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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

Here’s everything you need to know as Miami week kicks off in Tallahassee:

🏈 Underdog at Doak
FSU opens as a 5-point home underdog vs. No. 2 Miami — with history and momentum on the line.

🎙️ Coaches React
Gus Malzahn and Tony White reflect on the UVA loss, accountability, and how to respond against the Canes’ physical front.

🌟 Recruits Double Down
Top commits like Jay Timmons and Jaden O’Neal say they’re “all in” on FSU bouncing back in prime time.

🎾 Tennis Off to a Strong Start
The Noles split squads for fall openers, highlighted by a doubles title at the Bedford Cup.

🏐 Volleyball Split
FSU knocked off unbeaten Clemson before falling to Georgia Tech, with Iane Henke posting back-to-back 20+ kill performances.

👀 Big Recruit on Deck
Top-50 EDGE Jaiden Bryant is visiting Doak for Miami — part of a packed recruiting weekend that could reshape the 2027 class.

It’s a massive week ahead for Florida State athletics — on the field, in recruiting, and across multiple sports.

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🏈 FSU Opens as Underdog vs. Miami 🏈

Florida State (3–1) has opened as a 5-point underdog for Saturday’s rivalry showdown with No. 2 Miami at Doak Campbell Stadium. The over/under is set at 54.5 points, per CircaSports.

🔥 The Setup

• FSU: Coming off a 46–38 double-OT loss at Virginia after a three-game win streak over Alabama, East Texas A&M, and Kent State.

• Miami: 4–0 with wins over Notre Dame, Bethune Cookman, USF, and Florida. The Hurricanes are fresh off a bye week.

📊 Series History

• Miami leads all-time: 36–33.

• At Doak: Miami holds a 16–12 advantage.

• Last year: Hurricanes won 36–14 in Miami, snapping FSU’s three-game streak in the rivalry.

📌 Why It Matters
FSU enters as the underdog at home for the first time since the 2021 rivalry, raising the stakes for a prime-time ACC clash that could swing momentum in both programs’ seasons.

👉 Full odds & matchup breakdown here

🎙️ Malzahn & White on UVA Loss, Miami Prep 🎙️

Both Gus Malzahn and DC Tony White met with the media to digest Friday’s double-OT loss at Virginia and preview Saturday’s showdown with Miami.

🔥 Malzahn’s Takeaways

• Called UVA loss “a tough one” with “a lot of uncharacteristic things” on offense.

• Praised QB Tommy Castellanos: “playing his guts out.”

• Said self-inflicted mistakes (penalties, turnovers) stalled early drives, stressing “we’ve got to learn from it.”

• On WR Duce Robinson: “an elite guy” still learning how to be the go-to playmaker.

• RB Ousmane Kromah “runs extremely hard” and the game is slowing down for him.

• Looking at Miami’s front: “They’ve got some real guys up front… going to make you earn it.”

🛡️ White’s Defensive Breakdown

• Admitted pressure was inconsistent — even blitzes gave UVA QB Chandler Morris too much time.

• Most disappointed in tackles that should’ve been stops at 3–4 yards but stretched to 6+.

• “Adversity is good… you always take something away to build on.”

• Highlighted standout efforts from Ja’Bril Rawls (“played his tail off”) and Darrell Jackson.

• Miami scouting report: big, physical OL, a top-tier QB who’s protected well, and WR Malachi Toney emerging as a threat.

📌 Why It Matters
Both coordinators leaned into the theme of adversity as fuel. After being out-physicaled at UVA, the challenge now is responding against one of the nation’s deepest and most physical rosters in Miami.

👉 Full presser notes and analysis here

🌟 Recruits Confident in FSU Bounce-Back 🌟

Florida State’s loss at Virginia hasn’t shaken the faith of its top commits — in fact, they’re doubling down on their confidence ahead of Saturday’s Miami showdown.

🔥 What They’re Saying

• Lawrence “Jay” Timmons (4⭐ CB, legacy commit): “Penn State was great, but I’m way more excited for FSU-Miami next week … Virginia a top-five offense, and like Tommy [Castellanos] said, it’s going to make them humble and hungry.”

