Today’s Poll

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Happy Sunday, Seminole!

A shorter docket for you today:

⚽ FSU Soccer continued their dominance with a 3-0 victory over Clemson, extending their unbeaten streak to 15 games in ACC play. Mimi Van Zanten and Taylor Suarez were key players, and FSU remains the last undefeated team in the ACC.

🏐 FSU Volleyball gears up for their second face-off against Miami in just four days! After a thrilling win in Tallahassee, the Seminoles look to secure back-to-back victories against the Hurricanes in Coral Gables.

🏈 Football Struggles Continue: The Seminoles suffered a tough 42-16 loss to SMU, marking the Mustangs' first-ever ACC win. Turnovers and penalties plagued FSU, and fans are calling for changes after another disappointing performance.

🎙️ FSU Fan Reactions: Dive into the heated fan discussions from Reddit, where frustration over the loss is widespread, and calls for a youth movement and coaching changes grow louder.

⚽ FSU Soccer Extends Unbeaten Streak with 3-0 Win Over Clemson ⚽

No. 7 Florida State (7-0-2, 2-0-1 ACC) secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Clemson (4-4-2, 0-3-0 ACC) on Saturday night, extending their unbeaten streak in ACC play to 15 games.

Highlights:

• Mimi Van Zanten opened the scoring with a brilliant finish off a cross from Taylor Suarez, marking her third game-winning goal of the season.

• Suarez added another goal just two minutes later, her second in only three career games.

• Freshman Lara Dantas sealed the win with a late strike, assisted by Wrianna Hudson.

FSU remains the last unbeaten team in the ACC and will face No. 5 Wake Forest on Thursday at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

Read More Here

🏐 FSU Volleyball Set for Back-to-Back Clash with Miami 🏐

No. 18 Florida State (9-2, 1-0 ACC) will face off against No. 25 Miami (9-3, 0-1 ACC) for the second time in four days this Sunday at noon in Coral Gables, Fla. FSU won their first matchup in a thrilling five-set battle in Tallahassee, marking their fifth consecutive win over the Hurricanes.

The Seminoles are off to their best start since 2016 and remain a force in the ACC, boasting one of the top offenses in the country with a .287 hitting percentage. They aim to extend their winning streak and solidify their position in the conference standings.

FSU has picked up two ranked wins this season, including victories over No. 25 Georgia and Miami.

Read More Here

🏈 FSU Stumbles in SMU’s First ACC Game, Falling 42-16 🏈

Florida State’s road trip to Dallas on Saturday night proved to be a frustrating outing, as the Seminoles fell to 1-4 after a 42-16 loss to SMU. The Mustangs, playing in their first-ever ACC game, capitalized on multiple FSU mistakes, turning turnovers and penalties into scoring opportunities.

Turnovers and Missed Opportunities

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns, but his three interceptions proved costly. The most critical miscue came early in the third quarter when Uiagalelei's pass deflected off tight end Kyle Morlock’s hands and landed in the arms of an SMU defender. The Mustangs scored three plays later, stretching their lead to 21-9.

FSU's next drive stalled after a holding penalty wiped out a significant gain, and SMU responded with another touchdown to widen the gap to 28-9. Uiagalelei's second interception also contributed to the Seminoles’ downfall, as SMU capitalized with a short touchdown drive.

Despite a late touchdown pass to freshman Landen Thomas that cut the deficit to 28-16, FSU couldn’t maintain momentum. A facemask penalty on a punt block extended SMU’s next drive, leading to another touchdown. SMU then sealed the game with an 84-yard interception return for a touchdown, pushing the final score to 42-16.

Sloppy Play and Penalties

Throughout the game, FSU was plagued by self-inflicted wounds, including 10 penalties for 79 yards. A holding call negated a 67-yard punt by Alex Mastromanno, while a facemask penalty kept an SMU drive alive in the third quarter. Mistakes like blown assignments on third downs and dropped passes also contributed to the lopsided score.

"Way too many mistakes that showed up tonight,” said FSU head coach Mike Norvell. “Penalties that cost us, extended drives. Big plays that were taken off the board because of poor technique.”

