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Yesterday’s Poll Results
Today’s Poll
What impressed you most in FSU's exhibition win over LSU?
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Good morning, Seminole!
Florida State’s basketball team finished exhibition play with another SEC win, and Shon Abaev made the loudest statement with 26 points against LSU. The final seconds brought plenty of drama, with Anthony Robinson II supplying the steal that ended it.
Recruiting adds an active hoops push and two November football visits. Elsewhere, soccer resets after Notre Dame, golf wraps up Landfall and beach pairs seek national bids. We also have the bowl debate and baseball’s final fall date. All times below are Eastern.
📋 In Today’s Chief Brief:
🏀 Abaev Leads the Way: FSU closes exhibition play with an 89–87 win, four double-figure scorers and a game-ending steal.
🔎 What the Exhibitions Showed: Steen returns, Ponder gets a different test and the takeaways include both depth and defensive work.
🏀 The Daughtry and Kabongo Push: Loucks stays active with two targets, while new visit reporting shows the competition ahead.
🌎 Across the Recruiting Map: Henry approaches an October 30 decision, with Kentucky visits and reclassification possibilities also in focus.
⚽ A Soccer Setback at Home: Notre Dame wins 2–0, ending FSU’s seven-match unbeaten streak before Duke visits Thursday.
🏈 The Bowl Debate: National projections disagree on FSU’s postseason future, while one community post questions the focus on game-day extras.
📬 NC State Weekend Visitors: Newson’s official and Dobson’s return follow Friday visits from FSU staff.
⚾ One More Fall Date: The Garnet & Gold All-Star Game closes the baseball schedule Friday at 6 p.m., with earlier JU/UNF highlights to watch.
⛳ Landfall’s Final Round: Gazzoli remains tied for fifth, while FSU begins Sunday ninth in the team standings.
🏖️ Beach Volleyball on Two Coasts: Five FSU pairs entered bid events in California and Florida with national championship spots at stake.
Kickoff is coming. Are you ready?
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🏀 Abaev’s 26 Help FSU Escape LSU, 89–87
Florida State beat LSU 89–87 on Saturday, finishing its two exhibitions with wins over SEC opponents. Shon Abaev led all scorers with 26 points, making five of eight three-pointers and adding five assists. The official recap →
The finish: A late flagrant foul gave LSU two free throws and possession with 2.1 seconds left. Donovan Dent made one, then Anthony Robinson II stole the inbound pass. Robinson finished with seven assists and no turnovers.
The support: Kam Taylor scored 16, Sebastian Rancik 13 and Elisee Assui 11. FSU had 10 players score.
The extra chances: FSU won the rebounding battle 42–37 and converted 13 offensive boards into 19 second-chance points. Noles247’s game breakdown →
Up next: Florida A&M on Monday, November 2, at 8:30 p.m. in Tampa on ESPNU.
Why It Matters: FSU found several ways to score and a final defensive play to close the game. The next result will count toward the regular-season record. 🍢🍢
🔎 Steen’s Return and the Work Still Ahead
Saturday supplied some early answers to the questions surrounding FSU’s new roster. Before tipoff, Chop Chat focused on Alex Steen’s role, Marcis Ponder’s follow-up to Auburn and how much weight to give an exhibition win. The pregame questions →
Steen’s return: The Osceola reports seven points and five rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. FSU used 10 players, with Steen adding familiar energy and frontcourt depth.
A shared rebounding job: Ponder led FSU with seven boards, while the team produced the 42–37 advantage. Loucks welcomed the progress but stressed that rebounding still requires daily commitment. Bob Ferrante’s notebook →
The next improvements: NoleGameday’s Austin Veazey highlighted Abaev’s scoring and Assui’s decisions while calling for better efficiency from Rancik, who shot four of 12. Loucks also emphasized how much defensive improvement remains. Veazey’s three takeaways →
Why It Matters: The exhibitions showed more options across the lineup. Holding leads and sustaining defensive execution remain priorities before November 2. 🍢🍢
🏀 FSU Keeps Pushing for Daughtry and Kabongo
Five-star point guard Cayden Daughtry remains a priority for Luke Loucks, Warchant reports. Loucks has made repeated trips to South Florida, including two recent visits within a week. Daughtry’s mother attended FSU, and Warchant views Florida, Miami and the Seminoles as the leading contenders. Warchant’s recruiting intel →
The broader competition: Eric Bossi reports that Daughtry, No. 3 in 247Sports’ rankings, is planning a Louisville visit after earlier trips that included FSU, Florida and Miami. Bossi’s national visit guide →
The frontcourt option: Loucks and Jim Moran visited three-star center Yohane Kabongo at DME Academy on Wednesday. FSU has renewed its pursuit, with no official visit set yet. Bossi’s guide lists Alabama this weekend and Mississippi State next, following Tennessee.
Why It Matters: FSU is pursuing an elite lead guard while keeping a center option active. Both recruitments still have visits and decisions ahead. 🍢🍢
🌎 Henry’s Decision and a Busy National Visit Weekend
No. 4 DeMarcus Henry is scheduled to announce his choice October 30, after a final official visit to North Carolina. Eric Bossi’s national roundup also tracks several other high-profile visits. The full travel report →
Kentucky: No. 6 senior Adan Diggs attended Friday’s exhibition, with 2028 five-star Benjamin Berrouet also due in. Berrouet is considering a move to 2027. Brady Pettigrew’s visit shifted to December.
