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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy November and Happy Gameday, Seminole!

Homecoming vibes, a four-match win streak in Tully, a virtual museum for Noles history, and one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the year. Tonight’s edition sets the table for a pivotal Saturday in Tallahassee.

In this issue

🏐 Volleyball — Noles stay perfect vs. Syracuse and push the streak to four (Henke 22 kills, Filimaua double-double).

🏃 Cross Country — Bieke Schipperen earns back-to-back All-ACC honors as both squads eye Regionals.

🏊 Swim & Dive — Men thump No. 17 South Carolina; women collect key wins in Morcom finale.

🏹 History Drop — SeminoleRewind.com launches, archiving 80 years of FSU athletic greatness.

⚾ Baseball — Fall Ball wraps with a wave of new arms and velocity across a rebuilt staff.

🏀 Women’s Basketball — 4⭐ C Chamiah Francis commits, anchoring FSU’s elite 2026 class.

🏈 Football Recruiting — Blue-chip weekend at Doak with 3 officials on campus; one 2026 LB to UNC, and 2027 QB Kavian Bryant announcing tonight.

🔥 Game Preview — Expert predictions tilt toward Wake despite FSU favored by 9.5; can the ‘Noles flip the script?

📊 Today’s Poll — How confident are you in FSU vs Wake Forest tonight?
📅 Yesterday’s Results — See how Nole Nation voted below.

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🏐 FSU Volleyball Stays Perfect vs. Syracuse, Extends Win Streak to Four 🏐

Florida State volleyball (12–8, 6–5 ACC) kept rolling Friday night, defeating Syracuse (13–8, 5–6) in four sets (25–18, 25–23, 19–25, 25–14) at Tully Gym — improving to 18–0 all-time against the Orange and extending its winning streak to four straight.

🔥 Henke & Filimaua Power the Attack

• Iane Henke: 22 kills on .357 hitting — her fifth 20+ kill performance in the last six matches.

• Kyleene Filimaua: 16 kills, 13 digs, .243 hitting — marking her ninth double-double of the season.

• FSU hit .265 overall, holding Syracuse to just .057 in the opening set.

💪 Set-by-Set Snapshot

• Set 1: FSU surged ahead 9–5 and never looked back, taking it 25–18 behind 4 kills and an ace from Filimaua.

• Set 2: The Noles rallied from an early deficit, fueled by 8 kills from Henke, to win 25–23.

• Set 3: Syracuse fought back 25–19 to extend the match.

• Set 4: FSU dominated with a .583 hitting clip and three aces (Henke, Stevenson, Nicholson) to close it out 25–14.

📅 Next Up
The Seminoles return to Tully Gym on Sunday to face Boston College at 1 p.m. ET, streaming live on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

👉 With momentum building and postseason positioning in sight, FSU looks to make it five straight wins on home court.

🏃 Schipperen Earns All-ACC Honors as FSU Cross Country Wraps Championships 🏃

Florida State wrapped up the ACC Cross Country Championships in Louisville on Friday with Bieke Schipperen earning All-ACC honors for the second straight year, continuing a streak that stretches back to 1995 — the Seminole women have now produced at least one All-ACC runner in every conference meet for nearly three decades.

🔥 Women’s Results

• Bieke Schipperen: 15th place, personal-best 19:55.7

• Suus Altorf: 63rd (20:42.0)

• Rylee Blade: 66th (20:45.3) — ACC debut

• Brooke Hooper: 78th (20:57.1) — first ACC Championship

• Nicole Dinan: 83rd (21:00.1) — personal best
  ➡️ Team finish: 12th overall (281 points)

💪 Men’s Results

• Isaac Hirshman Chandler: 29th place, career-best 23:33.4

• Lucas Bouquot: 63rd (24:03.3)

• Kaden Levings: 24:09.0

• Aidan Ryan: 123rd (25:01.8)

• Zach Trotter: 128th (25:06.3, lifetime best)*
  ➡️ Team finish: 12th overall (360 points)

📅 Next Up:
The Seminoles will compete at the NCAA South Regional Championships on November 14 in Huntsville, Alabama, aiming to punch their ticket to Nationals.

