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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Bye Week Saturday Seminole!

⛷️ XC Strong in Alabama ⛷️
FSU cross country landed multiple top-50 finishes at the Southern Showcase, with both squads finishing in the upper half of stacked fields.

🏊 Big Year Ahead for Swim & Dive 🏊
The 2025–26 slate is live — five home meets, a tailgate kickoff, and championship runs in Atlanta highlight the calendar.

🏐 Volleyball Falls at Auburn 🏐
Despite Iane Henke’s fifth straight 15+ kill outing, the Noles couldn’t close out sets in a 3–0 loss to the Tigers.

🏈 NFL Noles Everywhere 🏈
From Keon Coleman and Jermaine Johnson to Jared Verse and Jalen Ramsey, former FSU stars packed the Week 2 NFL slate.

⭐ 3-Stars Shining Bright ⭐
QB Tommy Castellanos, LB Juice Cryer, and a handful of others are proving recruiting rankings don’t define production.

🌀 Flip Watch: Kaiden Hall 🌀
A longtime FSU fan, the 4⭐ safety is still committed to UF — but the Noles are making a push for Miami weekend.

🩹 Norvell: “Nothing Long Term” 🩹
Good news on the injury front — WR Squirrel White and DE James Williams are expected back soon.

🌀 Win 2 Tickets: Miami @ Florida State 🌀

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🏃‍♀️ Noles XC Posts Solid Finishes at Southern Showcase 🏃‍♂️

Florida State cross country turned in steady performances Friday at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama, with both squads landing in the top half of deep fields.

🔥 Women’s 5K

• Margaret Bartlow: 30th place (17:23.0)

• Nicole Dinan: 39th (17:31.3)

• Ava Povich: 54th (17:44.0)

• Team Finish: 13th overall out of 54 teams with 352 points

🔥 Men’s 8K

• Kaden Levings: Led FSU again, 30th (24:39.0)

• Gino Palazzalo: 35th (25:48.5, career best)

• Bernardo Barnhart: 60th (25:47.6, PR)

• Team Context: Multiple lifetime bests, solid development early in season

⏭️ What’s Next
The Seminoles return home Sept. 26 for the Seminole Invite at Apalachee Regional Park — also serving as the program’s annual Heritage event.

👉 Full results here

🏊‍♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving Announces 2025–26 Schedule 🏊‍♀️

Florida State swimming and diving revealed its full 2025–26 slate, featuring five home meets at Morcom Aquatics Center and multiple marquee road trips.

🔥 Key Dates

• Sept. 19: Season opens with Garnet & Gold Meet (3 p.m., free admission).

• Sept. 26–27: FSU Invitational vs. West Virginia, Purdue, Tampa (men) & Rice (women). Includes a Friday tailgate with DJ, food trucks, and games.

• Oct. 24: All-Florida Invitational (home).

• Oct. 31: Hosts South Carolina for first time since 2012–13.

• Jan. 6: Home dual meet vs. Villanova.

• Jan. 30: Regular-season finale vs. Florida in Ocala.

🏆 Championship Stretch

• ACC Championships: Feb. 17–21 (Atlanta).

• NCAA Diving Zones + Championships: March 8–28 (Atlanta).

💬 Coach Neal Studd: “The variety in our schedule will push us, showcase our athletes, and set us up well for a strong finish to the season.”

👉 Full schedule here

🏐 Noles Drop Road Match at Auburn 🏐

Florida State volleyball (3–3) fell in straight sets Friday at Auburn (21–25, 23–25, 20–25), despite strong starts in each frame.

🔥 Match Flow

• Set 1: FSU pulled within 22–21 before Auburn closed on a 3–0 run.

• Set 2: Back-to-back Iane Henke kills tied it at 23, but the Tigers took the final two points.

• Set 3: Noles led early but Auburn’s 5–0 surge sealed it late.

🌟 Player Highlights

• Iane Henke: 15 kills — her 5th straight 15+ match, FSU’s longest streak since 2018 (Payton Caffrey).

• Kyleene Filimaua: 12 kills (4th double-digit effort in last 5).

• Mio Yamamoto: Team-high 10 digs.

⏭️ What’s Next
FSU hosts Auburn in Sunday’s home opener at Tully Gym (2 p.m., ACCNX).

👉 Full match recap here

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🏈 NFL Noles: Week 2 Highlights 🏈

Former Seminoles were all over the field in Week 2 of the NFL season, from defensive trenches to special teams.

🔥 Standout Performances

• Eddie Goldman (Commanders): 2 tackles on Thursday Night Football vs. Packers.

• Keon Coleman (Bills): Key WR presence in AFC East clash vs. Jets.

• Jermaine Johnson II & Azareye’h Thomas (Jets): Defensive reps in matchup with Buffalo.

