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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy hump day, Seminole!

🏀 Seminoles Finish Preseason Strong — FSU women’s basketball cruised past Tampa in its final exhibition, showing sharp ball movement and dominance on the glass ahead of Sunday’s season opener vs. FAMU.

⚽ Jordynn Dudley Earns ACC Honors — The junior forward netted two goals and an assist in FSU’s road win over No. 3 Virginia, claiming ACC Offensive Player of the Week and vaulting the ‘Noles to No. 6 nationally.

⛳ FSU Women’s Golf Battles at East Lake Cup — Despite clutch wins from Sophia Fullbrook and Freya Russell, the Seminoles fell just short in the semifinals and will now face USC for third place.

🏗️ Inside FSU’s New $150M Facility — The Dunlap Training Center has opened its doors, giving the program a world-class home and a fresh spark during a tough stretch. Coaches call it “the best in college football.”

🌀 Recruiting Watch: Commits Under Pressure — Rivals like Ohio State, Texas, and Nebraska are circling several FSU 2026 commits amid the losing streak. Key flips to watch include CB Jay Timmons and LB Karon Maycock.

🐝 Edge Target Chris Carbin Down to Three — The Georgia DE/OLB now lists FSU among his finalists, but Georgia Tech has pulled back in front following the Seminoles’ recent slide.

🗣️ Patrick Surtain on Resilience and Leadership — FSU’s DB coach says the message is simple: “Keep fighting, stay positive, and respect the name on your back.”

🧠 FSU Reenters the Race for LB Daylen Green — The local Gadsden County standout is taking an official visit this weekend, with FSU pushing hard to flip him from Arkansas after Sam Pittman’s firing.

📊 Evaluating Norvell’s Recruiting Legacy — From gems like Joshua Farmer and AZ Thomas to high-profile misses like Hykeem Williams and AJ Duffy, a full look at FSU’s best and worst high school evaluations of the Norvell era.

🏁 Big Picture:
From a sparkling new facility to recruiting battles heating up across the country, Florida State’s season is at a crossroads — and this weekend’s Homecoming clash with Wake Forest could mark the turning point.

👉 Stay locked in, Seminole Nation — this edition dives deep into the wins, the worries, and the way forward for FSU football and beyond.

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🏀 Seminoles Roll Past Tampa in Final Exhibition Tune-Up 🏀

Florida State women’s basketball closed its preseason on a strong note Tuesday night, defeating Tampa 84–63 at the Tucker Center behind a dominant interior showing and balanced team play.

🔥 Davis Leads the Way
Sophomore forward Pania Davis powered the Seminoles with 17 points (7-of-10 FG) and 3 blocks, asserting herself as a two-way force in the paint. Sydney Bowles added 12 points, while Sole Williams chipped in 10 points and 2 steals to round out a well-spread scoring effort.

💪 Glass Control & Defense

• Allie Kubek: 10 rebounds

• Avery Treadwell: 9 rebounds, 9 points
  FSU turned 16 Tampa turnovers into 26 points, smothering the Spartans with defensive pressure and second-chance conversions.

📊 Quarter-by-Quarter Snapshot

• 1Q: FSU opens on a 6–0 run, leads 22–12.

• Halftime: Seminoles up 43–28.

• 3Q: Davis explodes for 11 points, pushing lead to 67–48.

• 4Q: FSU ends on an 11–0 run to seal the 21-point victory.

📅 Next Up
The Seminoles officially open the 2025–26 regular season Sunday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m., hosting Florida A&M at the Tucker Center.

👉 Grab your tickets now at Seminoles.com/Tickets and catch the start of what looks like a promising campaign for Coach Brooke Wyckoff’s squad.

⚽ Jordynn Dudley Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week ⚽

Florida State junior forward Jordynn Dudley was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, marking her second career weekly honor and FSU’s second of the season.

🔥 Dominant at Virginia
Dudley led the Seminoles to a 3–2 win over No. 3 Virginia, scoring twice and assisting on the game-winning goal in the 89th minute — a clutch performance that powered FSU up to No. 6 in the national rankings.

💪 Elite Production

• 2 Goals, 1 Assist vs. Virginia (5 points)

• 6th career brace

• 12 straight games with a point

• 11 assists, 25 total points (team leader)

🏆 FSU’s Weekly Honors This Season

• Jordynn Dudley — Offensive POTW (Oct. 28)

• Janet Okeke — Defensive POTW (Sept. 16)

📅 Next Up
The Seminoles host RV Wake Forest on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. ET in their Senior Night matchup at the Seminole Soccer Complex, airing live on the ACC Network.

👉 Celebrate the seniors and watch FSU close the regular season strong at home.

⛳ Fullbrook & Russell Earn Wins, but FSU Falls to Oregon in East Lake Cup Semifinal ⛳

Despite strong performances from sophomores Sophia Fullbrook and Freya Russell, the No. 3-ranked Oregon Ducks edged Florida State, 3–2, in Tuesday’s East Lake Cup semifinals in Atlanta.

