Florida State’s Sunday ACC availability report brought a few notable changes ahead of the Seminoles’ matchup with No. 19 SMU, and the biggest one for FSU is another absence on defense.
Senior linebacker Blake Nichelson is now listed as out for the Labor Day game in Tallahassee. He had not appeared on the previous two reports, and he logged three tackles off the bench in Florida State’s win over New Mexico State last weekend. Without Nichelson, the Seminoles will be counting on Chris Jones, Mikai Gbayor, Caleb LaVallee, and Omar Graham Jr. to fill the linebacker spots.
The Seminoles also moved sophomore defensive lineman Darryll Desir from questionable to doubtful. That gives Florida State four players in the doubtful category, with safety K.J. Kirkland, wide receiver Tae'Shaun Gelsey, and tight end Gavin Markey already there.
Florida State had already ruled out safety Karson Hobbs, cornerback Chauncey Kennon, safety Jordan Crutchfield, and wide receiver Devin Carter, and Nichelson has now joined that group.
SMU’s side of the report added two more names to its unavailable list as well. The Mustangs will be without safety Ahmaad Moses and safety Jaden Milliner-Jones.
Moses led SMU in tackles and interceptions, though he is still working back from a serious offseason surgery. Milliner-Jones is a backup cornerback, so the Mustangs’ depth in the defensive backfield takes another hit.
The ACC requires teams to keep updating availability reports up to 72 hours before kickoff, with the final version due two hours before the game. This matchup is the conference opener for both teams, though Florida State already opened its season with a win over New Mexico State, while SMU has not yet played in 2026.
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Quarterback play drew some of the most attention, but it was not just the signal-callers who stood out. Players such as Earl Little Jr. and Joseph also showed up in the defensive numbers, while the report tracked everything from completions and rushing production to tackles and receptions allowed. For Florida State, it is another reminder that the transfer market can reshape rosters in a hurry, and that the Seminoles will keep seeing familiar names pop up on Saturdays as those new situations develop. [Read more 🡒]
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Even after leaving Tallahassee to be closer to family, Ann remains in good health, and her birthday offered another moment for fans to reflect on that legacy. The Bowden family home, sold at auction in March 2026, is now back on the market, with potential negotiations involving Seminole Boosters, Inc., keeping one more piece of that history very much in play. [Read more 🡒]