Today’s Poll

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Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

Here’s your docket today:

⛳ FSU Men’s Golf Tackles Tough Conditions at Hamptons Intercollegiate ⛳
The No. 10 Seminoles hold second place after a challenging day, led by resilient performances from Jack Bigham and Jack Weaver. Play will resume tomorrow morning with FSU looking to close in on top-ranked Ole Miss.

🏀 Women’s Basketball Tipoff Event Announced for Oct. 20 🏀
Meet the Seminoles’ team and coaches at this exciting season preview event, complete with activities, a silent auction, and an appearance by Jeff Culhane as emcee. Tickets are available now.

🏀 CBS Sports ACC Preview Projects FSU Men’s Basketball at 14th Place 🏀
With one starter returning, the Seminoles are in for a challenging season. Will FSU's squad find a way to climb higher and surprise the conference?

🔔 4-Star OT Mario Nash Decommits from Mississippi State After FSU Visit 🔔
After visiting FSU, Nash announced his decommitment from Mississippi State, keeping FSU in strong contention as he reopens his recruitment.

🛠️ 3-Star OL Daniel Pierre-Louis Impressed During FSU Visit 🛠️
Pierre-Louis enjoyed an in-depth look at FSU’s program, praising the team’s camaraderie and leadership. While he’s exploring options, FSU remains among his top schools.

🔎 FSU’s 2025 Commits: Status Update Amid Challenging Season 🔎
With FSU at 1-5, the team’s 2025 recruiting class faces external interest. Here’s a breakdown of where each commit stands and what it means for FSU’s future.

🔎 FSU’s Youth Movement Shows Promise vs. Clemson 🔎
A tough season has seen FSU leaning on its younger talent, who delivered strong performances against Clemson. Key players like Brock Glenn, Landen Thomas, and Blake Nichelson shined, setting a foundation for the future.

⛳ FSU Men’s Golf Shines in Challenging Conditions at Hamptons Intercollegiate ⛳

The No. 10 Florida State men’s golf team had a strong showing on Monday, despite tough conditions at the Hamptons Intercollegiate.

The Seminoles are currently in second place at even par, trailing No. 12 Ole Miss (-18) and holding a narrow lead over Wake Forest.

Play was suspended due to darkness, with two players set to finish their final two holes on Tuesday morning.

Key Performances:

• Luke Clanton shot a 76 in round one but showed resilience, sitting at 2-over and tied for 16th after going 2-under in the second round.

• Jack Bigham delivered a consistent performance, shooting 71 in both rounds and tying for fourth place at 2-under, notching 10 birdies.

• Jack Weaver rebounded impressively with a 6-under 66 in the second round, including two eagles on the back nine, placing him tied for eighth at 1-under.

Head Coach Trey Jones praised his team’s adaptability and toughness, especially in the difficult morning conditions.

The final two rounds will resume Tuesday morning at the Maidstone Club.

Read more here

🏀 FSU Women’s Basketball Tipoff Event Announced for Oct. 20 🏀

Florida State Women’s Basketball will host its second annual Tipoff event on Oct. 20 from 3-5 p.m. in the Dunlap Champions Club, offering fans an exciting chance to meet the team and coaches as they gear up for the season.

Event Highlights:

• Meet & Greet with the team and coaching staff.

• Silent Auction and other engaging activities.

• Hors d’oeuvres will be served, with Jeff Culhane, the Voice of the Seminoles, emceeing the event.

Ticket Information:

• $30 for adults, $10 for children under 12.

Head Coach Brooke Wyckoff shared her enthusiasm, calling it “an awesome opportunity” to connect with fans and showcase the team’s offseason progress.

The Seminoles will face Tampa in an exhibition game on Oct. 23, and single-game season tickets will be available starting Oct. 14 on Seminoles.com.

Read more here

🏀 CBS Sports ACC Men's Basketball Preview: FSU Projected to Finish 14th 🏀

CBS Sports released its ACC men’s basketball preview, predicting Duke as the conference winner, followed by North Carolina. Florida State is projected to finish 14th in the expanded 18-team league.

FSU Overview: The Seminoles, who placed in the ACC’s top four from 2019 to 2021, have struggled in recent years, finishing 8th or lower for the past three seasons and accumulating a 27-33 league record in that span.

Only one starter, former VCU transfer Jamir Watkins, is set to return, after averaging a team-high 15.6 points per game last season.

With FSU entering a rebuilding season under Head Coach Leonard Hamilton, turning the tide will be challenging.

Expert Picks: Seven CBS Sports analysts made their predictions, with FSU’s highest projected finish at 10th place (David Cobb), while other predictions ranged from 14th to 16th.

The Seminoles will look to surprise, but as CBS notes, they’ll need to overachieve to break into NCAA Tournament contention.

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🔔 4-Star OT Mario Nash Decommits from Mississippi State Following FSU Visit 🔔

Four-star offensive tackle Mario Nash, who visited Florida State this past weekend, has officially decommitted from Mississippi State.

