FSU sports information:

The No.27/RV Florida State Cross Country teams will host the annual FSU XC Invitational on Friday at Apalachee Regional Park, which will serve as the Seminole’s Heritage event.

"We are beyond excited to be racing at home on our renowned cross country course,” said FSU women’s head coach Cody Halsey. “We love the opportunity for our wonderful and supportive community to be able to attend our meets. The ladies are excited and are feeling great. We are all looking forward to Friday.”

The men’s 8k will start at 7:40 a.m., followed by the women’s 5k at 8:20 a.m. Live timing will be available.

Senior Jane Eiselstein won the women’s 6k at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational, leading the Noles to their second team victory of the season behind a tally of 34 points. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native crossed the finish line with a winning time of 21:48.2. Eiselstein captured the ACC Women’s Performer of the Week honors for her efforts.

“While our competition squad is small, I’m looking forward to seeing how these guys compete on the ARP tomorrow,” said assistant coach Ian Frazier. “Any opportunity we have to compete on our home course is something we value greatly, especially in a year where we are hosting such an important meet like the NCAA South Regional meet.”

The men’s team remained in the top 30 of the USTFCCCA nationals rankings for the second consecutive week at No.27, after Kaden Levings opened his collegiate career in the 8k securing his first career win with a time of 25:07.6. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native collected the ACC Men’s Performer of the week for his strong performance.

“All signs in training point to a successful day out here tomorrow, especially for our Seniors Patrick Donnelly, Wynne Thomas, and Lucas Bouquot, who get to experience our world-class home atmosphere in conjunction with our Heritage week,” added Frazier. “Special thanks to Visit Tallahassee for their work to make this course immaculate for the competition. Go Noles!”

The Seminoles offered Whitset a few hours after publicly decommitting from Purdue. The three-star tackle took an official visit to NC State over the weekend. He tells me that he is considering a visit to Florida State.
https://floridastate.rivals.com/news/florida-state-offers-former-purdue-commit-ot-takhyian-whitset

FSU sports information:

The No. 21 Florida State volleyball team (11-3, 3-1) returns home to welcome No. 4 Louisville (12-2, 4-0) on Friday night and Notre Dame (9-4, 2-2) on Sunday. Friday's match will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Sunday's match beginning at 1 p.m. Both games can be seen on ACCNX.

What's At Stake Against the Cardinals

• On Friday night, the Seminoles will be looking for their first win over Louisville since 2019.
• A win on Friday night would be the Seminoles second-highest ranked win in program history and would be their highest ranked win at home in school history.
• FSU will be looking for just its second win over a ranked Louisville team. FSU defeated No. 24 Louisville in 2018.
• FSU will be looking for its 18th consecutive win at Tully Gym which would be the Seminoles' longest home win streak since 2014.

Noles Start on the Right Foot in ACC Play....Again

• FSU has consistently started off ACC play in the win column in the last decade.
• Excluding the 2021 spring season where there were no non-conference matches, FSU has won its last 10 ACC openers.
• FSU has started 2-0 in the ACC in eight out of the last 10 seasons.
• FSU has never finished worse than 5th in the ACC under Head Coach Chris Poole.

Noles Off to Hot Start

• FSU is off and running so far in 2024 as they look to defend its ACC Championship.
• FSU got off to its best start since 2016 with a 10-2 record.
• FSU has picked up three ranked wins this season already with wins over No. 25 Georgia and No. 25 Miami. This is the first time since 2014 that FSU has had multiple ranked wins before Oct. 1.
• FSU started 4-0 for the first time since 2017 including a win over No. 25 Georgia for their first ranked non-conference win since 2021.
• FSU opened up the season at home for the first time since 2011 and went 3-0 against USF, UC Santa Barbara and No. 25 Georgia.

Not Slowing Down on Offense

• FSU has proven to be one of the top offenses in the ACC and the country so far this season.
• As a team, FSU ranks 15th in the country and fourth in the ACC with a .284 hitting percentage and also ranks 27th in the country and fourth in the ACC with 13.68 kills per set. FSU ranks 46th in the country and fifth in the ACC with 12.52 assists per set.
• The Seminoles have been spreading the wealth as they have three players who have recorded 100 or more kills this season and four players who have recorded 65 or more kills this season.

Climbing the Ranks

• FSU was ranked No. 21 in this week's AVCA/TARAFLEX Coaches Poll. The Noles were ranked 15th in week one which was the program's highest ranking since 2017.
• FSU opened the season ranked 20th in the preseason poll. It was the first time FSU was ranked to start the season since 2017.
• FSU picked up a ranked win against No. 25 Georgia. It was FSU's 41st ranked win in program history and was the first time FSU beat a ranked non conference opponent since defeating No. 14 Florida in 2021.
• FSU has picked up three ranked wins this season already with wins over No. 25 Georgia and No. 25 Miami. This is the first time since 2014 that FSU has had multiple ranked wins before Oct. 1.

