FSU (2-0) is back home to play host to Tarleton State (0-2), a Texas school that plays in the WAC. Tarleton State is coached by a familiar name in Billy Gillispie, who previously coached at Texas A&M and Kentucky (among other stops).

This is FSU's Military Appreciation Game.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. with a live stream on ACC Network Extra. FSU is looking for its first 3-0 start since 2020-21.

The Seminoles are No. 83 in KenPom's rankings and have defeated Northern Kentucky (172) and Rice (228). Tarleton State is ranked at 277, the lowest opponent in KenPom's rankings this season.

Jamir Watkins was named the ACC's co-player of the week. He has scored in double figures in 21 straight games.

FSU will also host Florida on Friday at 6 p.m. Coach Leonard Hamilton is helping lead a toy drive that will benefit Tallahassee youth. Fans can bring an unwrapped gift to the FSU-UF game and toys will be distributed. Doug Mannheimer said that FSU fans contributed eight large bins of toys in 2023.

As part of a scheduling change, FSU will now play host to Western Carolina on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. The game was slated to be played in Asheville, N.C.

Wellness check for all yall. Hope everyone is doing good. Tough times... Hurricanes and such. Could be a little rough for some of you, just know that I'm here for everyone of yall.
Best regards,

On Tuesday's edition of the Osceola's Seminole Sidelines, Patrick Burnham and Nick Carlisle discuss the reactions from Florida State's 2025 commitments to the dismissals of Alex Atkins, Adam Fuller and Ron Dugans. They also talk on FSU football in the bye week and more.

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In Japan A Samurai would basically fall on a sword to die with honor. Someone, anyone on this coaching staff should walk into Mike's office today and do what is right. You can lose which FSU has done plenty of this season but 52-3 is unacceptable. In 2012 Clemson lost to West Virginia 70-33. Kevin Steele was fired right after the game. He had a history before and after of being a good DC. FSU DC has never had a history of being good anywhere else. It is a business and I am sure every coach inside the football offices understand this but IT CAN'T KEEP going on. You can go back to the weekly podcast early on both JP and myself were the ones that said someone, anyone needs to be fired. The New York Jets fired their head coach. Are the results going to be different? Probably not. This team was done after losing to GT and BC. Memphis finished us off and SMU threw the dirt on top of FSU. The rest of the season was FSU fans just going through the five stages of grief?


What to do? As I stated a while ago and there are certain posters on here that keep saying the same thing over and over again. MIKE NEEDS TO BE FIRED. What needs to HAPPEN and what is going to Happen are two different things. I run a business myself and if the results were this bad, I would fire myself. Does Mike deserve to be fired? I am sure if you got him off record, he would probably would say YES. Will Mike be fired, NO.? So discussing this or getting upset about it is stupid. FSU is not firing Mike Norvel. Don't get upset at me or any of the staffers here because we are stating what we feel is true. FSU is not Texas A&M. They don't have multi-billion dollar boosters who think throwing away 75million is a good idea.

Lesson learned - The biggest issue is that when AllNoles, 12nolesa and Nolataire go FIRE MIKE....FIRE, MIKE, FIRE MIKE. They sit and there and don't ask the simple question - Do you really want the same people who hired Mike and gave him an extension to be the same ones to fire him and have to go and hire a new coach. They sit there and say well lets hire Lane Kiffin. HA....Is this a joke. Every time there is an opening that fan base throws out the biggest names only to end up where FSU is now. Gator fans wanted Bob Stoops and got Ron Zook, Muschamp and Bill Napier. They hit on Urban Meyer who nobody else wanted. FSU fans wanted Bob Stoops....LOL. They should have been going after Mark Stoops. Fans have these unrealistic expectations. They feel THEIR SCHOOL is the best. There is no doubt FSU is a great program despite their 1-9 season. Their BRAND is still strong. FSU will recover from this. The reality is even after going 13-0, there is no guarantee that FSU will EVER win another NC. Times have changed and while some of you don't want to believe it, FSU is the first to fall prey to the new system. Smirk all you want....FSU lived by the sword of the portal and now has died by it.

