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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole!

The rivalry weekend didn’t go Florida State’s way — but the story isn’t over yet. From a bruising loss to Miami to resilient locker room reactions and a recruiting class that remains bullish on the Noles, here’s everything you need to know after a wild night at Doak.

🏈 Miami 28, FSU 22 — Rivalry Slips Away Late 🏈
A sold-out Doak Campbell watched the Noles rally from 28–3 down, but three costly turnovers and a shaky start doomed their upset bid. Tommy Castellanos’ two fourth-quarter touchdowns weren’t enough to overcome Carson Beck’s 4-TD performance.

🎙️ Norvell Takes Accountability
After the game, Coach Norvell called the loss “utterly disappointing in every way” and vowed the team would respond. He stood by Castellanos’ leadership but admitted the Noles “must eliminate self-inflicted mistakes” after back-to-back 3-turnover games.

🏹 Recruits Still Believe
Despite the loss, top recruits — including recent flip Corbyn Fordham and several four-stars — praised the atmosphere and FSU’s fight. Many left impressed by Norvell’s system, the team’s resilience, and the progress from last season.

🔥 Opinion Split: Grit or Regression?
Warchant’s Corey Clark called the night a tale of two FSU teams — one rattled early, one relentless late. He warns that Norvell’s squads “play well until the stakes rise,” yet credits the Noles’ final-quarter surge as proof of heart still beating inside the program.

Let’s get into it 👇️ 

🏈 Miami 28, FSU 22 — Noles’ Rally Falls Short in Rivalry Clash 🏈

For three quarters, No. 18 Florida State couldn’t stop Miami’s aerial attack — and a furious fourth-quarter rally came too late as the Seminoles fell 28–22 before a sold-out Doak Campbell Stadium.

🔥 Air Raid Over Ground Game

• Entering the night, the storyline was Miami’s dominant rushing offense — but QB Carson Beck flipped the script, torching FSU’s secondary for 241 yards and 4 touchdowns.

• Beck connected on back-to-back deep balls (47 and 44 yards) to CJ Daniels and freshman Malachi Toney to seize control early.

• By the time FSU adjusted, the Hurricanes led 28–3 — with under 100 rushing yards total.

⚡ Late Spark, Too Late

• Tommy Castellanos threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter.

• Lawayne McCoy and Randy Pittman hauled in the TDs, with Micahi Danzy adding a two-point conversion.

• Despite 404 total yards (to Miami’s 338), FSU’s 0-for-3 mark on onside kicks sealed their fate.

📉 By the Numbers

• Beck vs. FSU (past two games): 454 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs.

• Duce Robinson led all Seminoles with 6 catches for 87 yards.

• FSU drops to 3–2 (0–2 ACC); Miami improves to 5–0 (1–0).

Next up: FSU looks to rebound at home vs. Pitt on Saturday at noon.

👉 Full recap here

🎙️ Norvell: “We’ll Respond — But This One Hurts.” 🎙️

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell faced the media somberly after Saturday’s 28–22 loss to Miami, calling the defeat “utterly disappointing in every way” and taking ownership for the team’s miscues in a rivalry that “means everything to our players, coaches, and university.”

🔥 Postgame Takeaways

• On the loss: “We just had too many mistakes… Miami protected the football and hit explosive plays. We fell behind early, and it was too much to overcome.”

• On the decision to go for it on 4th-and-8: Norvell said it was “right on the brink” of field-goal range and he wanted to be aggressive. The play resulted in an interception and a one-play Miami touchdown drive.

• On Castellanos: “He showed tremendous heart and fight. He’ll take ownership, but it’s not all on him. I believe in who he is and what he’s about.”

• On turnovers: “Two straight games with three turnovers — that has to be fixed. With emphasis, there has to be application.”

• On the moment: “This game carries great weight. You prepare all year for it, and when you come up short, it hurts. But we’ll respond.”

• On Micah’s injury: Not expected to be long-term, but his absence “magnified the challenge” against Miami’s elite defensive ends.

💬 The Quote That Stood Out:

FSU (3–2, 0–2 ACC) will look to regroup quickly ahead of Saturday’s noon matchup vs. Pitt at Doak Campbell Stadium.

