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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll 

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

Here’s what we’ve got inside today:

🏈 FSU Flips Momentum — and Recruits
A breakout week for Florida State on and off the field. The Seminoles flipped three-star Edge Chris Carbin from Georgia Tech, surged with strong interest from FIU RB commit Qwantavius Wiggins, and opened as narrow 2.5-point underdogs for a primetime road test at Clemson.

⚽ Soccer’s ACC Run Ends in Heartbreak
After 110 minutes of dominance, No. 6 FSU Soccer fell 6–5 on penalty kicks to Virginia in the ACC Quarterfinals, snapping its five-year championship streak. The Seminoles now await their NCAA Tournament draw with a national seed still in sight.

🏐 Volleyball Wins Fifth Straight
FSU Volleyball kept rolling, battling past Boston College in five sets to secure its fifth consecutive victory. Up next: a rivalry clash at No. 15 Miami on Wednesday night.

🧠 Tony White on Belief, Basics, and Norvell
Defensive coordinator Tony White praised the “different energy” on the sideline and said Mike Norvell’s message to “believe and stay calm” was exactly what the team needed before the 42–7 Wake rout.

Let’s dive into it 👇️ 

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⚽ No. 6 FSU Falls to Virginia in ACC Quarterfinals on Penalty Kicks ⚽

Florida State’s bid for a sixth consecutive ACC Championship title came to a heartbreaking end Sunday night, as the No. 4-seeded Seminoles were eliminated by No. 5 Virginia on penalty kicks (6–5) after a scoreless 110 minutes at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Tallahassee.

🔥 Tightly Contested Battle
FSU controlled much of the match but couldn’t find the back of the net despite outshooting Virginia 23–13 and holding an 8–4 edge in shots on goal. The Seminoles also dominated corners (13–5) but were denied repeatedly by UVA goalkeeper Victoria Safradin, who came up clutch in the shootout.

💪 Key Performers

• Goalkeeper Kate Ockene recorded a career-high four saves in 110 minutes of action.

• Jordynn Dudley, who missed much of the second half and both overtime periods, converted her penalty attempt.

• Heather Gilchrist, Taylor Suarez, Wrianna Hudson, and Nyanya Touray all buried their PKs as FSU battled to the final round.

🏆 Heartbreak in the Shootout
In the decisive sequence, FSU led 5–4 before UVA’s Addison Halpern and Maya Carter converted back-to-back kicks.
Giana Riley’s attempt was blocked, sealing Virginia’s 6–5 shootout win and ending FSU’s five-year reign as ACC champions.

📅 Next Steps: NCAA Tournament
Florida State now turns its focus to the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship, with the bracket set to be announced Monday, November 10. First-round games will be played November 14–16 at campus sites.

👉 Despite the disappointment, FSU’s elite play and deep roster should keep them in strong position for a top NCAA seed — and another run at national glory

🏈 FSU Flips 3⭐ Edge Chris Carbin from Georgia Tech 🏈

Florida State’s momentum on the recruiting trail continued Sunday as three-star Edge/Jack linebacker Chris Carbin announced his flip from Georgia Tech to the Seminoles — a major defensive win for Mike Norvell’s staff just days after the team’s 42–7 victory over Wake Forest.

🔥 Recruiting Turnaround
Carbin, from Powder Springs, Ga., had long been trending toward Georgia Tech, especially with the Yellow Jackets climbing into the national top 10. But an official visit to Tallahassee for the Pitt game, followed by strong communication from FSU’s staff, changed the tide.

💪 Key Details

• Position: Edge / Jack Linebacker

• Class: 2026

• Rank: No. 82 Edge nationally (247Sports)

• Home: Powder Springs, GA

Defensive line coach Terrance Knighton and head coach Mike Norvell played major roles in sealing the flip.

⚡ Why It Matters
This is a critical addition for FSU’s 2026 class — Carbin fills a pressing need at the hybrid Jack linebacker position and brings versatility to a defense built around edge pressure. After the win over Wake Forest, Carbin said he could feel the program’s energy “shifting,” and that helped finalize his decision.

👉 A major recruiting statement for FSU — turning a potential loss into a flip and addressing a key defensive need in one move.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Outlasts Boston College for Fifth Straight Win 🏐

Florida State volleyball (13–8, 7–5 ACC) extended its winning streak to five matches Sunday afternoon, grinding out a five-set thriller over Boston College (18–25, 25–20, 18–25, 25–14, 15–13) inside Tully Gym. The Seminoles improved to 26–3 all-time against the Eagles and have never lost to BC at home.

🔥 Clutch Performers

• Iane Henke: 19 kills — steady offensive anchor throughout the match.

• Kyleene Filimaua: 16 kills, including the match-sealing swing in the fifth set.

• Payton Whalen: Breakout performance with a season-high 11 kills on 17 attempts (.529 hitting), more than doubling her previous best.

• Delaney Ewing: 8 kills, 6 blocks.

• Mio Yamamoto: 20 digs, leading the defensive effort.