Other stops: Illinois hosted committed four-stars Quinton Kitt and Mason Martin. Malachi Jordan’s itinerary includes St. John’s, while 2028 standout Evan Willis is visiting Arkansas and considering reclassification.
Why It Matters: Major 2027 decisions are approaching, while possible reclassifications could change the available talent in the class. 🍢🍢
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⚽ Notre Dame Ends FSU’s Unbeaten Run
No. 15 FSU fell 2–0 to No. 17 Notre Dame on Saturday, taking its first ACC loss of the season. The Seminoles are 7–2–3 overall and 3–1–2 in conference play after their seven-match unbeaten run ended. The official match recap →
The goals: Izzy Engle scored both, at 14:22 and just 47 seconds into the second half.
The attack: FSU did not register a first-half shot. All six attempts came after the break, with three on target. Notre Dame finished with eight shots. Noles247’s match report →
The response: No. 6 Duke visits Thursday, October 29, at 8 p.m. on ACC Network for FSU’s Paint It Pink game.
Why It Matters: Thursday brings another ranked opponent. FSU has a quick chance to respond, with a sharper attacking start needed after Saturday’s scoreless first half. 🍢🍢
🏈 Bowl Lists Split on the Seminoles
FSU needs three wins in its final five games, and national bowl projections remain divided. NoleGameday rounds up the possibilities with the Seminoles at 3–4. The projection roundup →
In the field: College Football News’ Pete Fiutak projects Memphis in the Fenway Bowl. ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura also pairs FSU with Memphis, in the Frisco Bowl. SI’s Bryan Fischer projects South Carolina in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Outside it: Athlon’s Steven Lassan and On3’s Brett McMurphy leave FSU out of their projected fields. None of these are confirmed selections.
A reader’s reaction: Tomahawk Nation user ricobert1 linked FSU’s Halloween promotion under the headline “Pay no attention to the team on the field.” It is one reader’s commentary on the game-day announcement. The community post →
Why It Matters: Clemson is the next opportunity to improve the bowl outlook. A loss would leave FSU needing three wins from its final four games. 🍢🍢
📬 Newson and Dobson Circle NC State Weekend
Antrale Newson and FSU commit Meshi Dobson both have November’s NC State weekend on their Tallahassee calendars. The latest Noles247 reports add context from the staff’s Friday recruiting stops.
Newson: Herb Hand visited the Copiah-Lincoln tackle before his November 19–22 FSU official. USF is November 12–14 and Ole Miss November 27–29. Newson plans to sign in December, with no decision date set. 247Sports ranks him the No. 1 JUCO tackle and No. 6 JUCO prospect overall. Newson’s visit update →
Dobson: Greg Moss visited the Cypress Bay edge commit Friday. His November 21 return will be his first since committing. Dobson is in the 2028 class after moving back from 2027 in September. He also wants to visit Florida, Oklahoma and Georgia Tech, with those dates not locked in. Dobson’s commitment and travel plans →
Why It Matters: That weekend gives FSU a chance to pursue a tackle addition and strengthen an existing edge commitment. 🍢🍢
⚾ Fall Ball Points Toward Friday’s Finale
FSU’s fall schedule concludes with the Garnet & Gold All-Star Game on Friday, October 30, at 6 p.m. Noles247’s Clearwater preview listed Saturday’s USF exhibition as the final outside opponent, with a scheduled 12-inning format. The Clearwater thread and fall schedule → Watch the earlier JU and UNF highlights →
Why It Matters: Friday gives fans another look at the roster before fall competition ends and offseason preparation takes over. 🍢🍢
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⛳ Gazzoli Stays in the Top Five at Landfall
Alexandra Gazzoli remains tied for fifth at even par after two rounds of the Landfall Tradition. No. 17 FSU shot 300 on Saturday and sits ninth at 19 over through 36 holes. The second-round report →
The counting scores: Gazzoli and Haruhi Nakatani each shot 74. Freshman Kayla Bryant added 75, recovering from an opening bogey and double bogey to play her final 16 holes at even par. Louise Landgraf contributed 77.
Sunday’s setup: Duke leads at even par, six shots ahead of SMU. FSU plays with Auburn and UCF in an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Why It Matters: Gazzoli remains in contention for a strong individual finish. FSU has one round left to climb from the middle of the team standings. 🍢🍢
🏖️ Beach Pairs Chase AVCA Championship Bids
FSU split five beach volleyball pairs between Huntington Beach and Tavares this weekend. Both events offer routes to the AVCA Pairs National Championship, November 6–8 in Huntsville, Alabama. The official weekend preview →
California: Gella Andrew and Saofe Duval entered as the No. 9 seed, with Jess Horwath and Kenzie Hultquist seeded 10th at the Surf City/AVCA Collegiate Challenge.
Florida: Avery and Addison Junk entered Hickory Point as the top seed. Brynn Hughbanks/Julia Tennoy and Rachel Heilbrun/Carra Sassack also represented FSU.
The format: Hickory Point’s top three bracket finishers earn national bids. Sunday’s additional bracket matches determine placements for the remaining pairs.
Why It Matters: These fall events give individual pairs a path to national competition before the spring team season. 🍢🍢
And that’s a wrap!
Two exhibition wins give the basketball team something to build on before the regular season begins in Tampa. Tell us in today’s poll what impressed you most against LSU, from Abaev’s shot-making to the work on the glass.
Gazzoli and the golf team finish at Landfall today. Then the week brings Duke at the soccer complex, baseball’s fall finale and Clemson’s Halloween visit to Doak.
Go Noles! 🍢
