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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

Florida State turns the page on a humbling rivalry loss and looks to reset across the board — from the coordinators’ film room to the recruiting trail.

⚙️ Coordinators Call for Urgency, Not Panic
Gus Malzahn and Tony White broke down what went wrong vs. Miami, emphasizing accountability, execution, and leadership heading into Saturday’s must-win matchup against Pitt.

📉 Noles Slide in Polls After Miami Loss
FSU drops seven spots to No. 25 in the AP Top 25 and falls out of the Coaches Poll — a clear signal that this weekend’s home game is about more than just rebounding.

🏐 Volleyball Falls in Five
After leading 2–1, the Noles couldn’t close out NC State on the road but return home Friday against SMU looking to steady the ship.

📊 Vegas Still Believes
Despite two straight ACC losses, Circa Sports opens FSU as a 10-point favorite over Pitt — suggesting the oddsmakers expect a bounce-back at Doak.

🎯 Recruiting Continues Amid Adversity
Even after the loss, top recruits like Kamron Wilson and Aaron Thomas stayed in Tallahassee to meet with the staff. The message: FSU still develops, still believes, and still plays freshmen early.

⛳ Golf Heads to the Hamptons
The No. 15 men’s team tees off at the Hamptons Intercollegiate against an elite field — while Tyler Weaver represents England at the World Amateur Team Championships in Singapore.

🏈 Coordinators Address Mistakes, Eye Reset vs. Pitt 🏈

One day after Florida State’s 28–22 loss to Miami, coordinators Gus Malzahn and Tony White met with reporters to dissect what went wrong — and what must improve to snap the two-game skid before Saturday’s noon clash with Pitt.

🔥 Malzahn: “We’ve Got to Figure It Out — and We Will.”

• “Disappointed in not scoring enough points,” Malzahn said, noting the offense “got nothing” through the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

• Pointed to turnovers and penalties as drive-killers: “Every drive has to be valued versus a quality squad like Miami.”

• Praised QB Tommy Castellanos — “fought his guts out for us” — while taking personal responsibility for play-calling miscues.

• On offensive rhythm: “We’re still growing as an offense, but we have to eliminate the self-inflicted things. It starts with me.”

• On fixing ball security: “We did ball-security drills starting out practice tonight. We’ve got to solve it — and we will.”

• Looking ahead: “You’ve got to flip the page, correct what you can, grow, and get ready for the next game.”

💪 White: “Five or Six Plays Beat Us — That’s the Margin.”

• Defensive coordinator Tony White credited FSU’s physicality but said misalignments and bad eyes led to explosive plays.

• “We stopped the run, but gave up five explosives for 155 yards in the pass game — that’s what beats you,” he said.

• Praised DT Darrell Jackson (“as good as any in the country”) and LB Blake Nichelson (“played a heck of a game”).

• On Miami’s flea flicker and screen TDs: “We’ve got to execute at a higher level. Fundamentals and eyes.”

• On Pitt: “They blitz a lot, bring six a whole lot, and take chances — we’ve got to handle that.”

• Big-picture: “There are no consolation prizes. You stand in the fire, correct it, and be your best self.”

💡 Why It Matters
Both coordinators echoed Mike Norvell’s postgame tone — accountability, urgency, and belief in the roster. With two ACC losses and a restless fan base, Saturday’s home game vs. Pitt will test FSU’s ability to respond and reassert control of its season.

👉 Watch both full interviews here.

📊 FSU Drops to No. 25 After Miami Loss 📊

Florida State slid seven spots in the latest Associated Press Top 25, landing at No. 25 following Saturday’s 28–22 loss to Miami. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, climbed to No. 2 with 21 first-place votes.

🔥 Around the Polls

• AP Top 25:
    FSU → No. 25 (down from No. 18)
    Miami → No. 2 (up from No. 3)
    Virginia → No. 19 (after beating FSU and Louisville)
    Alabama → No. 8 (FSU’s Week 1 victim continues to climb)

• US LBM Coaches Poll:
    FSU drops out of the Top 25, now No. 27 (others receiving votes)
    Miami holds steady at No. 3 with 3 first-place votes
    Virginia enters at No. 24 after a 5–1 start
    Alabama up to No. 8

• FWAA–NFF Super 16 Poll:
    FSU ranks No. 26 (8 points)
    Miami at No. 3 with 9 first-place votes
    Virginia again just ahead of the Noles at No. 25
    Alabama at No. 7

📉 The Outlook
At 3–2 overall and 0–2 in ACC play, Florida State’s margin for error is gone. Saturday’s matchup vs. Pitt offers a chance to stabilize the season — and prove that the program’s early momentum was more than a flash after the Alabama upset.

👉 More details on the polls and full rankings here

🏐 Noles Fall in Five to NC State 🏐

Florida State volleyball (8–5, 2–2 ACC) dropped a heartbreaker in Raleigh on Sunday, falling to NC State in five sets (25–14, 23–25, 25–22, 23–25, 9–15) after squandering a two-sets-to-one lead.

🔥 Hot Start, Cold Finish

• FSU dominated the opener 25–14, hitting .343 while holding the Wolfpack to just .049.

