Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

As Rivalry Week approaches, we’ve got all the latest updates on Florida State sports, recruiting buzz, and standout performances across the board:

🏀 Seminoles Shine in Hall of Fame Tip-Off Finale
Florida State basketball dominated UMass with a scorching offensive display and a lockdown defense, capped by MVP Jamir Watkins’ standout performance.

📊 Breaking Down FSU’s Win Over Charleston Southern
The Seminoles put up their best team grades of the season in a 41-7 victory, featuring standout performances from young talents like Luke Kromenhoek and Patrick Payton.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Outlasts Clemson on Senior Day
The Noles battled through a five-set thriller to notch their 20th win of the season, fueled by Khori Louis’ career-high 20 kills and Audrey Koenig’s record-setting streak.

🎯 10 Recruiting Targets to Watch as Signing Day Nears
With the Early Signing Period just days away, dive into the top prospects Florida State is looking to land, including potential flips and key visits ahead.

🧠 Brennan Marion: FSU’s Next Offensive Coordinator?
The innovative UNLV coach is the leading candidate to take over FSU’s offense, but head coaching interviews could impact his arrival.

⛳ Clanton & Berger Shine at RSM Classic
FSU junior Luke Clanton and alum Daniel Berger finished tied for second in a thrilling PGA Tour event, with Clanton gearing up for the Walker Cup practices.

🏈 Rivalry Week: FSU vs. Florida
The Seminoles face a tough test against the Gators as they look to close out the 2024 season with a statement win in Doak Campbell Stadium.

🏀 FSU Dominates UMass in Hall of Fame Tip-Off Finale 🏀

Florida State (6-1) capped off the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off with a commanding 92-59 victory over UMass at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Malique Ewin led four Seminoles in double figures with a career-high 17 points, while Jamir Watkins added 14 and earned MVP honors.

🔑 Game Highlights:

• Scorching Offense: The Seminoles shot .569 from the field and .500 from beyond the arc, tallying a season-high 92 points.

• Lockdown Defense: FSU held UMass to .310 shooting and just three 3-pointers on 24 attempts.

• Dominant Second Half: The Noles outscored UMass 55-32 after halftime, shooting an incredible .700 from the field.

🎖 Standout Performances:

• Malique Ewin: Third straight career-high game with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 7-of-10 shooting.

• Jamir Watkins: MVP with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep.

• Bench Depth: The reserves contributed 41 points, with Justin Thomas and Jerry Deng each scoring 10.

📊 Team Effort:

• Season-high 25 assists on 33 baskets.

• Six players recorded at least one steal, led by Taylor Bol Bowen with two.

• All 16 Seminoles saw playing time.

🚨 What’s Next: FSU returns home to face Western Carolina on Tuesday at 7:00 PM in the Donald L. Tucker Center. Proceeds from the game will support The MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, N.C., following Hurricane Helene.

Read more here.

📊 FSU’s Stat-Packed Win Over Charleston Southern: By the Numbers 📊 

Florida State picked up its second win of the season with a 41-7 blowout over Charleston Southern. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the victory came against an FCS opponent ranked among the worst in the division. Here’s how the Seminoles performed across the board, from standout moments to detailed stats and grades.

Key Grades & Stats

• Overall Team Grade: 82.7 – Season-high, best since last year’s North Alabama game.

• Offense: 81.8 – Highest grade this season, with 415 total yards (240 passing, 175 rushing).

• Defense: 73.3 – Dominant showing, held CSU scoreless for three quarters.

• Best Unit: Passing (85.7) – Best grade since the 2022 bowl game vs. Oklahoma.

• Worst Unit: Run Blocking (57.3) – A recurring challenge despite 175 rushing yards.

Offensive Highlights

• Luke Kromenhoek: The freshman QB shined in his first start, earning an 83.6 PFF passing grade with 209 yards and 3 TDs. He recorded four "big-time throws" and hit Ja’Khi Douglas for a 71-yard touchdown—the longest pass play of FSU’s season.

• Ja’Khi Douglas: 82 receiving yards, 83.7 PFF grade.

• Caziah Holmes: Two rushing TDs, 83.2 grade.

• Hykeem Williams: 81.8 grade with a TD catch.

Defensive Standouts

• Patrick Payton: 80.4 grade, his best outing of the season, with five tackles and two TFLs.

• Blake Nichelson & Charles Lester: Emerging talents earned grades of 72.1 and 72.8, respectively.

• Run Defense: 85.3 grade, limiting CSU to 57 rushing yards (2.0 yards per carry).

