Welcome to The Chief Brief!

We did it 🤣. Happy Sunday, Seminole!

Here’s today’s docket:

🏈 Florida State Grinds Out First Win of the Season Over Cal 🏈
Florida State secured their first win of the season with a 14-9 victory over Cal, rallying behind a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from DJ Uiagalelei to Ja’Khi Douglas. The defense dominated with 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks, sealing the win with a final stop.

🏐 No. 18 FSU Volleyball Sweeps Alabama to Close Non-Conference Play 🏐
FSU volleyball finished non-conference play with a straight-set sweep over Alabama, moving to 8-2. Audrey Koenig led with 13 kills, and FSU’s offense hit a season-high .462.

⭐️ Four-Star RB Byron Louis Commits to Florida State ⭐️
FSU added four-star running back Byron Louis to its 2025 class, solidifying its backfield for the future. Louis, from American Heritage, chose FSU over Georgia, Miami, and Wisconsin.

⚽ No. 2 FSU Soccer Travels to SMU for Conference Clash ⚽
No. 2 FSU soccer continues its ACC run against SMU, holding a 13-game unbeaten conference streak. The Seminoles aim to maintain their dominance, with 29 goals scored in seven games.

🗒️ Lessons Learned from FSU’s Win Over Cal 🗒️
FSU’s defense stepped up, recording seven sacks in a resilient performance. Strong practices helped the defense's energy translate into game success.

🎙️ Takeaways from Coach Mike Norvell’s Press Conference 🎙️
Coach Mike Norvell praised the team's perseverance and defense after FSU's win over Cal, highlighting the importance of focused practices. He noted the defensive line’s contributions and emphasized the need for continued improvement offensively.

🏌️‍♂️ Luke Clanton Leads FSU in Fighting Illini Invitational 🏌️‍♂️
Luke Clanton sits tied for sixth at the Fighting Illini Invitational, leading FSU with a 3-under-par 207. The Seminoles are tied for 10th place heading into the final round.

⛳ Mirabel Ting Tied for Fourth at Schooner Fall Classic ⛳
Junior Mirabel Ting shot a career-low 67, placing her in a tie for fourth at the Schooner Fall Classic. FSU stands in seventh, hoping to climb the leaderboard on Sunday.

🏈 Florida State Grinds Out First Win of the Season Over Cal 🏈

The Seminoles secured their first victory of the 2024 season with a 14-9 win over Cal in their ACC opener. Despite trailing in the fourth quarter, FSU rallied behind a 36-yard touchdown pass from DJ Uiagalelei to Ja’Khi Douglas with 11:08 left in the game.

Florida State’s defense dominated, recording 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks, including crucial plays from Marvin Jones Jr. and Patrick Payton. Edwin Joseph and Darrell Jackson sealed the game with a final sack on fourth down.

FSU opened the game strong, with Lawrance Toafili scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 60-yard drive. The defense held Cal to three field goals, including two misses by kicker Ryan Coe.

Uiagalelei completed 16-of-27 passes for 177 yards, a touchdown, and one interception. Toafili had a strong day with 80 rushing yards, while Douglas led the receiving corps with 86 yards and a touchdown.

Although Cal outgained FSU in total yards, the Seminoles’ defense was relentless, forcing key stops and turnovers. FSU now turns its focus to a road game at SMU next Saturday.

🔗 Full details on FSU’s win here, here, or here.

🏐 No. 18 FSU Volleyball Sweeps Alabama to Close Non-Conference Play 🏐

The No. 18 Florida State volleyball team (8-2) finished non-conference play in style, sweeping Alabama (8-3) in straight sets (25-23, 25-23, 25-13) on Saturday. The Seminoles now boast their best start since 2021, fueled by a stellar offensive performance, hitting a season-high .462.

Audrey Koenig led the charge, recording her seventh consecutive match with double-digit kills (13). Khori Louis added 11 kills while hitting a remarkable .600, and Maddie Snider contributed a season-high 10 kills. FSU held Alabama to a .210 hitting percentage, with Taylor Head anchoring the defense, tallying 16 digs.

After a closely contested first two sets, the Seminoles dominated the third, cruising to a 25-13 victory. FSU now heads into ACC play, kicking off with a rivalry match against Miami on Wednesday at Tully Gym, airing on ACC Network.

🔗 Full recap here

⭐️ Four-Star RB Byron Louis Commits to Florida State ⭐️ 

Florida State received a significant boost to its 2025 recruiting class with the commitment of four-star running back Byron Louis from American Heritage High School. The 6'1", 205-pound standout chose the Seminoles over Georgia, Miami, and Wisconsin, following FSU's first win of the season against Cal.

Louis is considered one of the top running backs in the nation, praised for his combination of power and finesse. So far in his senior season, he’s rushed for 466 yards and 4 touchdowns, adding 109 receiving yards and another score. He’s expected to compete for immediate playing time at FSU, joining an already talented running back group featuring Kam Davis and Micahi Danzy.

Despite FSU not being a major player early in his recruitment, Louis’ official visit during the summer solidified his commitment to the Seminoles. He has strong relationships with the coaching staff, including running backs coach David Johnson and defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain, who previously coached Louis at American Heritage.

Louis is the 12th commit in FSU’s 2025 recruiting class and the second from American Heritage, joining four-star defensive back Greg Thomas. This addition boosts FSU's future outlook as they continue to build a formidable backfield.

🔗 Full details on Byron Louis’ commitment here, here, or here.

⚽ No. 2 FSU Soccer Travels to SMU for Conference Clash ⚽

The No. 2 Florida State soccer team (6-0-1, 1-0-0 ACC) continues its ACC campaign with a road match against SMU (6-3-1) on Sunday. The Seminoles hold a 13-game unbeaten streak in conference play and have scored in 41 consecutive matches, setting a new program record.