• The teams traded the next two sets — FSU taking the third behind Kyleene Filimaua’s clutch kill for set point.

• The Noles led 18–12 in the fourth before NC State stormed back, forcing a decisive fifth.

• NC State closed out the match 15–9 as FSU’s offense ran out of rhythm down the stretch.

⭐ Standout Performances

• Kyleene Filimaua: 20 kills, 10 digs (another double-double).

• Nenu Kpea & Delaney Ewing: 10 kills each.

📅 What’s Next
Florida State returns home for the first time since mid-September, hosting SMU on Friday at 6:30 p.m. — a key chance to rebound and regain early-season momentum.

👉 Full recap via Seminoles.com

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🏈 Noles Open as 10-Point Favorites vs. Pitt 🏈

Florida State looks to rebound from back-to-back ACC losses as it returns to Doak Campbell Stadium for a noon kickoff vs. Pittsburgh this Saturday. According to Circa Sports, the No. 25 Seminoles open as 10-point favorites, with a projected total of 59.5 points, signaling expectations for a high-scoring matchup.

🔥 Tale of Two Teams

• FSU (3–2, 0–2 ACC) — Coming off narrow defeats to No. 19 Virginia and No. 2 Miami, both one-possession games that slipped away late.

• Pitt (3–2, 1–1 ACC) — Riding momentum from a breakout performance by true freshman QB Mason Heintschel, who threw for 323 yards, 4 TDs, and 0 INTs last week.

📅 Kickoff: Saturday, Noon ET
📊 Line: FSU -10 | O/U: 59.5 (Circa Sports)

👉 Read the full Week 7 betting outlook here

🎯 FSU Works to Salvage Momentum After Massive Recruiting Weekend 🎯

Despite a tough 28–22 loss to No. 3 Miami, Florida State’s coaching staff spent Sunday morning doubling down on recruiting efforts — meeting with dozens of top prospects who remained in Tallahassee after the game. Head Coach Mike Norvell, along with coordinators Gus Malzahn and Tony White, focused on reinforcing the Seminoles’ message: opportunity, development, and belief in the program’s long-term vision.

🔥 Weekend Recap per Warchant: Mixed Results

• Kamron Wilson (4⭐ EDGE, Syracuse commit): Met with Norvell, White, and Terrance Knighton on Sunday. Says Norvell emphasized FSU’s willingness to “play freshmen early.” Plans to return for an official visit vs. Virginia Tech.

• Kaden Henderson (4⭐ LB, 2027): Spoke with Norvell, White, and John Papuchis about fit in the 3-3-5 defense and FSU’s emphasis on life beyond football. Called FSU “more than a football place.”

• Jaemin Pinckney (3⭐ EDGE, USF commit): Earned a new offer from FSU on Saturday after impressive in-person evaluations. Said, “It’s a step up from the offers I have now.”

• Jarius Rodgers (3⭐ EDGE, Syracuse commit): Returned for his first visit since Junior Day. Praised Norvell’s player development and plans an official visit soon.

• Aaron Thomas (3⭐ OT, Ohio State commit): A legacy recruit who watched fellow Buckeye commit → Seminole flip Corbyn Fordham this week. Still committed to OSU but said, “FSU still wants me on their team.”

📊 The Outlook

FSU’s staff knows the margin is thin: two straight ACC losses have cooled momentum, but relationships remain strong. The Seminoles’ recruiting message — early opportunity, culture, and development — continues to resonate, even through adversity.

👉 Read the full recruiting breakdown and insider notes

⛳ Noles Tee Off at Hamptons Intercollegiate ⛳

The No. 15 Florida State men’s golf team heads north this week for the Hamptons Intercollegiate (Oct. 6–7) at the prestigious Maidstone Club in East Hampton, N.Y., hosted by Loyola University Maryland.

🔥 Tournament Lineup

Representing the Seminoles:
Jack Bigham, Jack Whaley, Carson Brewer, Patrick McCann, Wilmer Edero, and Andrew McLauchlan.

The field is stacked with national contenders, including No. 3 Ole Miss, No. 21 Georgia, No. 25 Wake Forest, and RV Stanford.

💪 Momentum from Olympia Fields

FSU is coming off a 6th-place finish at the Olympia Fields Invitational — one of the season’s toughest fields — where Carson Brewer and Jack Whaley both cracked the top 10. The Noles finished ahead of No. 2 Arizona State, No. 11 Alabama, and No. 16 Texas A&M.

🌍 International Spotlight

FSU’s Tyler Weaver, ranked No. 12 amateur in the world, will represent England at the World Amateur Team Championships (Oct. 7–8, Singapore).

📊 Check out more on the men’s golf team here

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And that’s a wrap!

After back-to-back ACC heartbreakers, Florida State’s response this week will reveal more than any stat line — it’ll show whether this team can handle adversity and keep its season on track.

With Pitt coming to Doak and the Noles favored by double digits, there’s no more room for “almost.” The fix starts Saturday.

Until then, stay locked in and stay unconquered.

— The Chief Brief