• Jaden O’Neal (4⭐ QB): “I know they are going to respond great.”

• Darryon Williams (3⭐ ATH): “It’s all good. We will bounce back. Got all my trust in Norvell.”

📌 Why It Matters
Even as powerhouse programs like Ohio State and Penn State circle, FSU’s commits remain locked in — and they’ll be watching closely as the Noles look to prove themselves in prime time against Miami.

👉 Full recruit reactions & Miami visitor list here

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🎾 Seminoles Wrap Up Fall Openers 🎾

Florida State men’s tennis split squads last week, with part of the team at the ITA All-American Championship in Tulsa and the rest competing at the Bedford Cup in Tallahassee. The weekend featured mixed results, but also standout performances that signal early-season promise.

🔥 ITA All-American Championship

• Corey Craig (No. 8 seed): Won a tiebreak in the opening round before falling in straight sets in the Round of 64.

• Gabriele Brancetelli: Rebounded with a three-set win over SMU after dropping his opener.

• Erik Schiessl: Advanced in consolation play with a gritty three-set win over Ohio State’s Preston Stearns.

🔥 Bedford Cup Highlights

• Singles: Justin Lyons, Azariah Rusher, Mohammad Alkotop, and Oren Ezerzer all went unbeaten on Day 1. Rusher dominated with a 6–0, 6–0 win and later advanced to the quarterfinals, where he topped Ezerzer.

• Doubles: Alkotop/Rusher went a perfect 4–0 on the weekend, defeating FGCU’s Baron/Povey (8–6) to win the Bedford Cup doubles title.

📌 Why It Matters
FSU’s depth showed early this fall with multiple players notching statement wins and a doubles crown at the Bedford Cup. The Seminoles now turn their attention to ITA Regionals in Gainesville (Oct. 9–13).

👉 Full fall tennis recap here

🏐 Road Highs & Lows: Noles Split ACC Opener 🏐

Florida State volleyball’s first conference weekend brought both a statement win and a setback. After toppling undefeated Clemson on Friday, the Noles were swept in Atlanta by Georgia Tech on Sunday (19–25, 19–25, 23–25).

✨ The Storyline

• 🔥 Friday: FSU handed Clemson its first loss of the season, extending the Tigers’ misery vs. the Noles to 20 straight.

• 💨 Sunday: GT’s serve-and-block game stifled FSU late in each set, including a third-set rally that flipped a 21–19 FSU lead into a Yellow Jackets sweep.

🌟 The Bright Spot

• Iane Henke is unstoppable. After torching Clemson for 20 kills, she notched a career-best 21 against GT — making her the first Seminole since 2023 with back-to-back 20+ kill outings.

⏭️ What’s Next
The Noles (7–4, 1–1 ACC) hit the road again Friday night at Wake Forest (6:30 p.m., ACCNX), aiming to bounce back and grab momentum.

📌 Want the full match recap, stats, and takeaways? 👉 Read more here

👀 Four-Star EDGE Jaiden Bryant Sets FSU Visit 👀

One of the nation’s top 2027 pass rushers is headed to Doak next weekend.

🔥 The Prospect

• Jaiden Bryant (Irmo, S.C.) — 6’3.5”, 245 lbs

• Ranked No. 52 overall, No. 10 EDGE nationally, and the No. 2 player in South Carolina

• Four-star rating (90 grade)

🗓️ Visit Schedule
Bryant’s fall is packed with high-profile stops, but two stand out:

• Florida State (vs. Miami) — Oct. 4

• LSU (vs. South Carolina) — Oct. 11

He’ll also hit Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Miami, UNC, and multiple South Carolina games later this fall.

📌 Why It Matters
FSU has already built a strong relationship with Bryant, and hosting him for one of the biggest rivalry games of the season could be pivotal in separating themselves from the pack.

👉 Full details on Bryant’s visit schedule and recruitment here

And that’s a wrap!

That’s it for today’s Chief Brief. Miami week has officially arrived, and the eyes of college football will be on Doak this Saturday night. From bounce-back talk to recruiting momentum, it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest weeks of the season for Florida State.

Stay locked in — we’ll have more coverage, updates, and insights leading up to kickoff.

Go Noles! 🍢