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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF Seminole!

A packed week across the Tribe — from Birmingham buzzer-beaters to Paint It Pink night and a midseason look at where FSU football stands. Let’s dive in.

🏀 Men’s Basketball Opens the Luke Loucks Era 🏀
The Noles fell 109–105 to No. 15 Alabama in a shootout, but new head coach Luke Loucks saw plenty to like — balance, tempo, and a 26-point night from Robert McCray V.

🏀 Women’s Hoops Shows Promise in Exhibition Loss 🏀
Despite a 91–71 loss to Alabama, Sydney Bowles dropped 21 points while Pania Davis impressed in her FSU debut with 14 and 9 boards.

⚽ No. 7 FSU Falls in Top-10 Clash vs. No. 2 Stanford ⚽
Jordynn Dudley’s 84th-minute goal wasn’t enough as the Noles’ home unbeaten streak ended at 33 games — but their goal streak hit 67 in a strong showing against the Cardinal.

🏃‍♀️ Cross Country Heads to Pre-Nationals in Missouri 🏃‍♂️
The men and women compete at Gans Creek — the future NCAA Championship site — facing elite national fields led by BYU, Florida, and Oklahoma State.

🏊 No. 18 FSU Swim & Dive Faces Top Competition in Atlanta 🏊
The Noles open against Army in the Dual Meet Tournament, with potential matchups vs. NC State or Georgia Tech ahead. Michel Arkhangelsky and Maryn McDade lead the way after dominant home performances.

🏈 Midseason Report: Defense Strong Up Front, Shaky in Space 🏈
Halfway through 2025, FSU’s defensive line is holding firm — but coverage lapses at linebacker continue to cost key plays. The message: communicate, simplify, and finish.

🦅 Recruiting: FSU in the Mix for Two 2027 Safeties 🦅
Kamarui Dorsey (Hampton, GA) and Davion Jones (West Charlotte, NC) both listed FSU among their top schools. Patrick Surtain Sr.’s influence keeps the Noles firmly in the DB conversation.

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🏀 Seminoles Fall Just Short in High-Scoring Exhibition vs. No. 15 Alabama 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball opened the Luke Loucks era with an electric performance — even in defeat — falling 109–105 to No. 15 Alabama in a back-and-forth shootout at Birmingham’s Ballin’ in Boutwell event.

🔥 Offensive Fireworks
The Seminoles traded blows with one of the nation’s top scoring teams, pouring in 57 second-half points and eight three-pointers. A late surge wasn’t enough to overcome Alabama’s duo of Labaron Philon (28 pts) and Aden Holloway (20 pts), who led the Tide’s attack.

⭐ Top Performers

• Robert McCray V – 26 points (24 in 2nd half), 9-of-13 FT; set the tone with relentless drives and energy.

• LaJae Jones – 15 points, 10 rebounds; shot 50% from deep.

• Chauncey Wiggins – 16 points, 11 rebounds; steady presence on both ends.

• Kobe MaGee – 14 points in his FSU debut, including two clutch threes.

• Freshmen Cam Miles & Thomas Bassong – Combined for 18 points in their first collegiate action.

💪 Takeaways
Despite the loss, FSU flashed balance, depth, and tempo — hallmarks of Loucks’ philosophy. The team shot confidently from beyond the arc and showcased multiple scoring options, signaling strong early chemistry from a roster featuring 11 new players.

📅 Next Up
The Seminoles return home to the Donald L. Tucker Center on Sunday, Oct. 26, to face Florida A&M in their second and final exhibition before opening the regular season Nov. 4 vs. Alcorn State.

👉 Full game recap and stats via Seminoles.com

🏀 FSU Women Fall to Alabama in Exhibition Debut, 91–71 🏀

Florida State women’s basketball tipped off its 2025–26 campaign with a 91–71 exhibition loss to Alabama on Thursday at Birmingham’s Ballin’ in Boutwell event — the first look at a revamped roster featuring seven new players.

🔥 Scoring Leaders

• Sydney Bowles led all scorers with 21 points, including 13 in the second half as FSU found its rhythm.

• Pania Davis impressed in her Seminole debut, posting 14 points (4-of-7 FG), 9 rebounds, and a block.

• Jasmine Shavers added 10 points and 2 steals, while Allie Kubek anchored the defense with 3 blocks and 6 boards.

💪 Early Takeaways
The Seminoles opened hot with an 8–0 run and a pair of early threes from Tatum Greene, but Alabama’s size and pace created separation by halftime (42–25). FSU’s second-half surge — fueled by Bowles’ perimeter shooting — showed flashes of the high-octane offense that led the nation last season.

📅 Next Up
Florida State returns home to the Donald L. Tucker Center on Monday, Oct. 28, for an exhibition matchup against Tampa at 6 p.m. ET.