💪 Grit and Comeback Spirit
After dropping the first and third sets, the Seminoles surged back with dominant play in the fourth — opening on a 10–3 run and cruising to a 25–14 win. In the decisive fifth, FSU again jumped ahead early, 10–3, before fending off a furious Boston College rally. On match point, Filimaua forced an overpass that Johanna Sova smashed home for the victory.

🏆 What’s Next
Florida State travels south for a rivalry showdown against No. 15 Miami on Wednesday night in Coral Gables. The Noles have won six straight against the Hurricanes.

📺 First serve: 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network

👉 A gutsy win keeps FSU’s postseason push alive — and sets up a marquee rivalry clash under the lights in Coral Gables.

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🧠 Tony White on Wake Win, Defensive Growth, and Belief in Norvell 🧠

Florida State defensive coordinator Tony White met with reporters Sunday evening to reflect on the Seminoles’ dominant defensive performance against Wake Forest and to preview next weekend’s matchup at Clemson.

🔥 Energy and Mindset Shift
White said the sideline atmosphere was “completely different” after a brutal October, crediting the players for staying calm and composed.

He admitted he was nervous before the Wake game but said Mike Norvell’s bye-week message — “Believe” — hit home.

The defensive coordinator noted that confidence never truly wavered, but the team had “forgotten some of the basics” — and the win reminded them of their foundation.

💪 Back to Basics
During the bye week, White said the defense self-scouted and realized they were “overcompensating.” The solution was simple:

That clarity translated on the field — with a sharper, more connected defensive unit that produced turnovers, sacks, and energy throughout the night.

🔥 Highlights and Player Development

• Praised James Williams for breaking through with impact plays that “hopefully propel him forward.”

• Highlighted Jaden Jones’ speed and “twitch,” noting he didn’t always get stats but created havoc for others.

• Shouted out the “shirtless gang” in the stands for providing energy the defense fed off.

• Emphasized how the defense competes against stars like Duce Robinson daily — “iron sharpens iron.”

🏈 Looking Ahead: Clemson
White praised Clemson’s recent progress, calling them a team “starting to vibe” offensively with better timing, rhythm, and decision-making. He said the Tigers have three receivers who “grab your focus” and a run game that’s “getting more in sync.”

❤️ Support for Norvell
White ended with strong words of unity and belief in FSU’s head coach:

👉 After a long month, FSU’s defense this it has rediscovered its identity — calm, connected, and ready for Clemson.

💨 FSU Making Move to Flip FIU RB Commit Qwantavius Wiggins 💨

Florida State continues to push hard on the recruiting trail, hosting three-star running back Qwantavius Wiggins for an official visit this weekend. The Langston Hughes (Ga.) product, currently committed to FIU, came away from Tallahassee impressed by both the atmosphere and the coaching staff’s vision for his future.

🔥 Visit Impressions
Wiggins attended FSU’s dominant 42–7 win over Wake Forest and said the experience was unlike anything he’s seen elsewhere:

He praised how the team “played excellent” and “came together and got the W,” noting that the energy in Doak Campbell Stadium stood out.

💬 Conversations with Coaches
Wiggins met extensively with head coach Mike Norvell and running backs coach David Johnson, discussing development and his potential role in the offense.

💪 Recruitment Outlook

• Current commitment: FIU

• Other visits: Wisconsin (next weekend); Auburn visit canceled after Hugh Freeze’s firing

• FSU’s chances: “It’s a high chance,” Wiggins said of potentially flipping to the Seminoles.

• Stats: 86 carries, 823 yards (9.6 YPC), 14 TDs this season

• Ranking: No. 24 RB nationally (247Sports)

👉 With his Auburn visit now off the table and Tallahassee making a strong impression, FSU could be on the verge of flipping another explosive Georgia playmaker to bolster its 2026 backfield.

🎰 FSU Opens as 2.5-Point Underdog at Clemson 🎰 

Florida State enters this weekend’s matchup at Clemson as a 2.5-point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The two ACC programs square off under the lights at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 8, in Death Valley.

🔥 Matchup Snapshot

• FSU Record: 4–4 (1–4 ACC)

• Clemson Record: 3–5 (2–4 ACC)

• Location: Clemson Memorial Stadium (Death Valley)

• Broadcast: ACC Network

The Seminoles are fresh off a 42–7 rout of Wake Forest, their first ACC win in over a year, while Clemson has dropped two straight home games — a 46–45 loss to Duke and a defeat to SMU the week prior.

🏈 Series History

• All-time: FSU leads 21–16

• Last Meeting: Clemson won 29–13 in Tallahassee (2024)

• Notable: Clemson currently holds a one-game winning streak in the rivalry

👉 The line is tight — and with momentum swinging back toward FSU after last weekend’s blowout, this one could shape up to be a defining moment in Mike Norvell’s late-season turnaround bid.

And that’s a wrap!

A week that started with doubt ends with belief.
FSU flipped a key recruit, reignited its defense, and reminded fans what Seminole football looks like when it clicks.

Soccer’s ACC run might’ve ended in heartbreak, but the NCAA Tournament is next. Volleyball’s on a heater. And in Death Valley this weekend, the ‘Noles have a chance to prove that momentum isn’t just a moment — it’s the start of a comeback.

See you in Clemson.
— Chief ✌️