerry Wilson, and Roydell Williams.

• Freshman Shamar Arnoux started at CB.

• Offense used more two-TE sets with Markeston Douglas starting; Gavin Sawchuk returned to RB1.

💫 Castellanos + Duce Lead Another Clean Offensive Night

• FSU posted 431 yards, zero turnovers, and zero sacks allowed.

• Tommy Castellanos: 189 passing yards, 3 total TDs, and broke FSU’s single-season QB rushing TD record (8).

• Duce Robinson: 6 catches, 134 yards, 50-yard TD; now at 947 yards, the most by a Nole since 2019 and nearing a 1,000-yard season.

• FSU scored on 6 straight drives and had an 89% drive success rate — elite nationally.

🔒 Defense: Turnovers + Freshman Breakouts

• FSU forced two takeaways (Wilson INT; Desir FF) and allowed only 14 points.

• Mandrell Desir recorded his 5th sack — the most by a true freshman since Brian Burns (2016).

• Blake Nichelson: first fumble recovery + key 4th-down TFL.

• Jerry Wilson: INT + TFL on back-to-back drives.

📊 Most Notable PFF Performers

• Offense: Castellanos (81.4), Robinson (75.1), Jaylin Lucas (72.3)

• Defense: Elijah Herring (76.1), Daniel Lyons (75.3), Darryll Desir (73.4), Ashlynd Barker (71.6), Jerry Wilson (70.1)

📈 Snap Count Insights

• Duce Robinson: 57 snaps (clear WR1)

• Randy Pittman Jr.: team-high 64 offensive snaps

• Arnoux + Edwin Joseph: both over 49 snaps in the secondary

• Darrell Jackson Jr.: 39 snaps anchoring the DL

🧠 Why It Matters
This was Florida State’s most well-rounded statistical game of 2025 — explosive plays, low penalties, no turnovers, young defenders emerging, and Duce closing in on a milestone — all ahead of a critical Friday trip to NC State.

👉 Full stats, PPF grades & snap counts available via 247Sports

And that’s a wrap!

A five-set comeback, a near-upset of a Top-5 team, recruiting momentum heating up, and Duce Robinson rewriting the record book — it’s a busy week in Tallahassee with a massive Friday night road test ahead.

As always, thanks for reading and riding with us every morning.

Go Noles.
— Chief