👉 Read the full transcript here

🏈 Recruits React: Despite Loss, FSU Impresses Visitors 🏈

Florida State’s 28–22 loss to No. 3 Miami didn’t dampen the spirits of several high-profile recruits who witnessed the primetime rivalry firsthand at Doak Campbell Stadium. Many came away praising the team’s resilience, the atmosphere, and the offensive system — especially how the Seminoles utilized their tight ends and fought until the end.

🔥 Key Reactions from Visitors

• TE Corbyn Fordham (3⭐, recent Ohio State flip)
  “It was great seeing the boys compete… the tight ends getting used in all positions. Just a couple penalties killed them, but once they clean that up, they’ll be back on track.”

• EDGE Kamron Wilson (3⭐, Syracuse commit)
  “It felt great to be back. I’ve been in contact with Coach Norvell — the energy was great, and they gave it a great fight.”

• S Kaiden Hall (4⭐, Florida commit)
  “They didn’t give up. Down 28–3, came back fighting. The DBs kept battling and finished strong.”

• EDGE Jarius Rodgers (4⭐)
  “This program is definitely better than last year. Coach Norvell has done a good job developing guys.”

• CB Lasiah Jackson (4⭐, Stanford commit)
  “This was my first Florida State game — I just wanted to check out the atmosphere. It was pretty good.”

• DL Earnest Rankins (4⭐)
  “Even though they were down, they came back swinging. They didn’t stop until the end — there’s still love there.”

💡 Takeaway:
Despite the loss, recruits emphasized FSU’s fight, coaching, and culture, signaling that the Seminoles’ 2026 recruiting momentum remains strong.

👉 Read more reactions via Noles247

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🔥 Opinion: Noles Collapse Early, Rally Late — But Doubts Resurface About Norvell’s Teams 🔥

Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium was supposed to be Florida State’s chance to reassert itself on the national stage. Instead, the Seminoles’ 28–22 loss to No. 3 Miami revealed all-too-familiar cracks — a team that looked overwhelmed early, settled late, and left fans wondering which direction the season will go.

💥 Flat Start, Familiar Feel
Despite the home-field advantage and emotional buildup, it was Miami that played poised and composed — and Florida State that crumbled under the lights. The Hurricanes built a 28–3 lead before the Noles’ fourth-quarter rally salvaged the scoreline.
The loss marks FSU’s second straight ACC defeat and seventh consecutive conference loss overall, evaporating much of the goodwill from their season-opening upset over Alabama.

🏈 Patterns of Nerves and Missed Moments
From questionable fourth-down calls to avoidable turnovers, the same issues that have plagued Mike Norvell’s tenure resurfaced:

• Tommy Castellanos’ two interceptions came at crucial junctures, including a reckless throw on 4th-and-8 that set up a Miami touchdown.

• The team’s energy felt “flustered and frantic,” a description eerily similar to collapses in 2022 and 2024 when pressure mounted.

• Even with 404 total yards, Florida State failed to execute cleanly when it mattered most.

📉 Coaching Under the Microscope
Writer Corey Clark argues Norvell’s teams “play well until the stakes rise,” citing a pattern of midseason unraveling. While the fourth-quarter surge — 19 unanswered points — showed heart, it also underscored how unprepared FSU was early.
The larger concern? A recurring inability to sustain confidence after setbacks.

🧭 The Fork in the Road
The comeback was admirable, but as Clark notes:

Florida State’s challenge now isn’t just fixing execution. It’s proving it can handle success — and pressure — without folding.

👉 Read the full opinion via Warchant

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And that’s a wrap!

Florida State showed fight — but not fast enough. The Noles have talent, heart, and flashes of elite play, yet the same mistakes keep surfacing when the lights burn brightest. Saturday’s late rally won’t erase what happened early, but it does prove there’s still juice left in this team — if they can harness it.

Next week’s matchup vs. Pitt isn’t just another game.
It’s a test of response, resolve, and reputation.

Until tomorrow, stay sharp and stay unconquered.
— The Chief Brief