FSU allowed 469 yards of offense, struggled on third downs, and gave up multiple explosive plays, including a 42-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass. Despite showing flashes of solid defense with two early sacks and a blocked field goal by Shyheim Brown, the Seminoles’ performance crumbled under the pressure of SMU’s relentless offense in the second half.

Offensive Struggles Continue

The Seminoles’ offensive woes persisted, with FSU failing to surpass 300 yards for the fifth straight game this season. Despite an early touchdown drive that tied the game at 7-7, inconsistency in both the passing and running game prevented FSU from gaining traction. Uiagalelei, who finished 12-of-30, struggled with accuracy and decision-making under pressure, while the Seminoles' offensive line failed to generate push in critical situations.

FSU’s ground game, led by Lawrance Toafili with 67 yards on 15 carries, lacked consistency as SMU's defense contained the Seminoles' rushing attack. FSU’s offense has now scored just 76 points over five games with Uiagalelei as the starter, continuing to search for answers as the season progresses.

Defensive Struggles and Late Collapse

While FSU’s defense showed promise early, holding SMU to 14 points in the first half, the second half told a different story. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, while the Mustangs ran for 160 yards, including multiple key plays on third down.

FSU allowed three consecutive touchdowns in the second half as SMU took advantage of short fields and turnovers. Despite early stops and a blocked field goal, the Seminoles' defense couldn’t withstand the Mustangs' offensive pressure as the game progressed.

Looking Ahead

The Seminoles return to Tallahassee next week to face Clemson, looking to regroup and find answers as they continue ACC play. With FSU sitting at 1-4, the pressure is on to correct mistakes and improve execution, particularly on offense and special teams.

Read more here and here and here

🎙️ FSU Fan Reactions Following SMU Loss 🎙️

After Florida State’s tough 42-16 loss to SMU, the fanbase took to Reddit, expressing a mix of frustration, disappointment, and calls for change. Here’s a breakdown of the general sentiment:

Disappointment in Coaching: A large portion of the fanbase pointed fingers at the coaching staff, with many calling for the dismissal of key coordinators. Fans were particularly critical of head coach Mike Norvell, questioning his ability to lead the program after the team’s dramatic decline following last season's success.

One fan summed up the mood: "This is the worst loss of the Norvell era... It's year five, and this is what we have to show for it?" Several echoed these frustrations, highlighting the lack of adjustments during the game and pointing to ongoing issues with penalties and discipline on the field.

Frustration with Offensive Play: The offense was a major talking point, with fans disappointed in DJ Uiagalelei’s performance. He threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns but also tossed three interceptions. One fan commented, "DJ went 12-30. This offense is completely inept." Another said, "It's time to bench DJ and start looking at younger players for the future."

Fans also lamented the offensive line’s struggles, with many criticizing Alex Atkins for the lack of development. One comment stood out: "This O-line is killing us. It's been five years, and there’s no excuse for how bad they still look."

Defensive Concerns: The defense, while solid early on, crumbled in the second half. Fans expressed concern over the lack of adjustments by defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, with one fan saying, "Five games in, and we still haven’t seen any real adjustments on defense. Fuller has to go."

Call for Youth Movement: As the season continues to slip away, fans called for FSU to give younger players more opportunities. "At this point, play the young guys. See what we have for next year," was a common refrain, as fans suggested focusing on development rather than salvaging a struggling season.

Overall Fan Sentiment: The general sentiment was a mix of frustration and resignation. Fans are losing hope, with many comparing this season to the worst moments of previous eras. As one fan bluntly put it, "This is rock bottom for FSU football." However, a few hold out hope, suggesting that a youth movement and changes in coaching might turn things around for the future.

FSU's upcoming game against Clemson will be pivotal, not just for the team but for the morale of a fanbase desperate for improvement.

Read all the comments here

And that’s a wrap!

As always, we’ll be here keeping you updated on all things FSU.

Whether it’s the highs of a volleyball victory or the tough grind of the football season, we’ve got you covered. Stay tuned for more updates as we head into another week of Seminole action!

Keep the spirit strong and Go Noles! 🏹