Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole! Here’s the docket for today:

⚽ FSU Soccer Advances to ACC Semifinals
The No. 6 Seminoles held on for a 2-1 win over Notre Dame, setting up a rematch with No. 3 Wake Forest. A chippy game with 21 fouls and late drama showcased FSU’s resilience. Next stop: the ACC semis on Nov. 7!

🏐 No. 23 FSU Volleyball Falls to No. 5 Stanford
Despite a strong start, the Seminoles dropped a four-set match to Stanford. Audrey Koenig led with 12 kills, while Taylor Head added 11. FSU looks to rebound against Wake Forest on Friday.

🎾 FSU Women's Tennis Shines at UNF Invitational
Mary Boyce Deatherage, Maelie Monfils, and the doubles team of Cade Cricchio and Tina Li took home titles in Jacksonville. The Seminoles head to Rome, Georgia, for the ITA Conference Master's Championships this week.

🔄 UF Commit Jeramiah McCloud Visits FSU
Three-star DL Jeramiah McCloud remains committed to Florida but had a strong visit to FSU. He valued the family atmosphere and development focus from the coaching staff. With National Signing Day looming, will he flip?

🌟 Four-Star RB Ousmane Kromah Visits FSU
Georgia commit Ousmane Kromah made a surprise return to Tallahassee. He shared his deep bond with Mike Norvell and hinted at more visits, saying, “I love this place, you feel me?” Could the Seminoles pull off a recruiting coup?

🌟 Edge Rusher Tobi Haastrup Impressed by FSU
Four-star Tobi Haastrup, a top target for FSU’s 2025 class, loved the culture and coaching staff. With visits to Texas Tech, Illinois, and more coming up, FSU made a strong case ahead of his December 2nd decision.

📊 PFF Grades from FSU’s Loss to UNC
Brock Glenn earned the highest offensive grade (78.2) in a rough outing for the Seminoles, while LB Shawn Murphy shined defensively. Missed tackles and blocking woes remain concerns for the struggling team.

🏈 FSU Opens as 25-Point Underdog to Notre Dame
Facing No. 8 Notre Dame on Saturday, FSU is a massive underdog. The Fighting Irish boast a top-5 defense, while FSU’s offense ranks near the bottom nationally. Can the Seminoles rise to the challenge?

⚽ FSU Soccer Advances to ACC Semifinals ⚽

The No. 6 Florida State soccer team punched their ticket to the ACC tournament semifinals with a gritty 2-1 win over Notre Dame on Sunday night. The victory sets up a highly anticipated rematch with No. 3 Wake Forest, who handed the Seminoles their first loss of the season.

🔥 Early Spark and Late Drama FSU came out firing, with Marianyela Jiménez scoring in the opening two minutes by curling a shot into the top left corner. Despite taking 10 first-half shots, the Seminoles couldn't extend their lead, and a potential game-tying goal by Notre Dame was ruled out as it came just after time expired.

💥 Second-Half Action The second half turned into a battle, with Notre Dame pressing hard. However, Sophia Nguyen capitalized on a loose ball and drilled a low shot into the bottom left corner to double FSU's lead. The Fighting Irish answered with a goal in the 82nd minute, setting up a tense finish, but FSU held on.

🟨 Chippy Contest The match saw 21 fouls and plenty of yellow cards, with FSU receiving four bookings compared to Notre Dame's one, despite committing fewer fouls. "Obviously, intense game, chippy," said head coach Brian Pensky. "But we found a way to make plays. Notre Dame is a very good team."

🚀 Next Up: Wake Forest The Seminoles will face Wake Forest on Thursday, Nov. 7, in Cary, North Carolina, for a spot in the ACC championship game. The winner will take on either No. 1 Duke or No. 8 North Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 10.

Read more here

🏐 No. 23 FSU Volleyball Drops Intense Match to No. 5 Stanford 🏐

The No. 23 Florida State volleyball team (16-6, 8-4) fell to No. 5 Stanford (17-4, 9-3) in four sets (25-20, 16-25, 10-25, 22-25) on Sunday afternoon at Tully Gym. In their first-ever ACC matchup, the Seminoles came out strong, claiming the opening set 25-20 with key plays from Taylor Head and Audrey Koenig.

