Adam Gorney mentions a few 2026 prospects, including FSU quarterback commit Brady Smigiel as well as Tristen Keys and Javian Osborne

FSU sports information:

The No. 21 Florida State volleyball team (7-1) showcased its determination and consistency as they defeated the UCF Knights (5-1) in a thrilling four sets (25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17) at home on Sunday afternoon. This victory marked the Seminoles' first win over the Knights since 2020.

The Noles took part in a back and forth battle in the first set, exchanging the lead constantly in the early moments. The Seminoles broke away with a five-point run that put them up 17-14, forcing a UCF timeout. Florida State's momentum didn't settle as they added three unanswered points immediately following the timeout to extend the lead to 20-14. The Seminoles finished the set strong with a 5-2 scoring run with Iane Henke delivering the final two kills to secure the 25-16 win.

The back-and-forth pattern continued throughout the second set. Florida State took an initial 2-0 lead, but UCF quickly responded with its own four-point run. The lead once again didn't stay with either team for too long until the Noles finally pulled away with a quick 3-0 run thanks to back-to-back aces from Kenna Phelan to make it 18-15. UCF cut it to 20-18, but the Noles scored five out of the final seven points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Knights found their pace in the third set, establishing an early lead of 8-4. Despite being down 17-10 at one point, the Seminoles kept fighting and managed to close the gap and got within one at 23-22, but UCF rallied to force a fourth set.

Florida State jumped ahead with an 8-4 lead in set four to stop the Knights' momentum. UCF battled back and to cut the lead to one at 13-12, but FSU used a 5-0 run to take a commanding 18-13 lead. The Seminoles went on to take the set and the match by a score of 25-17.

Audrey Koenig was outstanding once again for the Noles as she led the way with 15 kills with a .464 hitting percentage. Koenig has now recorded 10 or more kills in her last five games. Koenig also recorded a career-high five aces for FSU. Taylor Head picked up her second consecutive double digit kill match with 11 kills. Florida State dominated in blocks with 13 total compared to UCF's six. Khori Louis had seven and Kelsey Perry and Henke both had five. FSU also dominated behind the service line as they recorded 13 total aces compared to just five from UCF.

The Noles will take center stage on Tuesday night as they will face the No. 13 Florida Gators on ESPN at 7 p.m. in Gainesville.

Meet the first five-stars

Initial 2027 top 100

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FSU released its depth chart for the season opener vs. Georgia Tech this afternoon.

QB-DJU is named as the starter over Brock Glenn, followed by Luke Kromenhoek. It may take some time once they get into the season, but I do think Norvell will figure out how to best use DJU's skill set in his offense and be solid. I didn't think any of the QBs had a great camps, so it makes sense to go with the guy who has played more football. There are some questions on the passing game heading into the season and its not all about the WRs. I thought there would be more separation in this battle and think it will be interesting to see how Mike tries to get Glenn some in-season experience. I think it has to be put in meaningful situations during games and just not mopping up at the end of a couple of blowouts.

RB-Norvell for whatever reason list 12 starters on offense with the "extra" position being a second running back slot and we are likely to see some 20, 21 and 22 personnel groupings this season. That being said the running back room looks to be in really good shape. Williams and Toafili are listed as the two starters and would be the first two guys in the rotation in 11 and 12-personnel packages. Lucas is the backup behind Toafili and those two will be used in the slot receiver spot to which may allow for Caziah Holmes, Sam Singleton and Kam Davis to get some reps in the backfield. Either way you stack it up, FSU should be deep at RB. All flashed during camp. I think Lucas could be in line for a really big season with Norvell's ability to be creative and find mismatches.

WR-Benson, Douglas and Brown are listed as the starter with Poiter or Williams behind Benson, Spann behind Douglas and Williamson or McCoy behind Brown. This group is a work in progress and is in need of some serious in-season development. There is potential there and Benson is a guy that has the speed to off the top of the defense and Douglas is a proven commodity in the offense but as a whole this group didn't have a great camp. I think you will see a lot of WR combinations early as they try to find three guys who can carry the load and catch the ball consistently.

