Florida State’s weekend was about more than just a 34-17 win over New Mexico State. The Seminoles opened 1-0 on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium, and while the football chatter has dominated Tallahassee since Week 0, other FSU programs are already moving into view as the fall schedule gets rolling.
One of the more unusual honors of the opening weekend went to Samuel Singleton Jr. The running back, who was RB3 in a crowded backfield last season, stayed in Tallahassee instead of entering the portal and now looks positioned for a much larger role in the 2026 FSU offense. He backed that up against New Mexico State with nine carries for 42 yards and a touchdown, plus four catches for a team-high 54 yards and another score.
That all added up to Singleton being named the ACC Receiver of the Week for Week 0, a rare label for a running back. The limited Week 0 slate helped, but it was still enough to stand out across a conference slate that included Stanford, UNC, Virginia, and NC State. After catching just one pass for 16 yards a year ago, Singleton appears set to be a real part of the screen game with transfer quarterback Ashton Daniels.
The coordinators also met with the media on Monday for the first time since the opener, and both Tim Harris Jr. and Tony White tried to frame the performance in a positive light. Harris was asked about Daniels, whose interception revived long-running concerns about his ball security, and said the quarterback needs to “continue to take steps and grow within the offense,” while also noting that Daniels showed good timing when the offense asked for it.
Harris also pointed to the offensive line, which is breaking in five new starters, and chose to emphasize the early signs rather than the rough edges. “For a first game, I thought they did a really solid job,” he said.
White took a similar approach with his defense. Even with coverage busts on the back end and inconsistent pressure on New Mexico State quarterback Trey Hedden, he still found encouraging moments. “When I got a chance to watch, there’s a ton of good things,” White said.
That upbeat tone sounded a lot like damage control after a messy opener, but it was the message both coordinators delivered as Florida State turns toward Monday night, when SMU comes to town.
Elsewhere in the athletic department, Florida State women’s volleyball moved to 2-1 with a 3-1 win over FGCU on Sunday to finish the FGCU Invitational. The Seminoles opened the weekend with a 3-2 loss to No. 24 BYU on Friday, then bounced back with a 3-1 win over VCU on Saturday before taking care of the Eagles by the same score.
Kyleene Filimaua led the way against FGCU with a season-high 19 kills while hitting .600. Delaney Ewing, who had a strong outing against VCU, added 13 kills.
The Noels now head to Nashville for the LUV Invitational, where they’ll face No. 16 Kansas on Friday.
Florida State also has a packed tennis calendar ahead. According to Seminoles.com, the program’s upcoming schedule includes the ITA All-American Championship from September 20-24 in Tulsa, the Bedford Cup from October 2-4 in Orlando, ITA Regionals from October 14-19 in Atlanta, ITA Sectionals from November 5-8 in Tallahassee, and the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championship from November 17-22 in Athens, Ga.
Last fall, Erik Schiessl and Luis Felipe Miguel represented Florida State at the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships. Schiessl transferred to Baylor this offseason, while Felipe Miguel is now a professional on the ATP Tour.
On the golf side, Florida State women’s golf opens next week at the Folds of Honor in Grand Haven, Michigan, an event co-hosted by Michigan State and FSU. The Seminoles enter the season ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll and bring two preseason All-Americans with them: junior Sophia Fullbrook and freshman Louise Landgraf.
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 🡒]