Stanford responded decisively, winning the second set 25-16 and dominating the third 25-10. The fourth set was a hard-fought battle featuring 12 ties and five lead changes, but Stanford ultimately secured the victory 25-22. FSU’s offense hit at a .254 clip, with Koenig leading the way with 12 kills and one ace, while Head contributed 11 kills and seven digs. Loren Robertson added 19 assists and six digs.

The Seminoles will look to bounce back on Friday when they host Wake Forest at 6:30 p.m. on ACCNX.

Read more here.

🎾 FSU Women's Tennis Dominates at UNF Invitational 🎾

The Florida State women's tennis team had an impressive weekend at the UNF Invitational in Jacksonville, claiming two singles flight titles and a doubles crown. Mary Boyce Deatherage and Maelie Monfils both went undefeated in singles play to win their respective flights, while Cade Cricchio and Tina Li were perfect in doubles, securing the Flight 2 doubles title.

Deatherage earned notable victories, including a hard-fought win over former top junior Nikola Daubnerova of Florida in the Flight A finals. Monfils defended her title in Flight B with three straight-sets wins, finishing with a dominant performance over Lucia Aranda of UNC Charlotte. In doubles, Cricchio and Li won all three of their matches, capping the tournament with a 6-2 victory in the finals.

The Seminoles will compete next at the ITA Conference Master's Championships in Rome, Georgia, from November 7th to November 10th.

Read more here. 

🔄 UF Commit Jeramiah McCloud Wraps Up Official Visit to FSU 🔄

Florida State hosted three-star defensive line recruit Jeramiah McCloud this weekend, hoping to sway him from his commitment to in-state rival Florida. McCloud, who began his high school career at Lee County High in South Georgia, first connected with FSU when he transferred to Gadsden County High last spring. Despite the early offer from the Seminoles, McCloud committed to the Gators a day later.

🤝 Building Strong Ties

It wasn’t until McCloud returned to Lee County for his senior year that his relationship with FSU truly blossomed. This weekend's official visit allowed him to connect deeply with the coaching staff. “The relationship with Florida State kind of developed a lot when I moved to Gadsden then I moved back to Lee County,” McCloud explained.

🏠 Feeling at Home

Despite FSU’s 35-11 loss to UNC, McCloud remains unfazed by wins and losses. “I wouldn’t say wins and losses are a big factor with me... That won’t be a thing with me,” he said. Head coach Mike Norvell emphasized player development, a message that resonated. “He asked if Florida State was a place I can see myself at. I told him, yessir. I could see myself here because they do develop d-linemen.”

McCloud appreciated the family atmosphere during his visit. “It was great getting to know coach Norvell... He just talked to my mom, my brother and made everyone feel like they’re at home,” he said. He also spent time with teammate Ousmane Kromah, a four-star Georgia commit, as both players evaluated FSU together.

🚦 Decision Time Approaching

Though still committed to Florida, McCloud is exploring his options with National Signing Day approaching. “I’m still committed but... I’m just trying to make sure I’m doing the right thing for me,” he said. McCloud could return to FSU on November 30th for the regular season finale against the Gators. LSU and Georgia are also pushing to flip the defensive lineman, with McCloud expressing strong interest in the Bulldogs.

Ranked as the No. 103 defensive lineman in the country by 247Sports, McCloud’s recruitment remains one to watch as he weighs his options.

Read more here.

🌟 Four-Star RB and Georgia Commit Ousmane Kromah Visits FSU 🌟

In a surprise visit, four-star running back and Georgia commit Ousmane Kromah made his way back to Tallahassee this weekend, giving Florida State another shot to make an impression. Kromah, a top-100 player in the 2025 class and a top-four running back, was all smiles after spending time with the Seminoles.

🏠 “It Was Wonderful” 

“It was wonderful,” Kromah shared with Warchant on Sunday. “It was great to be back. It was fun. I enjoyed it a lot, for real.” This marks Kromah’s first trip to FSU since his commitment to Georgia last month. Despite the Seminoles’ 1-8 season, his strong relationships with the coaching staff keep him coming back, especially head coach Mike Norvell.

 💪 Strong Bond with Mike Norvell

“I love Mike Norvell, that’s my dog,” Kromah said, emphasizing the connection they’ve built over the years. “He’s seen me the most, he’s watched me the most, he’s just a great person to be around. And Florida State just has great people to be around in general.”