👉 Another All-ACC honor, another milestone of consistency for FSU cross country.

🏊 FSU Men Defeat No. 17 South Carolina; Women Fall in Final Home Meet of 2025 🏊

Florida State wrapped up its 2025 home schedule at the Morcom Aquatics Center on Friday, splitting results against No. 17 South Carolina. The No. 18 Seminole men earned a decisive 179–121 victory, while the women fell 101–199 to the Gamecocks.

🔥 Standout Performances

• Michel Arkhangelsky led the way with three individual wins (50 Free, 100 Free, 100 Fly) and a relay victory, clocking the 10th-fastest 200 medley relay time in program history (1:24.81).

• Mathias Christensen dominated the 200 Fly (1:44.56) and 200 IM (1:46.94), contributing to two 1–2 finishes.

• Kayleigh Clark continued her consistency on the boards, winning 1-meter (281.93) and placing second on 3-meter (312.75).

• On the women’s side, Julia Mansson (100 Breast, 1:01.33) and Sophie Freeman (100 Fly, 53.59) both took individual wins.

💪 Relay Highlights

• Both FSU squads swept the 200 medley relays, with the women finishing in 1:37.54.

• The men closed out the meet with a 400 freestyle relay victory (2:56.17) to cap their final home event of the year.

📅 Next Up:
The Seminoles head to Baton Rouge on Nov. 7 to face No. 14/21 LSU and No. 16 Alabama in a tri-meet that will close out the fall schedule.

👉 A strong home finale for the men and a spirited showing from the women as both squads gear up for SEC competition on the road.

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🏹 FSU Launches SeminoleRewind.com: A Digital Archive of 80 Years of Seminole History 🏹

Florida State Athletics has unveiled SeminoleRewind.com, an expansive new digital archive built in partnership with Heritage Werks that brings eight decades of FSU sports history to life. The site offers fans a virtual museum experience — complete with rare memorabilia, game-used gear, vintage programs, and legendary artifacts from across all Seminole sports.

🔥 A Virtual Museum for Noles Fans

• Explore iconic items such as Ron Simmons’ helmet, championship uniforms, and historical game balls.

• Browse galleries celebrating Heisman winners, championship seasons, honored jerseys, and FSU’s all-time greats.

• Dive into football and basketball timelines, historic team photos, and promotional materials dating back to 1947.

💬 From the AD
“We are excited to be able to offer this unique collection to our fans,” said FSU Athletics Director Michael Alford. “The site is like a visit through a virtual FSU museum — and this is just the start.”

👉 Visit SeminoleRewind.com to explore, share, and relive the moments that made FSU history.

⚾ FSU Baseball’s Fall Ball Recap: New Arms, Fresh Depth Ahead of 2026 ⚾

Florida State baseball closes out its fall slate Friday night with the Garnet & Gold All-Star Game at Dick Howser Stadium — the final look at a revamped pitching staff featuring 13 newcomers and 16 arms already showcased across exhibitions vs. Mississippi State and UAB.

🔥 Pitching Overhaul in Focus
Head coach Link Jarrett and pitching coach Micah Posey rebuilt the staff through a mix of transfers, JUCO additions, and freshmen, adding velocity, variety, and balance from both sides of the mound.

💪 Standouts So Far

• Bryson Moore (Virginia transfer): Emerged as a rotation frontrunner, sitting 91–94 with elite spin on both slider and curveball.

• Cole Stokes (Oregon transfer): High-octane arm touching 99 MPH; still refining command but flashing dominant slider action.

• John Abraham: Consistent whiff generation with a deep four-pitch mix; potential breakout starter.

• Wes Mendes: Stuff trending up after offseason training — 96 MPH fastball, sharper secondary pitches.

• Michel Lantigua (Fr.): Struck-throwing freshman with polish beyond his years; earned a save vs. Mississippi State.

📊 Roster Breakdown

• 19 total pitchers (18 active this fall)

• 7 transfers, 2 JUCOs, 4 true freshmen

• Blend of returning experience and fresh velocity across the board

👉 A new-look staff with real firepower — and plenty for Noles fans to be excited about heading into spring.