🔥 Seminole Standouts

• Sophia Fullbrook: Defeated Oregon’s Shyla Singh 4&3, closing out the match on the 15th hole with a dominant birdie on 13. The win marked her third career match play victory.

• Freya Russell: Earned her first career match play win, defeating Tong An 3&2 after building a five-hole lead through 11 holes.

💪 Team Outlook
The Seminoles battled throughout but ultimately fell just short, 3–2, to the top-seeded Ducks.

📅 Next Up
FSU will face No. 2 USC on Wednesday in the third-place match, after the Trojans fell to Northwestern (4–1) in the other semifinal.

👉 Watch the final round live on Golf Channel (3–6 p.m. ET) and follow scoring at GolfStat.com.

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🏗️ Inside FSU’s New $150 Million Football Facility: “The Best in College Football” 🏗️

Florida State’s long-awaited Dunlap Training Facility — a 150,000-square-foot, football-only complex nearly a decade in the making — is finally open for business. Despite arriving during a challenging four-game skid, players and coaches alike say the new building has injected pride and motivation into the program.

🔥 A New Era Begins
Defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain called it “the best building in college football,” praising its design and cutting-edge amenities. The facility was first conceptualized in 2016 but delayed by multiple coaching changes and logistical hurdles before breaking ground in late 2023.

💬 Players React

• KJ Kirkland (DB): “Every day we walk in there, it’s about honoring the guys who came before us. They paved the way for this.”

• Richie Leonard (OL): “I remember hearing about it when I was in 10th grade. To finally be the team that moved in — it’s awesome.”

💧 Next-Level Amenities
Kirkland highlighted the new hydro area, including a “power wash” tunnel for players coming straight off the field — a lighthearted but practical upgrade that’s already a team favorite.

🏆 A First-Class Standard
Head coach Mike Norvell said the move marks a pivotal step forward for the program:

👉 The new Dunlap Training Facility now stands as both a recruiting showcase and a symbol of what FSU football hopes to reclaim — a championship standard built to last.

🌀 FSU Commitments on Flip Watch as Rival Programs Turn Up the Heat 🌀

With Florida State’s on-field struggles mounting and questions swirling around Mike Norvell’s future, opposing programs are aggressively targeting the Seminoles’ 2026 recruiting class. Both SEC and Big Ten contenders are now circling key FSU pledges in hopes of flipping them before signing day.

🔥 1️⃣ 4-Star CB Jay Timmons (Son of FSU Legend Lawrence Timmons)
Originally flipped from Indiana to FSU over the summer, Timmons has since drawn major Power Five interest.

• New Offers: Penn State, Ohio State

• Visit Alert: Taking an official visit to Ohio State this weekend for the Buckeyes–Nittany Lions matchup.

• Flip Risk: High — momentum is swinging toward Columbus, and insiders say FSU will face an uphill battle keeping him home.

💪 2️⃣ 3-Star LB Karon Maycock
A longtime FSU commit and former “locked-in” prospect, Maycock’s recruitment has reopened.

• New Offer: Texas

• Visit Alert: Official visit to Austin this weekend.

• Recruiting Outlook: Horns247 reports Texas has made Maycock its top LB target after recent misses. Sources call the race “50/50”, with the Longhorns trending upward.

🔒 3️⃣ 3-Star S Tedarius Hughes
Committed since summer 2024, Hughes has never fully shut down his recruitment.

• Other Interests: Syracuse, Nebraska

• Recent Visits: Multiple unofficials to Nebraska, with an official visit to Lincoln expected soon.

• Flip Risk: Moderate — the Cornhuskers are building real momentum.

📉 Why It Matters
FSU’s losing streak and uncertainty at the top have opened the door for rival programs to pounce. If Norvell’s status remains unclear, more decommitments could follow, putting Florida State’s 2026 class at risk of unraveling.

👉 Track live recruiting developments and potential flips via Noles247 and On3 Recruiting.

🐝 Georgia DE/OLB Chris Carbin Narrows List — FSU Losing Ground After Four-Game Slide 🐝

Florida State’s once-promising pursuit of Georgia pass-rusher Chris Carbin has hit turbulence. The 3-star defensive end/outside linebacker announced Tuesday that he’s down to three schools — Florida State, Auburn, and Georgia Tech — but it’s the Yellow Jackets who’ve reclaimed the lead.

🔥 From Leader to Underdog
Just weeks ago, FSU appeared to be in prime position after hosting Carbin for an official visit to Tallahassee during the Pittsburgh game. At the time, he named the Seminoles his leader, saying:

However, after four straight FSU losses, Carbin told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett that Georgia Tech is now back on top — the same program he decommitted from earlier this fall.

💬 Carbin on Georgia Tech:

📅 Decision Timeline
Carbin plans to make his final decision before signing day in December, with a potential return visit to FSU still being discussed — though nothing is confirmed.

