Florida State’s football team opened the season with a win, but the 34-17 result didn’t come with clean edges. Mike Norvell said as much after the game, and now the Seminoles have shifted straight into SMU week with plenty still to sharpen up.
The latest line reflects that uncertainty. FSU is a 3.5-point underdog against the Mustangs in next Monday’s matchup, with a +134 moneyline and an over/under of 53.5, according to FanDuel.
One of the lingering fan questions entering the year is still in the mix too: 77% of you believe Duce Robinson will break 1000 yards again this season - is that still the case after Saturday?
While football gets the spotlight, Florida State volleyball quietly put together a strong bounce-back weekend after dropping its season opener to BYU. The Seminoles beat VCU and FGCU in back-to-back 3-1 matches, and both wins came with different stars stepping forward.
Against VCU, junior middle blocker Delaney Ewing was the engine. She posted a career- and match-high 14 kills and led all players with 16 points. Freshman outside hitter Sofia Moss added 13 kills, almost doubling her total from her Seminole debut, and sophomore middle blocker Nenu Kpea chipped in 12 kills on a .444 hitting percentage.
The setting duo kept FSU moving, with junior setters Emma Lilo and Callie Keiffer combining for 50 assists. Lilo had 30 after dishing out 23 against No.
24 BYU in Friday’s opener, while Keiffer added 20. Junior libero Maile Chan also had a big defensive night, finishing with a career-high 13 digs.
FSU’s overall numbers were strong: 61 kills, 46 digs, nine total blocks and 10 aces. That ace total was especially notable, marking the first time the Seminoles had reached double digits from the service line since Oct. 26, 2025, against Virginia Tech, when they had 12.
The match itself had plenty of swing. Florida State jumped to a 7-2 lead in the first set and stayed ahead long enough to win it 25-19.
VCU answered in the second, using a late push to take the set by the same score and square the match. The third set turned into a grind, with nine ties and five lead changes before FSU used a 4-1 run to move ahead 21-18 and close it out 25-22.
The fourth was just as tense. The Seminoles fought back from a 15-12 deficit, survived two VCU set points, and finished the Rams off 26-24.
The FGCU match followed a similar script, but this time senior outside hitter Kyleene Filimaua took center stage. She put down a season-high 19 kills, hit .600, and finished with a match-high 21 points. Ewing stayed hot with 13 kills, Moss added 12, and Kpea controlled the net with a career-high 7.0 blocks.
Florida State outblocked FGCU 11-4 and hit .363 as a team with 60 kills and nine aces. Lilo kept rolling too, recording 32 assists for her second straight 30-plus assist outing.
The Seminoles again set the tone early, opening with three straight aces and taking the first set 25-19 after closing on a 10-4 run. FGCU responded in the second set to even the match, but FSU grabbed control in the third with a 6-1 start and never really let go.
The fourth set was the tightest of the day, featuring 17 ties and seven lead changes. Florida State erased a 19-15 deficit, fought off set point, and eventually finished the job when Filimaua delivered her 19th kill and Kpea teamed with junior opposite hitter Johanna Sova for the final block.
Next up for the Seminoles is a trip to Nashville for the LUV Invitational hosted by Lipscomb. Florida State will face No.
15 Kansas on Friday, Sept. 4, at 4 p.m., then play Lipscomb on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with live stats available on Seminoles.com.
In Other News...
Florida State May Have Found Its Next Difference Maker At Running Back
Florida State opened its 2026 season with a performance that should keep the backfield conversation lively, because the Seminoles got a clear lead runner right away. The sophomore running back paced the offense with 115 yards and a touchdown, giving Florida State the kind of early spark that can shape how a season feels before conference play even settles in.
For a team always looking to establish balance, that kind of outing matters beyond the box score. It also puts a spotlight on what comes next, because the Seminoles now have a strong first answer at running back and a chance to see whether one strong opener turns into something more lasting as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Heads Into SMU Week With One Lineup Battle Still Unsettled
Florida State heads into its conference opener still sorting out one of the quiet but important questions on the roster: who will hold down the starting offensive line spots. Mike Norvell said the group remains competitive even though the Seminoles used the same five players in the season opener, a sign that the staff is keeping the door open rather than locking in a permanent five just yet.
Norvell made clear that the evaluation will continue through practice and game action, with performance driving the final call. He pointed to areas that need improvement while also praising the effort of specific players, leaving SMU week as a real test for a line that is still trying to turn consistency into certainty. [Read more 🡒]
Ethan Pritchard Gave FSU An Opening Night Moment Nobody Will Forget
Nearly a year after a devastating August 2025 shooting left Ethan Pritchard fighting for his life, the Florida State freshman linebacker made an unforgettable return to Doak Campbell Stadium. Pritchard, who spent weeks in the ICU and in rehabilitation relearning basic functions, walked onto the field on opening night in a moment that carried far beyond football and gave Seminoles fans a powerful reminder of how much he has already overcome.
Florida State honored Pritchard with the Doc Fauls Rise Above Adversity Award, recognizing the resolve it took to reach this point. Mike Norvell called him a walking miracle and pointed to the mental toughness and faith that helped carry him through the recovery, a journey still unfolding but one that already stands as one of the most moving stories around the program. [Read more 🡒]