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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Gameday Seminole!

Here’s what we have for you today:

🏐 Koenig Leads FSU Volleyball in Sweep Over Wake Forest – Audrey Koenig delivered an unforgettable performance, leading the Seminoles to a three-set sweep of Wake Forest and marking major milestones for herself and Khori Louis. Catch the highlights and record-breaking stats from this dominant win.

🏊 FSU Swimming & Diving Impresses Against Top Opponents – The Seminoles made waves competing against ranked teams LSU and Alabama. Freshman Logan Robinson’s record-breaking performance in the 200 butterfly headlined a day filled with top-three finishes. Dive into the details from Alabama.

🏀 Basketball Heads to Texas for Battle with Rice – The men’s basketball team brings its towering defense to Houston for a showdown with Rice. With one of the tallest rosters in college basketball, FSU’s defense under Coach Hamilton remains a force to be reckoned with. Check out the key players to watch and the game preview.

🏈 Brady Smigiel Reflects on Stellar Season and FSU Commitment – Junior quarterback commit Brady Smigiel is lighting it up in California while remaining committed to FSU’s vision. Find out what drives his success and his thoughts on FSU’s future.

🏈 Game Preview & Staff Predictions for FSU vs. Notre Dame – The 1-8 Seminoles face their biggest challenge yet as they take on No. 10 Notre Dame in South Bend. Get a breakdown of the matchups, key stats, and staff predictions as the Noles look to make a statement.

🏐 Koenig and Noles Dominate Wake Forest in Straight Sets 🏐

In a stellar performance, Audrey Koenig led No. 24 FSU volleyball (17-6, 9-4) to a decisive victory over Wake Forest, sweeping them in three sets (25-23, 25-23, 25-11) Friday night at Tully Gym.

Match Highlights
FSU took control early in the first set, despite some back-and-forth battles. Koenig tallied eight kills, and with help from Kyleene Filimaua’s four kills, the Noles edged out the Demon Deacons for a close set win. The second set was another nail-biter, but a strong block from Iane Henke and Khori Louis helped FSU claim a 2-0 lead.

Third Set Fireworks
The Noles dominated the final set, driven by Koenig’s impressive service streak. She delivered five aces in a 9-0 rally, including three consecutive aces, leading FSU to a commanding 25-11 win.

Record-Breaking Performances
Koenig set a personal best with 20 kills on .514 hitting and recorded eight aces, the second-most in FSU history for a single match. Khori Louis also celebrated her 1,000th career kill, joining FSU’s elite group of seven players to reach this milestone in the rally scoring era.

FSU will face NC State next on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ACCNX.

Read more here

🏊 FSU Swimming & Diving Shines Against Ranked Opponents in Alabama 🏊

FSU swimming and diving made waves on Friday as the No. 22-ranked Seminoles competed against No. 13/19 LSU and No. 20/RV Alabama. Freshman Logan Robinson delivered the third-fastest 200 butterfly in FSU history, leading a team effort that included multiple wins and top-three finishes.

Record-Breaking Performances
Robinson’s 200 butterfly win (1:42.65) placed him at No. 3 in FSU’s record books, while freshman Mathias Christensen’s third-place finish in the 200 breaststroke marked the ninth-fastest time in program history. Christensen also secured a victory in the 200 IM with a time of 1:45.86.

Top Finishers
Graduate student Samantha Vear dominated the 3-meter dive, winning by over 45 points, while junior Tommaso Baravelli took the 200 breaststroke with a time of 1:56.62. Senior Maddy Huggins claimed second in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, continuing her strong season.

Up Next
FSU will head to Atlanta for the Georgia Tech Invitational from November 22-24—their final meet of 2024.

Read more here

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🏀 Seminoles Take Texas with Towering Defense Against Rice 🏀

FSU men’s basketball heads to Houston this weekend, bringing a new definition of “big” as they face Rice in the Mattress Firm Battleground 2K24 at the Toyota Center. Known as one of college basketball’s tallest teams, the Seminoles boast 12 players over 6'5", including five over 6'10".

A Legacy of Defense
Under head coach Leonard Hamilton, FSU has built a reputation as a defensive powerhouse. The Seminoles led the ACC in steals last season and kicked off this year with 50 deflections and 14 steals in their opener against Northern Kentucky.

Key Players in the System
Taylor Bol Bowen and Jerry Deng, both 6'10" with wingspans over seven feet, are perfect fits for Hamilton’s aggressive defense. Bowen racked up four steals in the season opener, while Deng, a transfer from Hampton, is already making an impact with his defensive versatility.