Each week we here cries about what to do next. I can tell you that by speaking with my sources there are going to be no less than five coaches on this current staff gone. It is going to happen. If you are expecting Norvell to be one of them....IT IS NOT HAPPENING - So stop talking about it. I live in the world of reality...not make believe. FSU is not swallowing 65-70 million dollars to fire their head coach. Should he be is much different then will he be. This is not ME -defending mike. It is not me being honest with hard working, paying members who want heads to roll. I am not saying you are not right. That being said IT IS NOT HAPPENING. Acceptance is one of the stages of GRIEF. Nothing is changing this season. NOTHING...Even if Mike was going to get fired there are not a ton of great options to replace him. You can take Curt Cignetti but those same people who think Mike winning at Memphis did not count, well Curt won at James Madison and Indiana.

FSU team - 2025 -How to rebuild this mess.

QB- The fact is FSU is going to have to go to the portal. PERIOD /END OF STORY. Glenn will move on and honestly it is probably best for him. I still think Glenn behind a good OL, good play calling and a better situation can be a quality starting QB in college. At FSU though, Glenn is one of the five worst quarterbacks in college when it comes to completion percentage. Sam Darnold once said he is seeing ghost, well what the hell this poor kid is seeing. You want to see a way to ruin a quarterback, play him against Louisville, Georgia and then throw him out there against Clemson. Quarterbacks -especially ones that are not elite need reps in real games. They need to play against bad teams and gradually move up. The same thing will happen to Luke. I know the kid wants to start but he and his family need to understand there is a process. Playing against crappy teams in Savannah, Georgia and going against P4 D1 programs is a different animal.

RB- I have said before I actually like where FSU sits in the RB room. Sam Singleton showed some promise. I think Danzy is going to be really good. I like the power and toughness Kam Davis runs with. Byron Louis is very good. FSU turnaround in 2025, starts and ends with them finding a run game. It takes pressure off the QB, the defense, and allows you to control games. FSU RB room is actually one I still feel good about.

WR- I know many want to knock Hykeem Williams and some of the younger receivers. FSU WR room will not be judged by me until I see a new coach working with them next year. Once this happens, I will give my opinion. I do think there is talent in the room. Someone just needs to get the best of it out of them.

TE-Watching two tight ends run the same route - WTF - Morlock finally caught a pass which was nice. Williams whiffed on a block. That is why freshman tight ends usually don't play right away. Missed assignment and those can't happen. Landen Thomas has talent but needs an off-season to develop.

OL- I have heard experts on other sites say well Julian Armella can't play. I have heard every excuse. PROVE IT. I watched him in high school and this kid was physical. He is one of the most impressive looking lineman on the team. The fact that he has not been on the field is a joke. He played against Miami two years ago and while there were some things that needed to be worked on, Armella looked better then TJ Ferguson and Byers ever looked. Those two have no damn business being on the field. I don't want to hear it. 1-9, the line can’t block anyone and you want try and put him out there. 7 OL in one class and not a single one of them has become anything while five are no longer on the roster. If I personally went out and recruiting 7 OL there is almost no possibility where not one of them would have made it. Heck, I told FSU about Josue Matias and Bryan Stork when one was committed to Rutgers and there other guys was a 240 pound TE at Vero Beach. There is no excuse for the OL sucking this badly.

DL-THE GREATEST TRAIN ROBBERY OF ALL TIME - Darrell Jackson, Joshua Farmer, and Pat Payton - It is sad because I don't think these three are bad guys. That said - they have played awful this season. Instead of being leaders they have been no shows. They are the head coach of the water boy who hid behind his players when the bully coach challenge him. I still say the moment that all three negotiated NIL in public is the moment I knew there were serious problems on this team. That is a major red flag. If Mike has learned one thing...Do not allow your players to go to the media and try and negotiate their deals. Do that and you are gone...

LB-Omar Graham - One step forward....I don't even know what that was going back. Man did the poor kid get put in the meat grinder. He had no idea how to cover anyone last night. I still don't think the kid is a G4 starting LB.


DB-I saw AZ Thomas decide one to many times to not make a business decision. I did not rewatch the game and won't do it. I have no idea what the rest of the DB room did. There is talent here but like WR, we need to wait and see what they do when a new DC is named.

Final Thoughts: Don't think for one second I accept this. While I can't speak for Jerry, Pat, Bob, Curt, and Nick -I am sure they feel the same way. There is a right way to deal with this mess and a wrong way. We are just not going to run each coach under a bus to satisfy fans who want BLOOD. There will be changes. I personally feel there should be changes now, pat disagrees but I wonder what his thoughts are now. Many feel those changes are going to just slow down the inevitable....possibly. Mike may have another poor season in 2025 and gets fired. I am in in wait and see mode. Let me see who he hires, who he brings in from the portal. Until then that is all I can do.