👉 Full recap and stats available via Seminoles.com

⚽ No. 7 FSU Falls Short in 2–1 Battle vs. No. 2 Stanford ⚽

In a top-10 showdown and rematch of the 2023 national title game, No. 7 Florida State came up just short, falling 2–1 to No. 2 Stanford on Thursday night in Tallahassee.

🔥 Paint It Pink Night
Playing in front of a vibrant home crowd for the annual Paint It Pink match, the Seminoles donned special pink uniforms to raise funds for the Walker Breast Program at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. The jerseys are being auctioned off through Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with all proceeds benefiting breast cancer patients.

⚔️ Game Recap
Stanford struck early, building a 2–0 lead by the 36th minute before Jordynn Dudley gave FSU life with a clutch 84th-minute goal — her fifth of the season and 28th of her career — assisted by Solai Washington. Despite late pressure, the Seminoles couldn’t find the equalizer.

📊 By the Numbers

• Shots: FSU 16 | Stanford 9

• Shots on Goal: Stanford 6 | FSU 5

• Corners: FSU 5 | Stanford 3

• Saves: Addie Todd 4 (season high)

💪 Streaks Extended — and Snapped

• Dudley extended her point streak to 10 straight games and her multi-point streak to three.

• FSU’s school-record goal streak climbed to 67 consecutive games.

• The loss ended FSU’s 33-game home unbeaten streak, the third-longest in program history.

📅 Next Up
The Seminoles stay in Tallahassee to host RV Cal on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m. ET — another key ACC test at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

👉 Full recap and highlights via Seminoles.com/Soccer

🏃‍♀️ FSU Cross Country Heads to Pre-Nationals in Missouri 🏃‍♂️

Florida State cross country travels to Columbia, Missouri, for the Pre-National Meet on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course — the same site that will host the 2025 NCAA Championship.

🔥 Race Schedule & Coverage

• Women’s 6K: 11:00 a.m. ET

• Men’s 8K: 11:45 a.m. ET
  Fans can follow live timing or stream the races live on SEC Network+.

💪 Elite Competition Ahead
Both Seminole squads will face stacked national fields:

Men’s Field: No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 6 BYU, No. 21 Washington State, No. 22 Arkansas, No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 26 Eastern Kentucky.
Women’s Field: No. 1 BYU, No. 3 Florida, No. 8 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Villanova, No. 21 Missouri, No. 23 Boston College, No. 27 Washington State, No. 30 Tennessee.

🏅 Last Time Out
At the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational, the women’s team finished 7th overall, beating three ranked programs. Freshman Rylee Blade earned ACC Women’s Freshman of the Week after placing 3rd with a personal-best 19:37.41.
The men’s squad placed 12th, led by Isaac Hirshman Chandler (17th, 23:55.83).

📅 Next Stop: Gans Creek — the perfect tune-up for November’s NCAA postseason push.

👉 Full meet info via Seminoles.com/TrackandField

🏊‍♀️ No. 18 FSU Swimming & Diving Hits the Road for Dual Meet Tournament 🏊‍♂️

Florida State swimming and diving travels to Atlanta this weekend for the Dual Meet Tournament at the McAuley Aquatic Center (Oct. 17–18) — the Seminoles’ first road action of the season.

🔥 Tournament Format & Schedule
The two-day event features a dual-meet bracket setup:

• Friday, 11:30 a.m. ET: FSU vs. Army (Opening Round)

• Friday (Later): Winner advances to face NC State or Georgia Tech

• Saturday: Placement round (time TBD)

All sessions stream live on ACCNX (via ESPN+), with live results available on Meet Mobile.

💪 Elite Competition
The stacked field includes five CSCAA Top-25 programs — NC State (No. 7 men, No. 8 women), Georgia (No. 9 men, No. 12 women), Auburn (No. 20 men/women), and Minnesota (No. 24 men/women).
FSU’s men enter ranked No. 18, while the women are just outside the Top 25.

🌟 Last Time Out
The Seminoles dominated their season-opening FSU Invite (Sept. 26–27), collecting 32 event victories.

• Michel Arkhangelsky and Maryn McDade each won seven total events (3 individual, 4 relay) and earned ACC Swimmer of the Week honors.

🗣️ Head Coach Neal Studd

📅 Next Up:
FSU returns home to host the All-Florida Invite on Oct. 25 at the Morcom Aquatics Center.

👉 Full preview and results via Seminoles.com/SwimDive

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🏈 Midseason Review: FSU Defense Shows Stout Core — But Costly Coverage Woes 🏈

At the halfway point of the 2025 season, Florida State sits at 3–3 after dropping three straight conference games — a slide marked by flashes of defensive dominance mixed with costly breakdowns in coverage. Using Pro Football Focus player grades (60 = average, 70 = good, 50 = below average), here’s a look at the defensive standouts — and the struggles — shaping FSU’s midyear outlook.