🏀 Four-Star Center Chamiah Francis Commits to Florida State 🏀

Florida State women’s basketball secured a major in-state commitment Friday as Pensacola (Fla.) Booker T. Washington four-star center Chamiah Francis pledged to the Seminoles. The 6-foot-3 standout becomes the final high school addition to FSU’s 2026 recruiting class.

🔥 Recruiting Win for the Noles

• Ranked No. 25 overall and No. 3 center nationally by 247Sports.

• Chose FSU over powerhouse programs including Alabama, Duke, LSU, Miami, North Carolina, and Ole Miss.

• Took her official visit during FSU’s football game vs. Miami earlier this season.

💪 Elite 2026 Class
Francis joins a loaded class featuring:

• Missy Odom, 4⭐ PF (Montverde Academy, FL)

• Asia Lee, 4⭐ SG (Olathe North, KS)

• Kennedy Loux, CG (Providence School, FL)

• Morgan Stewart, CG (St. John’s College HS, DC)

👉 Another top-tier recruiting haul for the Seminoles as Brooke Wyckoff continues to build a frontcourt ready to dominate the ACC.

🏈 FSU Hosts Massive Recruiting Weekend for Homecoming vs. Wake Forest 🏈

Florida State football is rolling out the red carpet for one of its biggest recruiting weekends of the year, hosting dozens of top prospects from the 2026, 2027, and 2028 classes — including three official visitors — as the Seminoles look to regain momentum on and off the field.

🔥 Official Visitors in Tallahassee

• 🏃‍♂️ RB Qwantavius Wiggins (FIU commit): Explosive rusher from Langston Hughes (GA) with 680 yards and 12 TDs this season. FSU trending well, with Auburn and FIU still in pursuit.

• 💪 DL Damaad Lewis: Charlotte (NC) standout who recently visited Nebraska; FSU is looking to close the gap with NIL discussions this weekend.

• 🛡️ DB/LB Daylen Green (Arkansas commit): A strong flip candidate who’s been high on FSU’s board for weeks.

🏹 Key FSU Commits on Campus
The Seminoles are reinforcing commitments from several cornerstone pledges:

• Xavier Tiller (4⭐ TE) — reasserted loyalty to FSU despite Georgia Tech interest.

• Devin Carter (4⭐ WR) — legacy recruit making first visit since the Alabama game.

• Izayia Williams (4⭐ LB) — one of FSU’s most active and vocal commits, returning again before his official visit next month.

🔥 Top Underclassmen Visitors
This weekend also brings a wave of elite 2027 and 2028 prospects to Doak:

• Brayden Tyson (4⭐ RB) — top FSU running back target, returning after heavy contact from staff during the bye week.

• Tramond Collins (4⭐ ATH / Florida commit) — a two-way threat FSU continues to recruit aggressively.

• Chanin Harris (4⭐ WR), Iveon Lewis (4⭐ WR), and Cam Fuse (No. 4 WR in 2028) headline a loaded wideout group.

• Jatori Williams (4⭐ OL / Alabama commit) — FSU pushing for a flip; strong relationship with OL coach Herb Hand.

• Sam LeJeune (4⭐ DL) and Donivan Moore (4⭐ DL) lead a deep list of trench talent expected to attend.

• Ta’Shawn Poole (4⭐ DB) — making his first visit to Tallahassee.

💬 The Stakes
With FSU sitting at 3–4 and still seeking its first ACC win, this Homecoming weekend is as much about momentum in recruiting as it is about redemption on the field. Mike Norvell’s staff aims to turn the energy around Doak Campbell into a reset moment — and potentially a few key commitments — heading into the back half of the season.

👉 Doak Campbell will be packed with blue-chip visitors — and Florida State’s recruiting operation is ready for a statement weekend.

🏈 FSU Misses on 2026 LB Target as Duyon Forkpa Commits to UNC 🏈

Florida State’s pursuit of Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances linebacker Duyon Forkpa Jr. has officially ended, as the 6-foot-2, 220-pound prospect announced his commitment to North Carolina on Friday night.

🔥 Recruiting Recap

• Forkpa had FSU, Florida, Miami, Michigan, and Missouri among his top schools.