Around college football

Miami slow starts finally caught up to them. You can't keep falling behind each week and thinking you can just come from behind. I still like Cam but do think he needs to learn to take what the defense gives. GT was giving you five yards, take it. Not every play needs to be a big play. Miami plays Wake and Syracuse and they should win both games. I do think a Miami vs. SMU game can be very entertaining.

BYU vs. Utah - What a game. Utah played a third string QB last night. Difference between that kid and who FSU has throw out is he has been on campus three years. Experience is so important. There are very few quarterbacks who can play right away and have success. Utah is very well coached. BYU had a 4th down play where their QB got sacked on his own one yard line. There was a holding penalty and BYU got another chance. The ended up kicking a game winning FG as time expired. What a game.

LSU- Tigers fans are losing patience with Brian Kelly. Thing is he has a top 2-3 Class coming in. LSU needs talent. They lost a ton of players from last season. Bama just rolled into Baton Rouge and rolled out with a big win. I am still not impressed with Bama.

Indiana - 10-0 -You can tell me oh they have not played anyone...It is INDIANA. That team will never win 10 games again. If their coach is smart, he takes the first job offered to him. Don't try and be a hero.

Tennessee - Don't know the status of their QB...But they are a sleeper team.

The reality is there are no great teams this year. Texas is good but flawed. Georgia has no weapons on offense. They have a QB who can't throw to the right team. For those that keep thinking this thing has not changed...Hold on because there will be more teams like Michigan and FSU who one year played great only to crash and burn the next.


Playoffs

1-Oregon (Big 10)
2-Texas (SEC)
3-BYU (Big 12)
4-SMU (ACC)

5-Ohio State (Big 10)
12-Alabama (SEC)

6-Notre Dame (Independant)
11-Indiana (BIG 10)

7-Tennessee (SEC)
10-Miami (ACC)

8-Ole Miss (SEC)
9-Penn State (Big 10)

First Four Out
Boise St (8-1), Colorado (7-2), Georgia (7-2), Clemson (7-2)

Others
Texas A&M
Kansas State
ASU

On Sunday, Mike Norvell announced the firing of three assistant coaches, including both coordinators. In a column we wrote a month ago we discussed how an athletic director evaluates head coaches on both the external scoreboard which we all see and on an internal scoreboard that he keeps, which tracks organizaion, energy, communication, recruiting and other predictors of future success. We reported that Norvell scores well on Alford's internal board, not to mention is protected by a $64 million buyout, and predicted the attention would turn toward strenghening Norvell's coaching staff. We knew changes to the staff were coming and while we did not name names, we directed our readers to look at non-performing segments to know who was likely to be canned.
This column is a follow up to that column offering some insight on the first step in what will be a journey to re-writing FSU Football, version 2025.

The first days of FSU Football, version 2025, begin earl

Fresh off FSU's fifth straight ACC title and three days before the Seminoles' NCAA Tournament opener at home vs. Samford (Friday at 5 p.m.), head coach Brian Pensky addressed the media Tuesday afternoon, talking about the advantage of playing at home, how his team has rounded into form and more.

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Today.

A look across the country:

FSU sports information:

Florida State senior outside hitter Audrey Koenig was named the ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after a great all-around offensive performance in two matches against Wake Forest and NC State this past weekend.

Koenig put together one of the best offensive performances on Friday night as she recorded 20 kills in three sets against Wake Forest. Koenig is one of three ACC players to record 20 or more kills in a three-set match this season. More impressively, Koenig totaled eight aces against the Demon Deacons which was the second-highest mark in school history. Koenig followed up her performance on Friday with a solid 12 kills on Sunday against NC State while adding three more aces. Her 11 aces were the most of any player in the country this past weekend.

Koenig and the Seminoles will be back in action on Friday night as they will face No. 1 Pitt at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.

FSU will play host to Samford on Friday at 5 p.m. The game will stream live on ESPN+.

Here's the NCAA bracket

Ticket information is here

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FSU sports information:

The Florida State women’s basketball team (2-1) defeated Florida A&M (0-3) on Monday night at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 93-54.

“I’m really proud of this win today,” FSU head coach Brooke Wyckoff said. “This was a fun, extra special game against our friends across town, Florida A&M. We have a lot of respect for their program, and they came out and played a great basketball game today and they played hard for 40 minutes. I was proud of our team for how they came out and were aggressive and disciplined and executed our game plan. I loved how we got to the free throw line and how we rebounded. Lots of things were great and we have a lot of work to do as well.”

