🏹 October 9th - The Chief Brief 🏹

FSU’s New Era: Loucks Calls Steph Curry, Soccer Eyes No. 2 Notre Dame

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The Chief
October 09, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

A little bit of everything in today’s lineup — from Steph Curry crashing FSU’s media day to the Seminoles staring down another top-five soccer showdown and a “get-right” football weekend at Doak.

⚡ Inside Today’s Brief

🏀 Loucks Dials Up Greatness — FSU’s new head coach literally calls Steph Curry live on FaceTime during ACC Media Day, setting the tone for a new era in Seminole hoops.

⚽ Top-Five Soccer Showdown — No. 5 FSU heads to No. 2 Notre Dame in a primetime ACC clash that could decide the conference crown.

⚾ Baseball Drops 2026 Schedule — 55 games, 32 at Dick Howser, and series against Miami, Florida, Duke, and more.

🏈 Can Pitt Be the Get-Right Game? — A closer look at what makes the Panthers dangerous — and how FSU can flip the script after back-to-back losses.

🌟 Recruiting Momentum Rolls On — Top 2027 recruits rave about their Miami-weekend visits, and the nation’s No. 1 quarterback locks in his commitment date with FSU firmly in the mix.

Grab your coffee (or Cash App card 💸), and let’s dive in.

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🏀 Loucks Dials Up Greatness 🏀

Florida State’s first-year head coach Luke Loucks stole the show at ACC Media Day.

When asked who the most famous person in his phone was, Loucks didn’t hesitate — he called Steph Curry live on Facetime. Seconds later, the NBA’s greatest shooter greeted the Seminole family with, “What’s up, Seminole family?”

🔥 Back in Garnet & Gold
Loucks, who led FSU to its first ACC title in 2012 as a point guard, spoke about returning home:

“Coming back to Florida State is a dream come true. I love the basketball team, the football team—everything about it.”

🏹 Building a Brotherhood
Seniors Kobe MaGee and Chauncey Wiggins joined Loucks in Charlotte, praising the team’s chemistry and development under their new coach.

“We all love each other and want team success first,” Wiggins said.

Loucks summed it up best:

“If you can shoot, have skill, and are tough—you can play for us.”

The Seminoles open their exhibition slate vs. Alabama on Oct. 16 at the Ballin’ in Boutwell event in Birmingham.

⚽ No. 5 FSU Soccer Faces No. 2 Notre Dame in Top-Five Clash ⚽

The Seminoles hit the road Thursday for a national showdown under the lights, taking on No. 2 Notre Dame at 7 PM on ACC Network — a battle between the ACC’s two unbeaten powerhouses.

🔥 The Setup

  • FSU: 8-0-2 overall | 4-0-1 ACC | 8 shutouts in 10 games

  • ND: 10-0-1 overall | 5-0-0 ACC | Winners of 9 straight

⚡ Stat Leaders

  • Wrianna Hudson: 8 goals (10th nationally)

  • Jordynn Dudley: 7 assists (3rd nationally)

  • GK Addie Todd: 0.16 GAA (best in the nation)

📈 Streak Watch
FSU’s historic run continues — 65 straight games with a goal, 20-game unbeaten streak, and 33 straight at home without a loss.

💡 Why It Matters
This is a true national litmus test between two elite programs — and another chance for the defending ACC champions to prove their dominance on the road.

⚾ FSU Baseball Unveils 2026 Schedule with 32 Home Games ⚾

Florida State baseball released its full 2026 schedule — a 55-game slate featuring 32 contests at Dick Howser Stadium and matchups with 11 NCAA Tournament teams from last season.

🔥 Marquee Matchups

  • 🏠 At Home: NC State (Mar 20–22), Duke (Mar 27–29), Florida (Apr 7), Miami (May 14–16), Notre Dame (Apr 17–19), Pitt (May 1–3)

  • ✈️ On the Road: Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Virginia, Stanford — all postseason teams in 2025

  • ⚾ Neutral Sites: Auburn, Nebraska, and Michigan at Globe Life Field (Feb 20–22) plus Florida in Jacksonville (Mar 24)

🗓️ Season Outlook

  • Opening Day: Feb 13 vs. James Madison (Tallahassee)

  • Longest Homestand: 9 games (Feb 25 – Mar 8)

  • ACC Championship: May 18–24 (Charlotte)

🧠 Why It Matters
Head coach Link Jarrett enters Year 4 coming off back-to-back Super Regional appearances — FSU’s first since 2015–17. The 2026 lineup offers both elite competition and a clear runway for another deep postseason run.

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🏈 Can Pitt Be the “Get-Right” Game for FSU? 🏈

After back-to-back losses, No. 25 Florida State enters Saturday’s matchup with Pittsburgh as a 10-point favorite — but this Panther defense could be trickier than it looks on paper.

🔥 What Pitt Does Well

  • Pressure Factory: 11th nationally in blitz rate (39.7%) and 21st in sack rate (8.7%). Expect chaos from LB Rasheem Biles and Kyle Louis in Pat Narduzzi’s aggressive quarters scheme.