👉 Keep an eye on Carbin’s recruitment in the coming weeks — this one’s not over, but the Seminoles are playing from behind.

🗣️ Patrick Surtain on Adversity, Leadership, and Refusing to Quit 🗣️

Florida State defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. knows firsthand that football’s toughest moments often reveal a team’s true character. From his days as an NFL All-Pro to coaching championship high school teams, Surtain’s message remains consistent — success comes from how you respond to setbacks.

🔥 Lessons from Experience
Recalling his 1999 Miami Dolphins season — where an 8–1 start collapsed to 9–7 before a playoff run — Surtain drew a parallel to FSU’s current struggles:

🏈 FSU’s Response Amid Adversity
The Seminoles enter Saturday’s Homecoming game vs. Wake Forest on a four-game losing streak, but coaches insist the team remains engaged. Surtain emphasized that he sees no signs of quitting and praised the effort in practice:

💬 Norvell on Discipline and Focus
Head coach Mike Norvell addressed the emotional sideline moments from the Stanford loss, stressing accountability and composure:

🔥 Why It Matters
For a team fighting through adversity, Surtain’s voice of experience — and the players’ response to it — could define how the second half of FSU’s season unfolds.

👉 The message in Tallahassee is clear: respond, refocus, and refuse to fold.

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🧠 FSU Back in the Mix for Local Linebacker Daylen Green After Arkansas Turmoil 🧠

Florida State is back in the picture for Gadsden County (Fla.) three-star linebacker Daylen Green, who shocked many — including the Seminole staff — when he committed to Arkansas back in June.

🔥 Coaching Change Reopens the Door
With the Razorbacks firing head coach Sam Pittman earlier this season, Green confirmed his commitment is now “open,” even as he remains technically pledged to Arkansas:

🏈 FSU Making a Strong Push
Green called FSU the main school working to flip him, and he’s set for an official visit to Tallahassee this weekend for the Wake Forest game.
He’s eager to learn more about:

• His potential fit in Adam Fuller’s defense

• FSU’s new football facility

• The university’s physical therapy program, his intended major

🤝 Relationships Remain Solid
Despite his earlier commitment elsewhere, Green says the FSU staff — including Mike Norvell, John Papuchis, and Devin Rispress — has remained consistent:

📆 Decision Timeline
Green, who reclassified from 2027 to 2026, is ranked as the No. 57 linebacker nationally by 247Sports. He plans to make a final decision next week, following his FSU visit.

👉 FSU has momentum here — and with Green’s roots just down the road in Quincy, this weekend’s visit could seal the flip.

📊 FSU’s Best and Worst High School Evaluations Under Mike Norvell 📊

While Mike Norvell’s tenure at Florida State has been defined by portal success, his track record in high school recruiting and development remains mixed — a blend of hidden gems and major misses. Here’s a look at the standouts and letdowns that shaped his roster.

🔥 Top Evaluations

• CB Azareye’h Thomas (2022) – A late steal who blossomed into an NFL starter for the Jets after being drafted 73rd overall.

• DL Joshua Farmer (2021) – A developmental success from nearby Gadsden County, transformed from a 250-pound project into a 300-pound NFL draft pick.

• DL Patrick Payton (2021) – ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022; now a starting edge at LSU.

• CB Ja’Bril Rawls (2022) – A camp find who’s become one of FSU’s top defenders with 35 tackles and an interception this season.

• WR Micahi Danzy (2024) – Former RB turned breakout receiver, averaging 22.9 yards per catch with five total TDs in 2025.

📉 Biggest Misses

• QB Chubba Purdy (2020) – Early Norvell-era gamble who transferred twice; now benched at Nevada.

• QB AJ Duffy (2022) – Once viewed as the program’s future, now at FCS New Haven after multiple transfers.

• WR Hykeem Williams (2023) – Five-star signee who never broke through, now a rotational player at Colorado.

• DB Sam McCall (2022) – Top-50 recruit dismissed within a year; now buried on Georgia State’s depth chart.

• WR Destyn Hill (2021) – Legendary recruiting mystery plagued by delays and injuries; transferred to LSU but remains sidelined.

💬 Why It Matters
Norvell’s ability to spot developmental talent like Farmer and Thomas has paid off — but inconsistent QB evaluations and high-profile busts have stalled long-term roster stability.

👉 As FSU reassesses its recruiting model amid ongoing struggles, building future rosters through high school hits — not portal patches — will determine Norvell’s legacy.

And that’s a wrap!

The stage is set for a defining weekend in Tallahassee. Between the new $150 million facility, high-stakes recruiting battles, and a restless fan base, Florida State’s football program is standing on a razor’s edge.
A win against Wake Forest could steady the ship — but another loss might send shockwaves through the program and accelerate major decisions behind the scenes.

Regardless of what happens Saturday night, one thing remains true: Seminole Nation never stops caring.

Until next time — stay sharp, stay loyal, and keep your eyes on the climb.