TE-Morlock is the clear starter here and anything you can get out of the any of the backups is a plus, Courtney and West or listed as co-backups and Thomas and Williams are not listed on the depth chart. FSU really needs Morlock to stay healthy.

LT-Washington backed up by Simmons. I think Darius has had a great camp and Simmons continues to improve. I do wonder if they would shuffle someone out to LT if Darius where to have to fill in at another spot or miss time.

LG-Leonard has been good as a run blocker. He is a mauler and is tough. Will help the run game but his weakness if pass protection. I think he was a solid take in the portal after watching him in camp. Estes is listed behind him, and he did finish camp strong.

C-Maurice Smith is a fixture here and will be as long as he stays healthy. Otto and Rizy or listed as co-backups to Smith and who plays behind Smith each week will be determined by how they perform in practice.

RG-Jones and Ferguson are listed as co-starters here so there is not much seperation between the two although I thought Jones had the stronger camp. Otto has worked some at guard in camp, so don't be surprised to see him work his way into the rotation here.

RT-Byers and Scott are listed as the co-starters here with Early behind them. I haven't seen anything that says Byers won't be the starter and this is another spot that you could see Otto battle for playing time after practicing at three different positions during camp.

Normally, in recent years I wake up the next morning, the sun has risen, and I can find a silver lining about how it wasn’t so bad.

It doesn’t feel that way today. It was a stunning loss where our expected strengths were weaknesses. We didn’t just play poor enough to keep GT in the game, we played poor enough to lose. Starting with a stinker that you eeek out a win is a lot easier to take than one that starts the season with a loss.

There is lots of blame to go around, but at the end of the day GT knew they were underdogs and knew what they had to do to win. FSU came in expecting to win and just got flat out physically dominated. All game.

Can they right the ship? Maybe.

Could this be a positive to get stunned in game one? Maybe

Is GT this year’s shocker? Hopefully.

It just stunk to watch this defense full of NFL measurables go out there and get dominated all game long.

Here is to hoping this upper cut isn’t a knock out blow, but a shot that puts us down for an 8 count, but ignites a fire for the rest of the fight.

FSU sports information:

Sophomore Carson Brewer finished in a tie for 19th place in the individual standings, and the Florida State Men’s Golf Team finished in sixth place in the season-opening Folds of Honor Collegiate at the American Dunes Golf Club. Playing in his first collegiate event, Brewer totaled scores of 70 in the second and third rounds to finish as the Seminoles’ leading golfer with a 5 over par 218 total.

Alabama, which carded under par team scores in the first and third rounds, earned the team championship with a seven stroke victory over Illinois. The Crimson Tide and the Fighting Illini finished as the only two schools under par in the 15-team field. Dominic Clemson of Alabama won the individual championship with a 1 stroke victory over Tommy Morison of Texas.

Brewer played sensational golf on day three of the championship with four birdies and 16 holes played at par or better. He played his best golf on his front nine with three birdies and a 2 under par score at the turn. Brewer totaled eight birdies during his second and third rounds of play and was a total of five strokes under par during the second and third rounds of play.

Senior Michael Mays earned his fifth carer top-25 finish with a 6 over par total of 219 and a tied for 23rd place finish. He posted rounds of 71 in the first and third rounds. Mays’ score of 71 in the third round included four birdies with two coming on his front nine and two coming on his back nine.

Mays’ tie for 23rd place finish is his best in three career appearances in the Folds of Honor with his 219 total for his three rounds in 2024 earning him his best score and finish in the event. His single round score of 71 in the first and third rounds in 2024 also marked his best sores in nine rounds of play in the event.

Junior Jack Bigham finished in a tie for 26th place with a score of 220, while graduate student Gray Albright finished in a tie for 30th place with a score of 221. Bigham carded a 74 in the final round while Albright totaled a 72 to help the Seminoles to their sixth place finish.

The Seminoles continue their five-match fall schedule at the Olympia Fields Intercollegiate hosted by the University of Illinois, September 20-22, at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois.