Special Teams & National Rankings

• Ryan Fitzgerald: Remains perfect this season (12-for-12 on field goals), tying the second-longest streak in school history.

• Net Punting: FSU ranks No. 2 nationally, led by Alex Mastromanno’s standout season.

National Stats Snapshot

• Offense: 131st in total offense, 130th in scoring offense, and 115th in passing offense.

• Defense: 88th in total defense, with strong performances in red zone defense (36th).

• Time of Possession: 128th – A glaring area for improvement.

While the win is a confidence booster, it highlights areas for growth as the Seminoles prepare for next week’s rivalry clash with Florida.

Read more here.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Outlasts Clemson in Five-Set Senior Day Thriller 🏐

No. 23 Florida State (20-8, 12-6) celebrated Senior Day with a hard-fought victory over Clemson (10-19, 2-16) in a gripping five-set match (20-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-18, 15-10) at Tully Gym. The Noles extended their dominance over the Tigers to 19 consecutive wins, a streak dating back to 2010, while recording their 20th win of the season for the 12th time under Coach Poole.

🔑 Match Highlights:

• Khori Louis Shines: Tied her career-high with 20 kills on 27 attempts (.667 hitting percentage), leading the Noles’ offense.

• Audrey Koenig’s Consistency: Tallied 10 kills to extend her school-record streak to 25 matches with double-digit kills, adding nine digs and four blocks.

• Taylor Head Delivers: Contributed 17 kills and 10 digs, solidifying the Noles' offensive push.

📊 Key Stats:

• Career-High Assist Day: Sophomore Kenna Phelan notched a career-best 33 assists, surpassing her previous high set just last Friday.

• Defensive Effort: Emery Dupes led with 11 digs, joined by Head and Loren Robertson with 10 each.

• Team Performance: Florida State recorded 60 kills, eight aces, and nine blocks, maintaining relentless pressure throughout.

🎖 Set-by-Set Recap:

• Set 1: Clemson gained an early edge, holding off an FSU rally to claim the opener, 25-20.

• Set 2: FSU responded with dominant offensive execution, cruising to a 25-16 win behind Head and Filimaua.

• Set 3: A late Clemson surge proved decisive as the Tigers took the set, 25-21.

• Set 4: The Noles rallied with precision and energy, overpowering Clemson 25-18 to force a decisive fifth set.

• Set 5: Louis, Koenig, and Head led the charge, closing out the match 15-10 with timely kills and clutch defense.

🚨 What’s Next: Florida State wraps up its regular season at home against No. 10 SMU on Wednesday at 12 p.m. on ACCNX.

Read more here.

🎯 10 Prospects to Watch as Early Signing Day Nears 🎯

With the Early Signing Period just 10 days away, Florida State is working to bolster its No. 34-ranked recruiting class. Here are the top targets according to 247Noles as the Seminoles look to close strong:

1️⃣ Tavion Wallace (4-star LB, Arkansas commit)
FSU gained traction after hosting Wallace this past weekend, with another visit planned for the Florida game. Wallace has called FSU the “biggest threat” to his Arkansas commitment.

2️⃣ Justus Terry (5-star DL)
FSU is a longshot but still in the mix. A potential visit for the Florida game could give the Seminoles one last shot at the nation’s top uncommitted player.

3️⃣ Tae’shaun Gelsey (4-star WR, UF commit)
FSU is pitching Gelsey as a traditional wideout, a stark contrast to UF’s plan to use him as a flex tight end. Gelsey missed UF’s game last weekend and is expected in Tallahassee for the Florida matchup.

4️⃣ Tobi Haastrup (4-star Edge)
FSU remains a contender after hosting Haastrup on an official visit, but the Seminoles face tough competition from Oregon and Michigan.

5️⃣ Tylon Lee (4-star Edge, Ole Miss commit)
FSU is making a late push to flip Lee and will host the Pensacola native for an official visit this weekend.

6️⃣ Tyeland Coleman (3-star DL, JUCO)
The Seminoles are vying with Mississippi State for Coleman’s commitment. He will visit FSU officially this weekend.

7️⃣ Sean Poret (3-star OT, USF commit)
FSU continues to evaluate Poret despite having no offensive line coach at the moment. The Bulls commit will take an official visit this weekend.

8️⃣ Zahir Mathis (4-star Edge)
FSU is interested in hosting Mathis, a recent Ohio State decommitment. While he’s leaning toward a February signing, an official visit could change his timeline.

