🏹 October 3rd - The Chief Brief 🏹

Rivalry Week, Recruiting Heat, and Keys to the Upset

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The Chief
October 03, 2025

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Who’s the X-Factor vs. Miami?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF Seminole!

Your all-in-one FSU fix for a jam-packed rivalry weekend — from ranked swims and soccer vs. Miami to recruiting fireworks and game-plan keys. Settle in, Noles. 🔥

Here’s what’s inside:

🏊‍♂️ Ranked & Ready: Men’s Swimming & Diving opens No. 18; women just outside Top-25

🏐 Road Swing: Volleyball at Wake (Fri) & NC State (Sun) — Henke heating up

🏃 Windy City Run: XC hits Chicago’s Lakefront Invite vs. stacked Top-25 fields

🏀 Big-Stage Hoops: Noles to face Houston (Dec 6, 2025) at Toyota Center

⚽ Gold Night: No. 6 Soccer hosts Miami (Fri, 7p ET) — scarf giveaway for first 1,000

⚾ Fall Ball Tix: UAB + Garnet & Gold All-Star (with HR Derby) at Howser now on sale

🥎 Five-Star Visit: 2027 SS Aspen Boulware — deep FSU roots, USA Softball star

🌟 Recruiting Wave: 100+ visitors in town — flips, five-stars, and bold score picks

📋 Beat Miami Plan: Three keys to an upset — stop the run, unleash Tommy, let Doak roar

Let’s ride. 🍢

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🏊‍♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving Ranked No. 18 🏊‍♀️


The Seminole men’s swimming and diving team opens the season at No. 18 in the CSCAA Division I Poll, while the women are just two spots outside the top-25.

🔥 Poll Breakdown

  • Men’s team ranked No. 18 for the second straight year.

  • Women receiving votes, aiming to break into the top-25.

  • FSU is one of nine ACC men’s programs in the rankings, and 12 ACC women’s programs are ranked or receiving votes.

💨 Season Outlook

  • FSU men finished No. 19 in the final poll last season and placed 18th at the NCAA Championships.

  • Women entered the top-25 at No. 25 last December after consistent votes throughout the season.

📅 What’s Next

  • Oct. 17–18: Dual Meet Tournament at Georgia Tech vs. Army, Auburn, GW, Georgia, Minnesota, and NC State.

  • Oct. 24: Home meet at the All Florida Invite.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Heads to Wake & NC State 🏐


The Seminoles (7–4, 1–1 ACC) wrap up their road stretch this weekend with matches at Wake Forest (Fri, 6:30 PM) and NC State (Sun, 1 PM), both live on ACCNX.

🔥 ACC Road Swing

  • FSU split its ACC-opening weekend, beating Clemson before falling to Georgia Tech.

  • The Noles have won 4 of their last 5 matches.

  • FSU dominates the series vs. Wake (40–7, 18 straight wins) and NC State (51–8).

⭐ Player Highlights

  • Iane Henke: Leads team with 177 kills, 4.43 per set (Top 5 in ACC, Top 25 nationally). Only ACC player with 20+ kills in a three-set match this season.

  • Kyleene Filimaua: 140 kills and 87 digs, including a career-high 22 kills vs. USF.

  • Nenu Kpea: Freshman leads team in blocks (48, 1.20/set).

  • Mio Yamamoto: Transfer libero already leads team with 136 digs.

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ FSU XC Heads to Chicago for Lakefront Invite


The Seminoles are set for the 46th Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational on Friday in Chicago, featuring a women’s 6k (10 AM ET) and men’s 8k (10:40 AM ET).

🌟 Strong Competition

  • Men’s 8k: FSU faces No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 24 Washington, and No. 16 UNC.

  • Women’s 6k: Stacked field with seven top-30 teams, including No. 2 NC State and No. 7 Providence.

👟 Noles to Watch

  • Women: Rylee Blade (3rd at FSU Invite in her debut), Bieke Schipperen (6th), Brooke Hooper (9th).

  • Men: Aidan Ryan (11th at FSU Invite), Kaden Levings (13th), Gino Palazzolo (18th).

  • Transfer junior Isaac Hirshman Chandler returns to the lineup.

📊 Last Time Out

  • Both squads finished top 3 at the FSU XC Invite.

  • Women: 3 runners in the top 10, led by Blade’s 20:03.5 debut.

  • Men: 4 runners in the top 20, paced by Ryan’s 25:03.3.