This marks the second-ever meeting between FSU and SMU, the first as conference opponents. FSU won the previous encounter 5-1 in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, en route to a national championship.

Florida State remains dominant defensively, securing five shutouts in their first seven games. Offensively, the Seminoles are on fire, having scored 29 goals so far, the most in seven games since 2009.

The match kicks off at 2 p.m. ET on ACC Network.

🔗 Full details here

🗒️ Lessons Learned from FSU’s Win Over Cal 🗒️ 

Florida State’s 14-9 win over Cal highlighted three key areas for improvement and growth:

1. Resilience on Defense
   FSU’s defense showed toughness despite allowing 410 yards. With 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks, led by Patrick Payton and Marvin Jones Jr., the unit bent but didn’t break. Their ability to shut down Cal on critical plays was vital in the victory. Payton's three sacks and Jones Jr.'s timely contributions helped seal the game.

2. Impact of Focused Practice
   The defense’s performance mirrored the productive energy seen in midweek practices. Young defenders like Edwin Joseph and Quindarrius Jones carried their competitive, focused practice efforts into the game, making significant contributions. The team's intense, well-channeled practice energy directly influenced their strong play on the field.

3. Offensive Struggles Continue
   Despite glimpses of improvement, FSU’s offense remains inconsistent, particularly at quarterback. DJ Uiagalelei’s crucial touchdown to Ja’Khi Douglas was a bright spot, but his overall performance remains underwhelming, with missed RPO reads and a costly interception in the red zone. With limited production from the QB position, FSU's offense lacks rhythm, though the running game, led by Lawrance Toafili, helped sustain drives.

The win over Cal provided some relief, but it’s clear that FSU must continue to refine its offense and maintain defensive intensity moving forward.

🔗 Full Details here and here.

🎙️ Takeaways from Coach Mike Norvell’s Press Conference 🎙️

Following FSU's gritty 14-9 victory over Cal, Coach Mike Norvell focused on the perseverance and growth shown by his team. He emphasized how much the win meant, stating, "We needed this game to be exactly how it played out," reflecting the importance of overcoming adversity. Norvell lauded the defense’s crucial role, singling out Patrick Payton and Edwin Joseph for their game-changing contributions, including a combined sack by Joseph and Darrell Jackson that sealed the win.

The defense’s ability to bend without breaking was a key takeaway, as FSU gave up 410 yards but held Cal to just nine points. The team’s focus on red-zone defense during practice was evident, with Norvell highlighting their competitive drills as vital preparation. The Seminoles allowed just two of five successful trips into the red zone, keeping Cal out of the end zone throughout the game. Norvell noted the defense’s fight and physicality, saying, “Everything had to be hard-earned tonight.”

Offensively, Norvell acknowledged the struggles but praised Ja’Khi Douglas for coming through in crucial moments, including a decisive 36-yard touchdown reception from DJ Uiagalelei. Norvell reflected on Douglas’ mentality, emphasizing, “When you get your opportunities, you have to be the aggressor.” Despite some inconsistencies, Norvell saw promise in the unit's performance, highlighting Lawrance Toafili’s gritty 80-yard rushing effort and the offensive line’s determination to establish the run despite multiple injuries.

A theme throughout Norvell’s remarks was the team’s resilience, fueled by a productive and energetic week of practice. He praised younger players like Edwin Joseph and Quindarrius Jones for stepping up in big moments, driven by their commitment to practicing with intensity. He believed this week’s preparation made a direct impact on the game, stating, “The choice to go be better… to go and cut it loose and go play… showed up big for us.”

Norvell also gave credit to the home crowd for creating an electric atmosphere, calling it “remarkable” and contributing to Cal’s multiple false start penalties. In closing, Norvell spoke of the team’s growth through adversity and the importance of staying focused on continued improvement, recognizing that while this win was important, it’s just the beginning of their journey to bounce back.

Overall, Norvell’s comments reflected a team that is beginning to find its identity by balancing strong defensive play with resilience in key moments, while continuing to refine its offense and build momentum.

Full transcript here.

🏌️‍♂️ Luke Clanton Leads FSU in Fighting Illini Invitational 🏌️‍♂️

Florida State’s Luke Clanton, the world’s top-ranked amateur golfer, delivered a strong performance at the Fighting Illini Invitational, sitting in a tie for sixth place with a 3-under-par total of 207. Clanton posted rounds of 70 and 69 on Saturday. Gray Albright also excelled, finishing tied for 22nd with a 212 total. The Seminoles are tied for 10th place as a team, and will look to climb the leaderboard when the event concludes Sunday morning.

🔗 Full results and details here

⛳ Mirabel Ting Tied for Fourth at Schooner Fall Classic ⛳

Junior All-American Mirabel Ting shot a career-low 67, tying for fourth place after the first round of the Schooner Fall Classic. Florida State stands in seventh place as a team, trailing first-place Auburn by 11 strokes. All-American Lottie Woad carded an even-par 70, while senior Kaylah Williams contributed a 2-over 72. The Seminoles continue play on Sunday with aspirations to climb the leaderboard at this charity event, which benefits the OK Kidz Korral.

🔗 Full results and details here

And that’s a wrap!

The Seminoles showed their grit and determination this week, securing their first win of the season and locking in key future talent with a major recruiting commitment. As FSU continues to grow, both on the field and in recruitment, the momentum is building.

With ACC play ramping up in multiple sports, there’s plenty of action ahead. Stay tuned for more Seminole victories and insights as the season progresses! Keep your eyes on the field—and as always, Go Noles! 🍢