Ta’Niya Latson led all scorers for the third time this season in as many games, contributing 21 points, including 15 from the free throw line. Latson tied her career high in free throws made, tying her program record she shares with Carla Williams and Cierra Brevard.

O’Mariah Gordon added season-high 19 points and a career high six steals.

Five Seminoles scored in double figures for the second time this season. In addition to Latson and Gordon, Carla Viegas shot 4-of-7 from the three-point line, scoring 12 points.

Sydney Bowles and Malea Williams each contributed 10 points.

Makayla Timpson led all rebounders with nine and swatted four blocks.

The Seminoles took an early lead in the first period, going on a 9-0 run to start, stretching the lead 25-12.

In the second, FSU outscored Florida A&M 24-10, holding the Rattlers to shooting 23 percent in the quarter, taking the 49-22 lead at the half.

After scoring 26 points in the third, FSU added 18 in the fourth, winning the game 93-54.

The Seminoles will celebrate Seminoles Heritage against Samford on Thursday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

A MESSAGE FROM FLORIDA STATE ATHLETICS
AND SEMINOLE BOOSTERS

Your steadfast devotion to Seminole Athletics has sustained us through good times and bad. While the 2024 football season has been difficult for all of us, we remain passionately committed to facing our current challenge head-on and setting our sights on a brighter future starting in 2025.

Tough times create tough people. As a supporter of FSU football, you’ve stood by us through thick and thin. Through it all, you have been the most essential element of our prior success, and you remain the vital factor in our rising once again. We remain unconquered.

Resilience has been a consistent hallmark of FSU football. Our program has repeatedly shown it, rising from despair to greatness. While this season has been discouraging, it doesn’t change the proven fact that we have what it takes to rise again—and quickly.

Ours is a proud program forged by our collective passion. It has created standards and expectations that are as valid today as ever because hard-earned achievements have validated them over many decades. Throughout that history, one thing has been constant—your unmatched support of excellence and devotion to our football program.

You made that happen.

From this shared experience, we know that Seminole football will achieve greatness again. Seminole Boosters is unified as never before with our football program, athletics department, and university to ensure that the Seminoles will again be worthy of our championship legacy.

That’s not just an expectation; it’s our standard.

The 2025 season opens against Alabama on August 30, 2025, at Doak Campbell Stadium. As the most crucial factor in our success, we need you there to help our team return to excellence. We invite you to continue to be a part of our wonderful tradition by renewing your support.

FSU sports information:

The No. 19 Florida State women’s basketball team will welcome crosstown foe Florida A&M on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Donald L. Tucker Center to start a four-game home stand.

The Seminoles (1-1), welcome the Rattlers (0-2) for the first time since Dec. 2, 2004. FSU defeated Florida A&M 85-66 to move to 25-8 in the all-time series.

“We’re excited,” FSU head coach Brooke Wyckoff said. “This is a great moment for the community of Tallahassee to have this renewed match-up with these two great programs in town. Women’s basketball is at an all-time high in popularity and with the level of the game. We have two NCAA Division I universities in town, across the street from each other, it’s a great opportunity to get the community involved and excited about women’s basketball.”

The game will air on the ACC Network Extra and the broadcast of the Seminole Sport Network can be found on 96.5 The Spear, Seminoles.com and Sirius XM channel 139 or 193. The contest will serve as military appreciation.

The Last Time Out

The Seminoles to RV Illinois (1-0) on Thursday night at the State Farm Center, 83-74.

Ta’Niya Latson led all scorers with 27 points, matching her total from Monday in the win over North Florida. Latson also had three assists and three steals.

Makayla Timpson, who played in her 100th career game as a Seminole, contributed 22 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. Timpson secured a double-double for the 33rd time in her career, taking over sole possession of second place in Florida State history.

Timpson also tied her career high with 11 field goals made, shooting 61 percent from the floor.

O’Mariah Gordon added 14 points, three assists and two steals.

One of the more anticipated games on Florida State's 2024 schedule has arrived. Unfortunately, the way the Seminoles' season has progressed has made the game lose almost all of its luster.

The Seminoles (1-8, 1-7 in ACC) are on the road for the third time in four weeks Saturday night for a game against No. 10 Notre Dame (7-1) in South Bend, Ind. at Notre Dame Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

FSU enters the game on a five-game losing streak and still hasn't scored more than 16 points since its season-opening loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin. The Irish, on the other hand, enter Saturday's game on a six-game winning streak since their Week 2 home loss to Northern Illinois.