• He becomes the 39th commit in UNC’s massive 2026 class and the fourth linebacker.

• Rated a high three-star and the No. 8 overall player in Maryland, Forkpa visited Florida State earlier in the cycle but had leaned toward the Tar Heels since his June official visit.

💪 Why He Chose UNC
Forkpa cited his fit in UNC’s defensive scheme — playing a hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker role similar to Micah Parsons — as the deciding factor. He also noted the Tar Heels’ defensive growth this season under new leadership.

👉 FSU remains active at linebacker for 2026, continuing to pursue top targets including Izayia Williams and others with positional versatility.

🏈 FSU in Finalists as 2027 QB Kavian Bryant Sets Commitment Date 🏈

One of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 class, Kavian Bryant of Palestine (TX) Westwood, will announce his college decision Saturday at 6:15 p.m. ET on CBS Sports HQ. The 6’2½”, 180-pound dual-sport standout is choosing between Florida State, Texas Tech, Texas, Colorado, and SMU.

🔥 Recruiting Snapshot

• Ranked No. 3 QB nationally and No. 5 overall prospect in Texas (Top247).

• Elite two-sport athlete with Division I basketball offers — all finalists pitched him on playing both sports.

• FSU impressed early, hosting Bryant over Labor Day Weekend for the Seminoles’ upset win vs. Alabama.

📉 Latest Buzz
While Florida State made a strong impression, Texas Tech has surged into the driver’s seat heading into announcement day, thanks to robust NIL infrastructure and early playing-time opportunities.

👉 Bryant’s decision will be streamed live on CBS Sports HQ — and while the Red Raiders lead the race, the Seminoles’ early groundwork could pay dividends if his recruitment reopens later.

🏈 FSU vs. Wake Forest — Expert Predictions Roundup 🏈

The Seminoles (3–4, 0–4 ACC) return to Doak Campbell for Homecoming, desperate to halt a four-game skid. Despite being favored by 9.5 points, fan sentiment and expert outlooks remain split — with many questioning whether Mike Norvell can survive another ACC loss. Below is a full breakdown of the media predictions and confidence levels heading into Saturday night’s matchup.

🧠 Noles247 Staff Predictions

Tally:

• Wake Forest: 4 picks

• Florida State: 2 picks

Goodness Summary: Majority predict FSU’s losing streak continues, citing poor discipline and momentum. Only Sonnone and Nee cautiously back the Seminoles.

🔱 Tomahawk Nation Predictions

Tally:

• Wake Forest: 4 picks

• Florida State: 4 picks

Goodness Summary: Split evenly. Confidence levels vary wildly — FSU’s believers cite emotion and regression-to-the-mean; detractors call for continued dysfunction.

🏆 Warchant Staff Predictions

Tally:

• Wake Forest: 5 picks

• Florida State: 2 picks

Goodness Summary: Analysts cite historical dominance at Doak but overwhelming distrust in execution. FSU’s faith hinges entirely on home-field energy and stopping the bleeding.

📊 Aggregate Outlook

Consensus Goodness:

• Wake Forest (Strong Confidence) — Analysts overwhelmingly expect FSU’s slide to continue, pointing to instability, poor tackling, and locker-room morale issues.

• Florida State (Low-to-Medium Confidence) — A small faction believes emotion, homecoming energy, and a healthy Castellanos could spark a short-term turnaround.

💡 Bottom Line

Despite FSU being a near double-digit betting favorite, the expert consensus leans decisively toward Wake Forest, with only a few predicting a Seminole win — and none expressing high confidence.

👉 Expect a tight, low-scoring contest where discipline and special teams decide the outcome. The margin for error is gone, and so is the benefit of the doubt.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap for today’s Chief Brief.
From four-set volleyball dominance to an all-time digital archive launch, the Seminoles are making headlines across every corner of campus — and all eyes turn to Doak tonight.

A packed recruiting list, the roar of the War Chant, and the chance to stop the slide — it’s all on the line under the lights.

Until tomorrow, stay grounded, stay garnet, and remember: legacies are rewritten one Saturday at a time.

🔥 Go Noles. Protect the Homecoming.