Up Next:
Catch the Seminoles in action on ESPN+ this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. as they bring their imposing defense to the Lone Star State!

Read more here

🏈 Future Seminole QB Brady Smigiel Reflects on Standout Season and FSU Commitment 🏈

FSU’s 2026 quarterback commit, Brady Smigiel, is having a dream junior season with Newbury Park (Calif.), throwing for 2,474 yards, 38 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. Despite a tough year for FSU, Smigiel remains confident in his decision, trusting in Coach Norvell’s quarterback development.

Preparation and Focus
Smigiel credits his success to an elevated approach to film study and weekly preparation, emulating a college-level routine. His dedication has helped him hone his game, especially in reading defenses and expanding his passing options.

Commitment to FSU
Smigiel values the close-knit, “old-school” atmosphere at FSU, comparing it to his father’s coaching style. He’s particularly drawn to the brotherhood in FSU’s quarterback room, solidified by seeing young quarterbacks like Luke Kromenhoek and Brock Glenn excel.

As Smigiel finishes his impressive season at Newbury Park, he remains firmly committed to FSU, connecting regularly with the coaching staff while keeping his sights set on the future in Tallahassee.

Read more here

🏈 FSU Faces Steep Challenge Against No. 10 Notre Dame: Game Preview & Staff Predictions 🏈

The struggling Seminoles (1-8) head to South Bend on Saturday night to face the 7-1, No. 10-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. With Notre Dame vying for a College Football Playoff spot and FSU hoping to salvage some pride, this prime-time matchup at 7:30 p.m. on NBC is shaping up to be a test of resilience for Florida State.

Matchup Breakdown

Notre Dame Passing vs. FSU Pass Defense
FSU’s secondary has been a relative bright spot, ranking 40th nationally in pass defense. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, a dual-threat transfer from Duke, has connected for 1,360 yards, eight touchdowns, and only three interceptions. His primary targets, Beaux Collins (28 receptions, 359 yards) and Jaden Greathouse (18 receptions, 244 yards), present formidable challenges for FSU’s secondary, particularly with the potential absence of cornerback Fentrell Cypress due to injury.

Edge: Even

Notre Dame Rushing vs. FSU Rush Defense
The Irish rank among the nation’s best in rushing, with Leonard leading with 11 rushing touchdowns and nearly 540 yards. FSU’s rush defense, however, has struggled significantly, ranking 114th nationally and allowing over 191 yards per game.

Edge: Notre Dame

FSU Passing vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense
The Seminoles’ passing game has been hampered by inconsistency and injuries, with Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek combining for a low completion rate in recent games. Notre Dame’s defense, however, ranks No. 4 nationally in pass defense and boasts a seasoned secondary led by Xavier Watts and Adam Shuler.

Edge: Notre Dame

FSU Rushing vs. Notre Dame Rush Defense
With FSU averaging just 76.1 rushing yards per game and battling injuries in the backfield, the Irish defense should have little trouble containing the Seminoles’ ground game.

Edge: Notre Dame

Special Teams
FSU’s special teams have been a highlight this season, with standout performances from punter Alex Mastromanno and kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, who have consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Edge: Florida State

Staff Predictions

Warchant Staff Predictions:

• Ira Schoffel: Notre Dame 38, FSU 6

• Corey Clark: Notre Dame 36, FSU 16

• Jeff Cameron: Notre Dame 45, FSU 7

• Aslan Hajivandi: Notre Dame 42, FSU 6

• Matt LaSerre: Notre Dame 42, FSU 13

Noles247 Staff Predictions:

• Brett Nevitt: ND 31, FSU 6

• Dane Draper: ND 42, FSU 3

• Trey Rowland: ND 41, FSU 3

• Coach Adam Brown: ND 56, FSU 0

• Brendan Sonnone: Notre Dame 42, FSU 8

• Chris Nee: Notre Dame 34, FSU 10

Tomahawk Nation Prognostications:

• NoleThruandThru: Notre Dame 55, FSU 13

• Jon Marchant: Notre Dame 45, FSU 6

• FrankDNole: Fighting Irish 41, FSU 7.25

• Perry Kostidakis: Notre Dame 42, FSU 10

Final Word
With Notre Dame aiming for a CFP berth and Florida State struggling to find its footing, the Seminoles face an uphill battle. The Irish come in as 25.5-point favorites, making this one of FSU’s toughest matchups of the season.

Read more here and here and here

And that’s a wrap!

Whether it’s milestones, matchups, or the challenges that lie ahead, we’re here for every moment.

Enjoy the multiple games today, stay tuned and keep the Seminole spirit strong!