  • Elite Run Defense: 96th percentile in stuff rate, only one run of 20+ yards allowed all year. They dare you to throw.

  • Early Down Efficiency: Pitt stays ahead of schedule with quick passes and RPOs — 72nd percentile in early-down success — though they drop off sharply on long third downs.

📉 Where They Struggle

  • Running Game: 11th percentile nationally in yards before contact; weak interior blocking despite flashes from freshman RB Juelz Goff.

  • Passing Consistency: Drop issues and a 25th-percentile late-down success rate limit their upside.

  • Explosive Plays Allowed: Blitzing leaves holes — Pitt ranks 11th percentile in big-pass prevention, vulnerable to deep shots.

🎯 Matchups to Watch

  • WR Duce Robinson vs. Pitt Corners: FSU can exploit one-on-one mismatches outside if protection holds.

  • DT Darrell Jackson vs. Pitt Center Lyndon Cooper: Jackson’s dominance up front could disrupt Pitt’s RPO rhythm.

⚠️ FSU’s Keys to Success
Protect Castellanos against Pitt’s pressure-heavy front and stay sharp in the intermediate passing game. A clean offensive performance could steady the ship heading into the back half of the season.

🌟 Top 2027 Recruits Praise FSU Visit Despite Miami Loss 🌟

Even after a 28–22 defeat to No. 2 Miami, Florida State’s atmosphere and staff left a strong impression on several elite 2027 prospects who visited Tallahassee for the weekend.

🔥 Key Visitors & Takeaways

⭐ DL Amari Vickerson (Cypress Ranch, TX)

  • 6’4”, 290 | No. 49 DL nationally (247Sports)

  • “My favorite moment was being on campus, meeting coaches and players. The love from everyone was crazy.”

  • Said FSU staff told him he’s “the top kid on their board” and praised his film as “the best tape in the 2027 class.”

  • Added: “I love how Coach Norvell keeps it 100 with me and my family.”

  • Next visit: Texas Tech vs. Kansas. Other schools in pursuit: Texas, Texas A&M, Michigan, Florida State, and more.

⭐ RB Brayden Tyson (Brookwood, GA)

  • 6’0”, 235 | No. 14 RB nationally, No. 26 in Georgia

  • Highlighted the Warchant before kickoff: “That moment gave me chills.”

  • Spent time with Coach Chuck Canton, who told him he’s a priority: “They said it’s a place where you get developed.”

  • Liked seeing a freshman start at running back — “They rotate well and don’t run one guy into the ground.”

  • Plans to visit Tennessee next.

⭐ WR Sean Green (Camden County, GA)

  • 5’10”, 160 | No. 121 overall, No. 18 WR nationally

  • Loved being on the field pregame: “Watching the boys warm up was my favorite part.”

  • Impressed by Duce Robinson — “I love the way he plays.”

  • Praised FSU’s hospitality: “They make sure everyone is comfortable and working hard. I love that they grind.”

  • Said FSU currently leads in his recruitment and plans to return for the Pitt game.

💡 Why It Matters
Despite the loss, FSU’s recruiting momentum with top 2027 prospects remains strong — thanks to the program’s culture, energy, and player relationships that continue to resonate with visitors.

👉 Read full visit reactions and interview breakdowns here, here, and here

🔥 Nation’s No. 1 QB in 2027 Locks in Commitment Date — FSU Among Finalists 🔥

Five-star quarterback Kavian Bryant, the No. 1 signal-caller and No. 29 overall prospect in the 2027 Rivals Industry Rankings, will announce his college commitment on Saturday, November 1.

The 6’2”, dual-threat passer from Palestine (Westwood HS, TX) has thrown for 1,596 yards and 19 TDs while completing 73% of his passes this fall — plus 359 yards and 4 scores on the ground — leading his team to a 5-0 start.

🏈 Final Five Schools

  • Texas Tech — Seen as the current favorite; Bryant praised their “transparency” and fit in Joey McGuire’s offense.

  • SMU — “Coach Lashlee and Coach King are players’ coaches… I believe with my skill set I can make an early impact.”

  • Texas — Impressed by Sarkisian’s staff and “priority” treatment on his Austin visit.

  • Florida State — Called the Doak atmosphere “electric” and said the visit confirmed “how good of a fit FSU is for me.”

  • Colorado — Enjoyed his time with Coach Prime: “He told me I’m his type of quarterback — that he loves my mentality and poise.”

💡 Why It Matters
Bryant’s decision will be one of the earliest major dominoes in the 2027 QB cycle — and FSU remains squarely in the mix after impressing him during his Miami weekend visit.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap on another loaded mid-week edition — a mix of swagger, strategy, and the Seminole standard.

Whether it’s Luke Loucks FaceTiming Steph Curry or Wrianna Hudson chasing ACC supremacy, this week proves once again that FSU shines brightest when the lights are hottest.

Stay locked in — Pitt at noon, Notre Dame under the lights, and plenty of reasons to believe in Garnet & Gold greatness.

See you at the top,
– Chief

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