FSU leads the all-time series against Notre Dame 6-5, but has lost the last three games in the series and the last two games at Notre Dame in 2018 and 2020. The Seminoles last won in South Bend in 2003. They are heavily expected not to snap that losing streak Saturday night as 25.5-point underdogs with the over/under set at 43.

There are quite a few Seminoles to monitor with regard to their availability during pregame warmups. I'll be on site in South Bend and in the press box starting around 4:30 p.m. to provide pregame updates on the likes of Maurice Smith, Robert Scott, Kam Davis and others and then live game updates once the game gets underway Saturday night.

On Tuesday's edition of the Osceola's Seminole Sidelines, Patrick Burnham, Mark Salva, Jerry Kutz, Charles Fishbein and Curt Weiler reflect on what Mike Norvell said in his Monday press conference, thoughts on what he is looking for in a coordinator hire and more.

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FSU sports information:

During a week in which he led Florida State to two victories and averaged 23.5 points scored per game, Seminole senior guard Jamir Watkins has been named as the ACC Co-Player of the Week, sharing the award with Nigel Pack of the University of Miami.

It marked the second time he’s earned the ACC Player of the Week award. He also won the award on November 27, 2023.

Watkins scored 30 points – including 17 in the second half – to lead the Seminoles to a 73-65 win over Rice in the first game of the Mattress Firm Battleground 2K24 Tournament at the Toyota Center. He was chosen as the MVP of the Seminoles’ victory over the Owls as he contributed 30-points along with six rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot.

Watkins made seven of 14 field goals and a tied his career-high with 14 free throws as he surpassed the 30-point mark for the second time in his career. He scored his career-high of 34 points against Virginia Tech in the second round of the 2024 ACC Tournament on March 13, 2024.

Watkins was selected as the MVP of Florida State’s game against Rice at the Mattress Firm Battle Ground 2K24 Tournament. It marked the second time in his career, second time as a Seminole, and second time in the last two seasons that Watkins has earned MVP in a regular season tournament or game. Watkins was selected as the MVP as he led the Seminoles to the championship of the 2023 Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Watkins has scored in double figures in 21 consecutive games (every game since January 9, 2024), in 28 of 33 games as a Seminole and in 28 of his last 32 games in a Florida State uniform. He averages 18.3 points per game (384 points) in his last 21 games, 16.0 points per game (561 points) as a Seminole in his last 35 games, and 17.5 points per game (559 points) in his last 32 games in the Garnet and Gold. Watkins’ double-figure scoring streak is the longest by a Seminole since Dwayne Bacon scored in double figures in the first 26 games of the 2016-17 season.

Watkins opened the season with a 17-point, four-rebound, and four-steals performance in the Seminoles’ victory over Northern Kentucky.

Florida State returns home for the first game of a three-game homestand against Tarleton State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Seminoles enter their game against the Texans with a 2-0 record.

The Seminoles’ game against the Texans is Military Appreciation Day – fans can share photos of veterans or those currently serving in the military using #FSUSalutes to be featured on the videoboard throughout the game. The game is also an FSU Kids Club Game Kids Club as members receive free admission. The Kids Zone will be set up in the south concourse area (near section 106) for all kids in attendance to enjoy. Additionally, general admission tickets start at only $5.

Season tickets for Florida State's home games are now on sale for as low as $150. Seminole fans interested in purchasing tickets for all regular season home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center can learn more here, or are encouraged to call the Florida State Ticket Office at 1-888-FSU-NOLE. Non-conference single game tickets are now available for purchase. ACC single game tickets will go on sale to Seminole Booster members on Dec. 2.

There is just over three weeks until the early signing window and with staff changes happening and likely more coming, Mike Norvell had a specific message for his current commit and future Florida State recruits during the time of change.

Story Link: Mike Norvell wants commits and future recruits to be a spark

Playing checkers, when everyone else is playing chess. Do not belong in this league.

From hiring an offensive coordinator who would bring their own offense and call plays to hiring coaches he's less familiar with if they are the right fit, Mike Norvell says everything is on the table as he begins the critical process of hiring his next two FSU coordinators.

Mike Norvell will hold his weekly press conference on Monday at 11:30 a.m. He will be the only coach speaking.

This will be the only interview of the week. Practices will also be closed during the bye week to the media.