The Mississippi native announced his decision Monday, citing family discussions as a key reason for reopening his recruitment.

Nash’s FSU Connection: The 6'4", 270-pound prospect, ranked in the top 10 players in Mississippi and among the top 300 recruits nationally, has a strong relationship with FSU’s offensive coordinator and line coach Alex Atkins.

Florida State was the first Power Four school to offer Nash, a significant factor in his interest.

Nash shared that while Mississippi State initially seemed the best fit, he continues to explore his options, with FSU very much in the mix.

Read more here

🛠️ FSU Makes Strong Impression on 3-Star OL Daniel Pierre-Louis During Official Visit 🛠️

Three-star offensive lineman Daniel Pierre-Louis, who emerged on Florida State’s radar after a standout camp in June, visited campus this weekend for his first official visit.

Since receiving his FSU offer in July, Pierre-Louis has drawn interest from other Power Four schools, including a recent offer from Florida.

Visit Highlights: The 6'4", 290-pound Seminole Ridge High standout came to experience the “ins and outs” of FSU’s program and connect further with head coach Mike Norvell and offensive coordinator Alex Atkins.

He noted the genuine feedback from the coaching staff and FSU’s vision for his future role.

Pierre-Louis was also struck by the team’s camaraderie and the energy at Doak Campbell Stadium during the Clemson game, emphasizing the “leadership quality” he observed among players.

What’s Next: While FSU remains among his top choices, Pierre-Louis plans to visit N.C. State and Florida before making a decision in December.

Read more here

🔎 Status Check on FSU’s 2025 Football Commits Amid Struggling Season 🔎

As Florida State endures a challenging season at 1-5, the on-field results have affected recruiting. Here’s a look at how each commit stands as the Seminoles navigate ongoing interest from other programs:

Very Solid Commitments:

• Tramell Jones Jr. (QB): Committed since April, Jones remains locked in with no signs of wavering.

• Byron Louis (RB): FSU’s latest commit, Louis pledged following FSU’s win over California.

• Peyton Joseph (iOL): Joseph shut down his recruitment to focus on the Seminoles.

• Ethan Pritchard (LB): FSU’s longest-tenured commit; steadfast in his pledge.

• Max Redmon (DB): Committed since summer with no indications of wavering.

Solid Commitments:

• Chase Loftin (TE): Close ties with FSU’s coaching staff keep Loftin firmly committed.

• Solomon Thomas (OL): While his interest remains strong, his high profile makes him a target for other programs.

• Zae Thomas (DB): FSU’s connection through family ties and his relationship with DB coach Patrick Surtain keeps him committed, though Alabama is pushing.

Shaky Commitments:

• CJ Wiley (WR): With strong interest from UGA, Auburn, and LSU, Wiley’s commitment is uncertain.

• Daylan McCutcheon (WR): Texas and Texas A&M are pursuing McCutcheon, who recently visited both.

Flip Watch:

• Kevin Wynn (DL): Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, and Colorado are vying for Wynn, despite his return visit for FSU’s Clemson game.

With FSU ranked 35th nationally for the 2025 class, maintaining these commitments and keeping a steady line of communication will be essential as the season progresses.

Read more here

🔎 FSU’s Youth Movement vs. Clemson: Underclassmen Stepping Up 🔎

As the Seminoles press on with a 1-5 season, FSU’s youth movement is gaining traction, showcasing promising talent despite a tough 29-13 loss to Clemson. Here’s a look at standout performances and PFF grades:

Key Contributors on Offense:

• Brock Glenn (QB): PFF Grade: 83.5 | 23-of-41 for 228 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT. Glenn’s poise earned the highest passing grade for FSU this season.

• Landen Thomas (TE): PFF Grade: 72.7 | Led FSU in receiving with seven catches for 80 yards, marking a breakout game in his first career start.

• Amaree Williams (TE): PFF Grade: 66.5 | Caught a 13-yard TD, his first career score, solidifying his potential as a go-to target.

• Hykeem Williams (WR): PFF Grade: 58.3 | Registered four receptions for 53 yards but had a fumble recovered by a teammate.

Defensive Highlights:

• Blake Nichelson (LB): PFF Grade: 62.7 | Six tackles in his starting role, showing improvement from previous games.

• Justin Cryer (LB): PFF Grade: 69.5 | Recorded four tackles and emerged as one of FSU’s highest-graded defenders.

Areas for Growth:

• Andre' Otto (OL): PFF Grade: 49.3 | Starting at right guard, Otto struggled with pressure and penalties.

• KJ Kirkland (DB): PFF Grade: 50.5 | Starting safety with six tackles but room for improvement in coverage.

Despite the loss, these young players are beginning to show flashes of potential, laying groundwork for the future.

Read more here

And that’s a wrap!

As we hit the halfway point of the season, it's all about growth and grit for our Noles, both on the field and in the recruiting world.

With fresh talent stepping up, the future is taking shape in real time.

Whether it's on the greens, courts, or gridiron, there’s always something exciting to look forward to in Seminole Nation.

Go Noles, and see you in the next Brief!