SHE'S BAAAACCCKKKKK

• The reigning 2023 ACC Co-Player of the Year Audrey Koenig is back for one last season with the Seminoles and will look to solidify herself as one of the top players in FSU history.
• Koenig was just the fourth Seminole to win the ACC Player of the Year award and was the first Nole to accomplish the feat since Payton Caffrey in 2018.
• Koenig leads the team with 168 kills in 13 matches and is third on the team with 115 digs.
• Koenig currently ranks as the ninth-best passer in the country based off EPA (Expected Points Added). Koenig ranks third in the country among outside hitters in EPA.
• Koenig has recorded 10 or more kills in her last 11 matches.
• Koenig was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 30 after tallying 36 kills in two wins over Miami.
• Koenig also earned 2023 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors for the first time in her career.
• Koenig's 13 double-doubles last season were the 13th-most in FSU history.
• Koenig has recorded 1,104 kills during her career with the Garnet and Gold. Koenig became just the sixth player in FSU history to surpass 1,000 career kills in the rally scoring era. Her 1,125 kills is the fourth-best mark in school history. Koenig needs 3 kills to move into third. Koenig also ranks second all-time in the rally scoring era with 3.056 attacks.

Louis Continuing to Stay Hot for the Noles

• FSU senior and Tallahassee native Khori Louis put together her best season as a Seminole in 2023 as she earned First Team All-ACC honors and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention for the first time in her career.
• Louis hit a career-high .432 in 2023 which ranked fourth in the nation and was the fifth-best mark in school history and the best mark since Sareea Freeman in 2012.
• Louis has picked up right where she left off as she is hitting .480 with 158 kills which is second to Koenig's 168 kills. Louis also leads the team with 59 blocks.
• Louis's .480 hitting percentage ranks third in the entire country and is first in the ACC.
• Louis holds a career hitting percentage of .383 which is currently the best mark in FSU history. The previous record is .371 which is held by Brianna Barry.
• Louis was second on the team with 271 kills and 93 blocks in 2023.
• In her career, Louis has recorded 915 kills which is 9th in program history in the rally scoring era. She needs just 43 kills to move into 8th all-time.
• Louis also ranks top 15 in program history in the rally scoring era in solo blocks, assisted blocks and total blocks.

Noles Make Transfer Splash with Taylor Head

• The Seminoles made one of the biggest transfer moves in college volleyball last season as they picked up transfer Taylor Head from Arkansas. Head will have one season with the Seminoles after three seasons with Arkansas.
• Head was one of the best hitters not only in the SEC but the entire country last season as she picked up AVCA Third Team All-America honors after recording 494 kills with a .231 hitting percentage for a Razorback team that qualified for the Elite Eight.
• Head leads the team with 134 digs and is third on the team with 116 kills.
• Head has recorded double-digit digs in four of the last five matches.
• Head was one of the best all-around players in the country last season as she was third in the entire nation with 22 double-doubles.
• Head ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in total kills, kills per set, total attacks, attacks per set, double-doubles, points and total digs.
• Last season, Head would've led the ACC in total kills, points, double doubles and total attacks. Head also would've ranked in the top five in kills per set, attacks per set and points per set.
• Head spent her spring with the Florida State beach volleyball team where she finished the season with a 8-2 record.

Dupes is Back and Making an Impact

• After a knee injury kept her off the court in 2023, libero Emery Dupes is ready to become a force for the Seminoles' defense once again.
• Dupes has played in 49 out of the 50 sets this season with 54 digs.
• Prior to injury, Dupes led the team with 287 digs in 2022 while playing in 94 sets.
• As a freshman, Dupes earned All-ACC honors and became the first freshman libero in FSU history to earn All-ACC honors.
• Broke the school freshman record with 3.88 digs per set and was also just the 12th player in FSU history to record over 400 digs.
• Dupes is currently averaging 3.18 digs per set in her career which ranks ninth all-time in FSU history.
• Dupes has also been terrific behind the service line recording 60 aces in three seasons. In 2021, Dupes recorded six service aces in a single match which is tied for the third-most ever by a Seminole in a single match.

Perry becoming a Force in the Middle for the Noles

• After redshirting at Iowa State last season, Perry has become a force in the middle for the Seminoles.
• Perry is currently second on the team with 45 blocks and 1.05 blocks per set.
• Perry had a season-high 5 kills in the win over Miami on Sept. 25.
• Perry had seven total blocks against No. 25 Georgia which was just one block off her career high.
• Perry also has recorded 29 kills on 71 attempts.

Filimaua: A True Swiss Army Knife

• Kyleene Filimaua is a true do-it-all for Florida State volleyball.
• Filimaua has played in 48 out of the 50 sets for the Noles and has played all over the court including starting at libero in her last three matches.
• Filimaua has recorded 75 kills this season and has recorded four double-digit kill matches after recording just one double-digit kill match last year.
• To go along with her 69 kills this season, Filimaua has also recorded 121 digs, 31 assists, 17 aces and 12 blocks.