🔥 Top Defensive Performers (PFF Grades)
1️⃣ LB AJ Cottril (75.4) — Emerging rotational linebacker who’s brought stability in limited snaps, particularly against the run.
2️⃣ DT Daniel Lyons (74.2) — Consistent disruptor up front; posted six QB pressures vs. Alabama and ranks among FSU’s most dependable linemen.
3️⃣ CB Jerry Wilson (73.3) — At times inconsistent but bounced back vs. Pitt (80.8 grade) while allowing just 8 yards in coverage.
4️⃣ DT Darrell Jackson Jr. (73.2) — Anchor against the run (83.9 Run Defense Grade), commanding double teams and tallying 12 stops.
5️⃣ DL Deante McCray (72.8) — Transfer from WKU who’s carried over elite run-stopping instincts (81.5 Run Defense Grade).

🔻 Defensive Concerns (Lowest PFF Grades)
1️⃣ LB Elijah Herring (53.5) — Struggling in coverage (34.5 grade), allowing 11-of-12 completions and two TDs; losing snaps amid schematic lapses.
2️⃣ LB Justin Cryer (55.6) — Among the nation’s lowest-graded P4 linebackers in coverage (40.9), though effective as a blitzer.
3️⃣ S K.J. Kirkland (56.4) — Reliable tackler but vulnerable in space, surrendering 113 yards on just four targets.
4️⃣ CB Quindarrius Jones (59.8) — Season-ending injury cut short a solid campaign; one busted play vs. Alabama skewed his numbers.
5️⃣ LB Blake Nichelson (60.7) — Active defender with eight stops and six QB pressures, but coverage miscues (51.2 grade) hurt his impact.

🧠 What It Means
The defensive front — led by Jackson, Lyons, and McCray — continues to hold firm against the run, ranking among the ACC’s most efficient in limiting explosive plays. However, the linebacker unit’s coverage breakdowns have repeatedly exposed FSU in space, especially against wheel routes and play-action passes.

💡 The Path Forward
For Florida State to right the ship, it’ll need more consistency from its second level and fewer missed assignments in coverage. The defensive front has the talent to dictate games — but until the back seven shores up its communication, the unit will remain a step short of elite.

👉 Full player-by-player defensive grades via Noles247 of the bad and the good

🦅 FSU in the Mix for Two Elite 2027 Defensive Backs 🦅

Florida State continues to stay active on the recruiting trail, particularly in the defensive backfield — a hallmark position under Patrick Surtain Sr. This week, two major 2027 safety targets — Kamarui Dorsey of Hampton (Ga.) and Davion Jones of West Charlotte (N.C.) — each included the Seminoles in their top groups.

🔥 4⭐️ S Kamarui Dorsey — Hampton (GA)

• Rank: No. 7 safety, No. 85 overall (2027 class)

• Top 7: Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas A&M

• Commit Date: November 1

Dorsey told 247Sports his decision will hinge on NFL development potential and early playing time — two areas where FSU’s coaching pedigree stands out.

Recruiting insiders note that while Texas A&M currently holds the edge, Georgia and Georgia Tech remain heavily involved — with FSU still in contention thanks to Surtain’s NFL background and the Seminoles’ proven track record at producing pro-ready DBs.

📅 Dorsey will announce his commitment Nov. 1, and though the Aggies lead, sources expect FSU to remain a factor if the decision stretches beyond that date.

🔥 4⭐️ S Davion Jones — West Charlotte (NC)

• Rank: No. 17 safety, No. 158 overall (2027 class)

• Top 8: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

• Decision Timeline: Summer 2026

Jones’ recruitment reflects a methodical approach — balancing football, academics, and development.

He also cited family atmosphere, player development, and sports broadcasting programs as priorities. FSU impressed him during a spring practice visit, and he plans additional SEC and ACC stops this fall, including Tennessee (Nov. 1) and Vanderbilt (Nov. 22).

With Florida State’s reputation for developing versatile defensive backs — and Surtain’s ability to connect through both pedigree and personality — the Seminoles remain firmly in the mix.

💡 Why It Matters
FSU’s defensive recruiting under Surtain continues to trend upward, targeting players who combine length, versatility, and high football IQ. Both Dorsey and Jones fit that mold — and represent the type of foundational prospects capable of shaping the Seminoles’ secondary for years to come.

👉 Full recruiting breakdown via Noles247 here and here

And that’s a wrap!

The midway point of the fall calendar says a lot about where Florida State stands — and where it’s headed. Loucks’ debut brought energy, the soccer streak reminded us of resilience, and the football defense proved there’s a foundation worth building on.

Each team is showing identity, grit, and flashes of dominance. It’s not perfect — but progress rarely is.

Until next time, keep the spirit high and the garnet strong.

— Chief ✍️