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🏀 Noles to Face Houston at Toyota Center 🏀


Florida State will meet Houston in a non-conference showdown on Dec. 6, 2025 (8 PM ET) at the Toyota Center, home of the NBA’s Rockets.

📍 Big Stage Games

  • Houston (Dec. 6) – Toyota Center (NBA Rockets).

  • Texas A&M (Nov. 28) – Benchmark International Arena (NHL Lightning).

  • UMass (Dec. 13) – Amerant Bank Arena (NHL Panthers).

📜 Series History

  • Sixth all-time meeting between FSU and Houston.

  • First matchup since 1974.

⏱ Season Outlook

  • Exhibition slate: Oct. 16 at Alabama (Birmingham), Oct. 26 vs. FAMU (Tallahassee).

  • Regular season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Alcorn State at home.

  • ACC home opener: Jan. 3 vs. Duke at the Tucker Center.

🎟 Tickets

  • Season tickets (17 home games) start at $150.

  • Available now; single-game sales begin in October.

Why It Matters: Playing in NBA/NHL arenas adds spotlight games to FSU’s 2025–26 schedule, with Houston marking a historic rematch more than 50 years in the making.

⚽ No. 6 FSU Soccer Hosts Miami ⚽


The Seminoles return home Friday night for a rivalry clash vs. Miami (7 PM ET, ACCNX) at the Seminole Soccer Complex. It’s Gold Night, with the first 1,000 fans receiving an FSU scarf courtesy of Truist.

🔥 Season Snapshot

  • FSU is 7-0-2 overall, 3-0-1 in the ACC, and unbeaten in 19 straight.

  • The Noles are 4-0-0 at home, outscoring opponents 28–2 on the year.

  • Wrianna Hudson leads the team with 8 goals; Jordynn Dudley has 6 assists.

  • GK Addie Todd paces the NCAA with a 0.188 GAA and .917 save percentage.

📊 National Rankings

  • No. 2 in goals-against average (.225).

  • No. 4 in assists per game (3.33).

  • No. 6 in goals per game (3.11).

🏆 Rivalry History

  • FSU leads the all-time series 20-4-0, including 11-1-0 at home.

  • The Seminoles have won 5 straight and 8 of the last 9.

Why It Matters: With Miami struggling in ACC play (0-3-1), this matchup gives the Noles a chance to extend their dominance, protect their unbeaten streak, and keep momentum rolling into next week’s top-10 showdown at Notre Dame.

⚾ FSU Baseball Fall Tickets On Sale ⚾


Seminole fans can now lock in seats for two fall home games at Dick Howser Stadium.

📅 Key Dates

  • Oct. 18 – Exhibition vs. Mississippi State (in Pensacola, Blue Wahoos Stadium)

  • Oct. 25 – vs. UAB, 12 PM ET ($10) – followed by Fan Day

  • Oct. 31 – Garnet & Gold All-Star Game, 6:30 PM ET ($7 GA) – capped with a Home Run Derby

🎟️ Ticket Info

  • Available now at Seminoles.com/Tickets

  • All seats general admission, mobile-only delivery

  • Gates open 1 hour before first pitch

Why It Matters: The fall slate offers fans an early look at the 2026 squad — plus unique events like Fan Day and a Derby under the lights at Howser.

🥎 Top Target Aspen Boulware Visits FSU 🥎


One of the biggest names in the 2027 softball class is in Tallahassee this weekend, as shortstop Aspen Boulware — viewed by many as the No. 1 player nationally — makes her official visit during Miami week.

👨‍👩‍👧 Deep Seminole Roots

  • Daughter of Michael Boulware (FSU linebacker, 2000–03, NFL vet) and Jessica Van der Linden Boulware (2004 USA Softball Player of the Year).

  • Multiple other family members also wore Garnet & Gold.

  • Has attended FSU camps and games before, long tracked as a top priority by Lonni Alameda’s staff.

⭐ Resume

  • South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year after hitting .573 with a state-record 22 HR and 44 RBI.

  • More than 50 career HRs before senior year.

  • Team USA standout — MVP of the 2023 U-15 World Cup, and named to the All-World Team at the 2025 U-18 World Cup.

🎯 Decision Timeline

  • Has visited Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas Tech.

  • FSU trip is her final official visit before making a decision in the near future.

  • On choosing: “My parents haven’t pressured me either way. I can make this decision myself.”

Why It Matters:
With family ties, elite production, and USA Softball accolades, Boulware represents a true program-changing prospect for Seminole softball. A commitment could headline FSU’s 2027 class.