Phelan Becoming a Force on the Service Line and on Defense

• Kenna Phelan has shown off her nasty serve this season, and it became a game-changer for FSU.
• In 10 sets on opening weekend, Phelan recorded 10 aces from the service line. Her 10 aces were the eighth-most in the entire country on opening weekend.
• Phelan has recorded 18 service aces in 14 matches so far this season.
• Phelan recorded 19 digs against Auburn and 15 digs against North Florida. It was the first time in her career that Phelan has had back-to-back matches with 10 or more digs.
• Phelan has also been great as a setter in FSU's 6-2 system as she has recorded 251 assists.

Henke Off to Strong Start for the Garnet and Gold

• After missing opening weekend, Iane Henke has come right in and been a very valuable asset for the Seminoles.
• In her debut, Henke tallied 10 kills and six blocks against Cal Poly.
• In total, Henke has had 62 kills, 31 digs, 29 blocks and five aces in 11 matches for the Noles.

You Can't Teach Height

• The 2024 squad will be one of Head Coach Chris Poole's tallest teams as the head coach at FSU.
• The Seminoles have eight players at 6-2 or taller. The only year the Seminoles had more players taller than 6-2 was 2019 when the Seminoles had nine players 6-2 or taller.
• FSU also has one of the tallest teams in the entire ACC. No one has more players 6-2 or taller than FSU. Pitt and Virginia also have eight players that are 6-2 or taller.

No Better Teacher Than Experience

• Nothing can ever replace experience and the Seminoles have a lot of experience on the 2024 squad.
• 10 out of FSU's 16 players have played in 25 or more matches.
• FSU has five players (Dupes, Head, Koenig, Louis, Robertson) who have played in 50 or more matches.
• FSU also added Iane Henke who played 66 matches for Cal State LA, a DII program.

Noles Going Through Gauntlet of a Schedule

• The Seminoles will get tested early and often in the 2024 season.
• In 10 non conference games, four of those games came against teams that made the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
• Nine out of the 10 teams that FSU will play in the non conference had a winning record in 2023.
• FSU is still slated to play the No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 15 and No. 20 teams in the country.
• FSU has already played No. 16 Florida and No. 25 Miami and also played Georgia and Auburn who each received votes in this week's poll.

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Millions are without power in Florida. Hang in there. All of the best as you recover from the storm.

Drone footage of the Rays' stadium:

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I feel like his OL coaching duties fell off around the time he was given OC duties. He came here well regarded.

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Here at Manchester high school in Georgia, and Florida State defense line coach Odell Haggans is in the Fieldhouse watching five star defense tackle Justus, Terry lift weights and practice this morning

Florida State is one of three schools in the mix for Terry, who is on the clock between now and December. Alabama and Georgia have been the two teams starring up the most buzz since the end of the summer with the ladder circled as the team to beat.

(Football portal windows: For the 2024-25 academic year, the windows will be open Dec. 9-28 and April 16-25)

Via the NCAA:

The Division I Council on Tuesday approved changes to the notification-of-transfer windows in football and men's and women's basketball from a total of 45 days to 30 days, effective immediately.

The changes, which were initially introduced in June, are intended to provide greater stability to student-athletes and programs, in better alignment with academic terms and, in some cases, professional league draft rules.

"With several years of data now available, we know that the vast majority of student-athletes are entering the portal within the first four weeks of it opening," said Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and chair of the council. "The NCAA remains committed to adjusting to the rapidly changing collegiate athletics landscape while continuing to keep student-athletes at the forefront of our decision-making process. These window adjustments met that standard."

Moving forward, the notification-of-transfer windows in basketball will be open for 30 days, starting the day after the conclusion of the second round of each NCAA Division I championship, when 91% of teams in both men's and women's basketball have concluded their season. For the 2024-25 academic year, the window will be open March 24-April 22 for men's basketball and March 25-April 23 for women's basketball.

In both the Football Championship Subdivision and the Football Bowl Subdivision, the notification-of-transfer windows will be a total of 30 days spread over two windows. The first window will open the Monday after the FBS conference championship weekend for 20 days, and the second window will open in the spring for 10 days. For the 2024-25 academic year, the windows will be open Dec. 9-28 and April 16-25.

The changes were recommended and supported by the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees and the Football Oversight Committees on Tuesday before the council meeting and were adopted Tuesday by the council — which includes a voting representative from each Division I conference, as well as student-athlete representatives.

Student-athletes seeking to transfer and be recruited by other schools to compete the following year must provide their current school with administrative notice during the window for their sport. The window is for notice only and does not impact the amount of time a student might need to decide whether to ultimately transfer and to what school.

In all sports, student-athletes whose head coach leaves the school would continue to have an additional 30-day transfer window beginning the day after a coach's departure.