9️⃣ Jordan Scott (3-star WR, Arizona State commit)
The 6’7” JUCO standout is on an official visit to FSU. Adding Scott would provide a big-bodied target to a thin receiver room.

🔟 Teriq Mallory (3-star ATH)
FSU is targeting Mallory, a 6’5” Connecticut standout, to fill the gap in their receiver corps and is pushing for a visit this weekend.

🏁 Closing Thoughts
With visits and commitments still in flux, FSU has opportunities to secure meaningful additions to its class. Flipping key players or landing last-minute talent will be pivotal over the next 10 days.

Read more here.

🧠 Brennan Marion: The Next FSU Offensive Coordinator? 🧠

With the 2024 season winding down, all eyes are on Mike Norvell as he works to fill the offensive and defensive coordinator vacancies. One name has emerged as the frontrunner for the OC position: UNLV’s Brennan Marion.

🔑 Why Marion?
Marion’s innovative “Go-Go” offense has turned heads across college football, earning him a reputation as one of the game’s most creative offensive minds. A former player under Norvell at Tulsa and coaching colleague at Arizona State, Marion shares a long-standing connection with FSU’s head coach.

📊 Current Status
Multiple sources confirm that Marion is FSU’s top target, and the interest is mutual. Key recruits are reportedly being told to expect Marion’s hiring. However, there’s a potential twist: Marion is actively interviewing for head coaching roles, including positions at Temple, UMass, FAU, and others.

🛠 The Fit for FSU
Warchant analyst Dominic Robinson praised Marion’s offense as “off the charts” but cautioned against overhyping the hire. Marion’s ability to adapt his high-octane system to FSU’s personnel could determine his success in Tallahassee.

⏳ What’s Next?
FSU fans may have to wait as Marion navigates interviews for head coaching roles. If those opportunities don’t materialize, he seems poised to lead the Seminoles’ offense in 2025.

Stay tuned for updates as this hiring process unfolds.

⛳ FSU’s Luke Clanton and Alum Daniel Berger Tie for Second at RSM Classic ⛳

Florida State junior Luke Clanton and former Seminole Daniel Berger finished tied for second at the RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club on Sunday, narrowly missing a playoff after Maverick McNealy’s decisive birdie secured the victory.

🔑 Key Moments:

• Clanton’s Charge: Starting the day in seventh at 11-under par, Clanton birdied holes 10, 11, and 16 to tie for the lead at 16-under. A bogey on 18 dropped him to 15-under, finishing in a four-way tie.

• Berger’s Climb: Berger shot a scorching 63 on Saturday to jump into the final group, finishing at 15-under after a 66 on Sunday.

📊 Tournament Highlights:

• Luke Clanton:

  • Scores: 68, 66, 68, 67 (-15).

  • Fourth top-10 PGA TOUR finish of 2024.

  • Tied for the lead before McNealy’s birdie on 18.

• Daniel Berger:

  • Scores: 71, 66, 63, 66 (-15).

  • Climbed inside the top 125, securing a full PGA TOUR card for 2025.

🚨 What’s Next for Clanton: Clanton will join 15 others for the 2025 Walker Cup Match practice sessions at three prestigious Florida courses from Dec. 14-16: McArthur Golf Club, Seminole Golf Club, and The Bear’s Club.

Read more here.

🏈 Rivalry Week: FSU vs. Florida 🏈

Florida State (2-9) heads into its final regular-season game as a 13-point underdog against in-state rival Florida (6-5), according to Circa Sports. The Seminoles will look to close the season strong in a Saturday night showdown at Doak Campbell Stadium.

🔑 Key Storylines:

• Recent Form: FSU notched its second win of the season with a dominant 41-7 victory over Charleston Southern, while Florida secured back-to-back wins, including a 24-17 upset over No. 15 Ole Miss.

• Series History: Florida leads the all-time series 37-28-2, but FSU has won the last two matchups, including a 24-15 victory in Gainesville last season.

• Kickoff Details: The 2024 rivalry clash is set for 7:00 PM ET inside Doak Campbell Stadium.

Read more here.

And that’s a wrap!

From basketball’s dominant run to volleyball’s thrilling Senior Day, it’s been a week of standout performances across FSU sports.

With Early Signing Day just around the corner, all eyes are on the recruiting trail as FSU works to bolster its class and secure key commitments. Meanwhile, the buzz around Brennan Marion as the next offensive coordinator adds another layer of intrigue to the program’s future.

Rivalry Week is here—let’s bring the energy and make Doak Campbell Stadium the loudest it’s been all year. See you on game day, Go Noles! 🏹