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🌟 Rivalry Weekend = Recruiting Goldmine 🌟


Florida State–Miami isn’t just about the scoreboard — it’s about shaping the future. With 100+ recruits in Tallahassee, Saturday night could be a turning point for the 2026–2029 classes.

🔥 Big-Name Flip Targets

  • Lasiah Jackson (4★ DB, Stanford commit) – Stanford’s top commit, but distance, uncertainty in Palo Alto, and ties to FSU freshman Ousmane Kromah make this one to watch.

  • Aaron Thomas (3★ OT, Ohio State commit) – Legacy recruit (dad played OL at FSU). Seminoles offered late, but he’s intrigued by the staff’s genuine approach. OT remains a major need in this class.

  • Justin Williams (4★ WR, Florida commit) – Gainesville native visiting Doak despite a loaded FSU WR room. Staff’s level of push will reveal how serious they are.

👀 Elite Visitor List Highlights

  • QB pipeline: 2027’s Derrick Baker and 2028’s Kaden Craft headline.

  • Skill talent: 2027 RB Kemon Spell (Penn State commit) and WR standouts Sean Green, Jaden Upshaw, and Jabari Watkins (Nebraska commit).

  • Trench stars: 2027 OL Sean Tatum and 2027 DL KJ Green, Rashad Streets, and Jaiden Bryant.

  • DB depth: Multiple flip candidates in town, including Kaiden Hall (Florida commit) and Xavier Lherisse (Oregon commit).

📣 What Recruits Are Saying
Prospects didn’t just show up — they’re already weighing in on the rivalry. Here’s a sample of score predictions:

  • 2026 FSU commit Jaden O’Neal (QB): 🍢46–26 Noles on top!

  • 2026 TE Corbyn Fordham (Ohio State commit): 34–28 FSU.

  • 2026 Edge Kamron Wilson (Syracuse commit): 42–35 FSU.

  • 2027 RB Kemon Spell (Penn State commit): 28–24 FSU.

  • 2027 WR Jabari Watkins (Nebraska commit): “FSU by 20.”

  • 2027 OL Sean Tatum: Miami 31–14.

  • 2027 CB Bryce Williams (FSU commit): FSU 31–10.

  • 2029 ATH James Allen: FSU 28–0.

👉 Full visitor + prediction breakdown via Noles247 & Rivals

🔥 Three Keys to Upsetting Miami 🔥


Florida State enters Saturday night’s rivalry clash with No. 3 Miami as a 4.5-point underdog, but the formula to flip the script is clear.

💪 Stop the Run, Force the Throw

  • Miami runs on 63% of first downs, creating easy passing downs.

  • FSU must bottle up Mark Fletcher (388 yards, 5 TDs) and CharMar Brown (206 yards, 4 TDs) to force QB Carson Beck into third-and-longs.

  • Beck has been solid (972 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs), but Miami’s passing game dips sharply when behind the sticks.

⚡ Castellanos Has to Be Elite

  • QB Tommy Castellanos is the X-factor. He’s accounted for 1,065 total yards and 8 TDs this season.

  • His ability to hit deep shots and hurt Miami with his legs is the best way to neutralize Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, one of the nation’s most disruptive DE duos.

  • Roydell Williams’ return bolsters a rushing attack averaging 336.2 yards per game (2nd nationally).

🏟 Doak Must Matter

  • Miami hasn’t been road-tested yet. A raucous Doak Campbell crowd could create communication issues and tilt momentum in key spots.

  • Warchant staff split on predictions: some calling for Miami in a close one, others picking FSU to ride the home crowd to a primetime upset.

📊 Matchup Breakdown

  • Miami O-Line vs. FSU Front: Advantage Miami. The ‘Canes have allowed just 5 sacks all year.

  • FSU Ground Game vs. Miami Run D: Slight edge FSU. Something has to give between FSU’s nation-leading rushing attack and Miami’s top-10 run defense.

  • Pass Defense Battle: Even. Both secondaries have forced turnovers, but the outcome hinges on who wins the trenches.

  • Special Teams: Dead even, though Squirrel White’s punt return spark vs. UVA could carry over.

👉 Full game preview via Warchant & Noles247

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap on today’s edition of The Chief Brief! From the pool to the pitch, the diamond to Doak, it’s a packed weekend of Garnet & Gold action. Rivalry week is here — and so is a chance to make a statement, on the field and on the recruiting trail.

Stay loud, stay proud, and as always… Go Noles! 🍢🔥

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