Kromah also highlighted his ongoing communication with running backs coach David “Coach YAC” Johnson, saying they “talk all the time.” Seeing Johnson and other staff members, like offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, in person was a highlight of his visit.

💥 Teammate Connection

Adding to the experience, Kromah’s Lee County teammate, defensive lineman and Florida Gators commit Jeramiah McCloud, was also in town for his official visit. “It was fun being down here with him too,” Kromah noted.

🔜 What’s Next?

While Kromah has yet to confirm whether he’s seriously considering flipping his commitment from Georgia, he hinted at future visits. “I’ll probably be back for the Charleston Southern or Florida games,” he said. Although he remains noncommittal about a potential flip, he left no doubt about his fondness for FSU: “I love this place, you feel me?”

Read more here.

🌟 Four-Star Edge Rusher Tobi Haastrup Impressed by FSU Visit 🌟

Florida State continues its push to bolster the defensive line in the 2025 class, hosting four-star edge rusher Tobi Haastrup for an official visit this past weekend. The London-born, late-rising prospect, who recently began his high school football career, left Tallahassee with a strong impression.

🔍 People and Culture Shine Haastrup emphasized the genuine culture and authenticity of the FSU staff: “Every school has facilities, but the people and the culture make the difference,” he shared. FSU’s recruiting team made him feel like part of the family, and his interactions with head coach Mike Norvell and the coaching staff stood out. “Coach Norvell was real with me... he believes in FSU as a developmental program where I can reach my max potential.”

🏈 Defensive Fit FSU envisions Haastrup as a field-side defensive end, using his speed and athleticism in a versatile role. The staff sees him as a playmaker who can excel in their scheme, similar to current standout Jared Verse.

🚀 Where FSU Stands With official visits to Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Boston College already in the books, Haastrup now lists Florida State as one of his top schools. He will visit Texas Tech, Illinois, and Virginia later this month and may also make trips to Michigan and Oregon. His decision will come on December 2, just days before the Early Signing Period.

Read more here

📊 PFF Grades and Snap Counts from FSU’s Loss to UNC 📊

Florida State's 35-11 loss to North Carolina brought more tough numbers, as the Seminoles managed just 11 points, their lowest of the season, and missed eight tackles on defense. Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades painted a grim picture, with few bright spots on either side of the ball.

💻 Offensive Snap Counts & Standouts

• QB Brock Glenn earned the highest offensive grade for FSU with a 78.2 on 28 snaps, marking his best performance since the Clemson game.

• The offensive line struggled, highlighted by Jaylen Early, who graded well as a run blocker (69.0) but poorly as a pass blocker (19.1). Overall, blocking grades were low across the board.

• WR Lawayne McCoy is getting more involved, now up to 40 snaps in the last two games. FSU receivers also had two key drops, one each by Hykeem Williams and Ja'Khi Douglas.

🛡️ Defensive Snap Counts & Insights

• LB Shawn Murphy led the defense with a 76.7 grade on just nine snaps, a promising sign for the young linebacker as FSU navigates injuries.

• Shyheim Brown posted an impressive tackle grade of 85.3, despite a season filled with criticism. Omar Graham Jr. had a strong tackle performance (80.6) but struggled elsewhere.

• FSU’s defense missed nine tackles, with Patrick Payton responsible for two of them, as breakdowns plagued the unit once again.

Check out more details here.

🏈 FSU Opens as 25-Point Underdog Against No. 8 Notre Dame 🏈

Florida State enters this Saturday’s road game as a 25-point underdog to No. 8 Notre Dame, marking the largest opening line for the Seminoles this season. With a 1-8 record, FSU faces a daunting challenge against a Fighting Irish team that has won six straight games since an upset loss to Northern Illinois.

Notre Dame boasts one of the nation’s top defenses, ranking fourth in Points Allowed Per Game (12.1), while FSU’s offense has struggled, sitting at 133rd nationally in Points Per Game (12.1). The Irish have allowed more than 20 points just once this season, and FSU has scored more than 20 points only once.

The game kicks off Saturday evening, and it’s set to be a significant test for the Seminoles.

Read more here.

And that’s a wrap!

Whether you’re counting down to game day or following recruiting news, we’ve got all the latest updates for you. Keep cheering on the ‘Noles, and let’s see what this week brings. Until next time, stay passionate and stay proud, Seminoles! 🍢