Third Annual Folds of Honor Collegiate/Sept. 9-11, 2024

American Dunes Golf Club/Grand Haven, Mich./Par 71

6/15., Florida State, 872

T19., Carson Brewer, 218

T23., Michael Mays, 219

T26., Jack Bigham, 220

T30., Gray Albright, 221

T51., Tyler Weaver, 228

Third Annual Folds of Honor Collegiate/Sept. 9-11, 2024

American Dunes Golf Club/Grand Haven, Mich./Par 71

1.-Alabama, 840

2.- Illinois, 847

3.- Texas, 855

4.- Michigan State, 861

5.- Notre Dame, 858

6.-Florida State, 872

7.- Ohio State, 875

8.- Kansas, 878

9.- Kentucky, 880

10.- Arkansas, 889

11.- Grand Valley State, 892

12.- Navy, 901

13.- Army West Point, 912

14.- Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 924

15.-Air Force, 929

Look slow slow

Looks to be the same as vs BC.

For those interested, the preliminary approval hearing was last night in the House v. NCAA case. This is the class action in which the myriad athletes sued the NCAA for past anti trust violations. The plan was to pay billions in back pay based on some formulas (which sent almost all the money to football, then men and women's bball, then all other sports (I think the last group shares 5%). It also sought to control the system going forward, setting up revenue sharing and new NIL rules. These latter issues are clearly designed to continue breaking the law IMHO.

The judge seemed to have similar concerns. She did NOT approve it and told them to deal with those issues of controlling this in the future. The NCAA lawyers have said they may not be able to make a deal now, and at least one university president has already said the NCAA/schools should just go to trial and hope for the best.

Anyway, for now the case continues on as they try to see how they can set things up that the judge will approve. It looks entirely likely that the deal will have trouble if they want to keep the future stuff in there, and it sounds like that is a key component for the NCAA/schools (which I understand why they want it, but have no idea how they think it's legal).

Much better game day experience with the Chiefs EXCEPT the Memphis band kept playing over us! And they announced from the press box for the Chiefs stop playing to the snap when Memphis was on offense. Hello---tell the other band the same thing!

Whether you find it intriguing or funny, post it here. I'll start.

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This is one of my favorite interviews in a while. Hope you enjoy this 1-on-1 with Lamarcus Joyner, who took the time to speak reflectively on his FSU career and very candidly about the mindset of a football player:

Lamarcus Joyner is thankful and honored to be recognized on Friday night as one of the newest members of Florida State’s athletics hall of fame. Joyner played a number of defensive back spots from 2009-13 at FSU, committing to his dream school in the days after the coaching transition from Bobby Bowden to Jimbo Fisher and staying in school to help the Seminoles claim a third national title.

Now retired after nine years in the NFL with the Rams, Raiders and Jets from 2014-22, Joyner is back home in South Florida. He’s the father of five, with a sixth on the way, and is a coach and mentor to football players at all levels. He has a packed schedule on Friday, in part meeting current Seminoles as well as familiar faces like Jerry Latimer, FSU’s longtime director of athletic rehabilitation, and Bruce Warwick, who he knew going back to their days with the Rams, among others who work in and around the Moore Athletic Center.

Florida State’s 2024 class includes Joyner and receiver Anquan Boldin, baseball All-American Ryan Barthelemy, All-American softball pitcher Casey Hunter, NCAA hurdles champion Phillip Riley, tennis great Katie Rybakova and former FSU track athlete and long-time Florida State athletics administrator Bernie Waxman. They will be honored in a ceremony this evening at the University Center Club.

“I don't do well with accolades because that's not really even really why I played the game,” Joyner told the Osceola on Thursday night. “I'm thankful when I do receive it, but I'm more so just there to watch the game (Saturday) and just feel the majesty of being on campus again, being around that atmosphere, that environment. I'm there to just see the younger guys and see what they got, up close and personal.”

Below is Joyner's interview with the Osceola on his FSU career and what his message would be to current Seminoles.

FSU's first true road game of the season next weekend at SMU will be played at 8 p.m., the ACC announced today.