• Jared Verse (Rams): Continued rookie campaign vs. Titans alongside Braden Fiske.

• Trey Benson (Cardinals): Saw action in backfield during matchup with Panthers.

• Ryan Fitzgerald (Panthers): Handling kicking duties vs. Arizona.

• Derrick Nnadi (Chiefs): Veteran DT in rotation against Eagles.

• DJ Uiagalelei (Chargers): On practice squad; Derwin James starting at safety.

• Mario Edwards Jr. (Texans): Defensive line anchor for Houston on MNF.

📋 Notables

• Jameis Winston (Giants): Active roster alongside Brian Burns & Graham Gano.

• Joshua Farmer & Fabien Lovett (Patriots): Rotating interior DTs (Lovett on practice squad).

• Renardo Green & Tatum Bethune (49ers): Key defensive contributors vs. Saints.

• Jalen Ramsey (Steelers): Veteran CB in action vs. Seahawks.

• Several Noles sidelined: Johnny Wilson (Eagles), Janarius Robinson (Chiefs), Keir Thomas (Rams) all on IR.

👉 Full NFL Week 2 breakdown here

⭐ 3-Stars Shining Bright for FSU ⭐

Florida State’s 54% blue-chip ratio is fueling their 2–0 start, but it’s the former 3-stars who are punching above their weight and making this team dangerous.

🔥 Offensive Impact

• QB Tommy Castellanos — Former 3⭐ transfer now QB1; 389 yds + 3 TDs passing, 85 yds + 1 TD rushing through 2 games.

• RB Jaylin Lucas — Explosive “gadget” weapon; 64-yd reception vs. Bama, 45 rush yds on 10 carries.

• TE Randy Pittman Jr. — Blocking star vs. Alabama, due back from injury around Virginia game.

• OL Micah Pettus — Anchor at RT with an 84.8 pass-block grade, no sacks allowed.

• OL Luke Petitbon — Center leadership; earned Outland Trophy National Player of the Week after Alabama upset.

💪 Defensive Difference-Makers

• DL Darrell Jackson Jr. — Nose tackle force; sack + 4 tackles while eating double teams.

• DL Mandrell Desir — Top-graded freshman DT in the nation; 80.4 PFF grade, 4 pressures.

• LB Juice Cryer — 10 tackles + huge 4th-down stop vs. Alabama.

• CB Ja’Bril Rawls — Shutdown corner vs. Tide (11 yds allowed on 6 targets).

• S Ashlynd Barker — Versatile JUCO pickup; 8 tackles, physical presence in secondary.

👉 Full player breakdown here

🌀 Flip Watch: 4⭐ S Kaiden Hall 🌀

With FSU rolling and Florida stumbling, the Seminoles have re-opened communication with 4⭐ safety Kaiden Hall — a longtime Nole fan currently committed to UF.

🔥 Recruitment Snapshot

• Rankings: No. 202 overall, No. 18 safety nationally, No. 18 in Florida.

• Commitment: Chose UF in June after an official visit.

• FSU Ties: Grew up a Seminole fan, attended multiple FSU games, Junior Day, and spring practice.

• Current Push: FSU aiming to get Hall on campus for the Miami game.

• Position Fit: Being recruited as a Rover in Tony White’s 3-3-5, where Earl Little Jr. has thrived.

👀 Competition

• Florida: Hall remains publicly confident in Billy Napier despite boos at The Swamp.

• Oklahoma: Still in the mix for a potential visit.

🌟 Why It Matters
Landing Hall would not only add a top-20 Florida prospect but also deliver a headline flip from UF at a premium defensive position.

👉 Full Warchant + Rivals update here

🩹 Injury Update: Norvell Optimistic 🩹

FSU head coach Mike Norvell reassured local media Tuesday that the injuries suffered in the East Texas A&M game are not long-term.

🔥 Key Notes

• WR Squirrel White (hand/thumb): Left in the 2nd quarter during a punt return; status trending positive.

• DE James Williams (leg): Exited in the 2nd quarter after taking a helmet to the thigh; expected back soon.

• LB Stefon Thompson (knee): Left after taking a helmet directly to his surgically repaired knee; no major concern reported.

• RB Caziah Holmes: Included in the “nothing long term” group.

• WR Lawayne McCoy: Received his “most extended work” Tuesday, with Norvell calling him a “Tier 1 guy for us.”

🌟 Why It Matters
FSU appears set to avoid major losses heading into the bye week, with White and Williams’ availability especially key for depth and momentum.

👉 Full injury update here

And that’s a wrap!

Cross country shows grit, swim & dive gears up, and we’ve got NFL Noles making noise all over the league. Add in a few 3-stars playing like 5-stars and a potential flip brewing from UF? Feels like momentum is all Garnet & Gold.

Stay locked in — the bye week may be here, but the recruiting trail never stops.

✌️ Until next time, keep climbing.