Football
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell spoke with local media after practice on Wednesday, a shortened day focused on situational football — he confirmed that Karson Hobbs is out for the season, complimented Ashton Daniels for what he said was one of his best days of camp, spoke on FSU’s tight end room as well as the offensive line and more:
Daniels also met with the media, talking about his development over the course of the camp, how the offense has been shaping up, his confidence and more:
FSU is looking to lock in its depth chart as the season opener vs. New Mexico State approaches — Jordan Silversmith wrote on three positional battles to watch:
Florida State will retire Sebastian Janikowski’s jersey during the game vs. the Aggies:
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No. 4 FSU soccer will begin its national title defense tonight, taking on the Stetson Hatters in the Seminoles’ 2026 season opener:
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, and live stats can be found at Stetson.Statbroadcast.com. Direct links to watch and follow along are available on the schedule page at Seminoles.com/Soccer and on social media on Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUSoccer) & Instagram (@NoleSoccer).
The 2026 season will be the 32nd for the five-time national-champion Seminoles. In head coach Brian Pensky‘s first four seasons, FSU won two NCAA titles, in 2023 and 2025, and also reached the College Cup in 2022, his first season. Along with its two championships, Florida State also leads the country with an .854 win percentage and is second with 70 wins since Pensky arrived in Tallahassee ahead of the 2022 campaign.
FSU went 16-2-4 in 2025 and finished the year on a 10-game unbeaten streak, a stretch that included an 18-3 scoring margin in the last eight games. The Seminoles were 8-1-2 at home, 5-1-2 on the road, 3-0-0 at a neutral site and 5-2-1 against top-25 opponents. Florida State finished fourth in the ACC with a 6-2-2 record.
Four of 11 starters return in 2026, while six of the seven departing starters now play professionally in the NWSL. The incoming class of Seminoles, 16 in total, is ranked No. 1 in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. It’s the third year in a row that FSU has the top-rated class of newcomers. The 16 newest players feature five freshman and 11 transfers.
Florida State begins the 2026 season on a 33-game unbeaten streak in regular-season non-conference games. A 4-0-1 mark in 2025 continued a stretch that started in the middle of the 2019 non-conference season.
The Seminoles have earned several conference and national preseason honors leading into the 2026 season. The recognition began with Preseason All-ACC distinction for junior forward Wrianna Hudson, junior defender Janet Okeke and sophomore midfielder Nyanya Touray.
Four were named Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Players to Watch by the IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches. Hudson, Touray and senior midfielder Ashley Henderson are on the Forwards to Watch list and junior midfielder Sam Erbach is tabbed a Midfielder to Watch.
Top Drawer Soccer bestowed Preseason Best XI honors to three players, with Erbach a First Team midfielder and Hudson and Okeke on the Second Team, forward and defender, respectively. Additionally, Top Drawer Soccer named six to its Preseason Top 100, with Florida State the only team with three in the top 19. Erbach is No. 3 overall, Hudson No. 14 and Okeke No. 19. Henderson is selected No. 50, senior forward Nyah Rose is No. 58 and Touray is No. 80.
Florida State begins the campaign ranked No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason poll, while Top Drawer Soccer has FSU No. 1. The ACC took the top four spots in the national coaches’ rankings. The Seminoles are in the top-10 in the preseason coaches’ poll for the 20th time in the last 21 seasons. The ACC Coaches Poll also tabbed FSU at No. 4.
Florida State is 9-0-0 all-time against Stetson, including 6-0-0 at home and 3-0-0 on the road. Eight of the nine matchups have been FSU shutouts, with a 3-0 win in 1997 to begin the series in Tallahassee and a 7-0 home victory last season. The only goal conceded was in a 2-1 win in 2006 at the Seminole Soccer Complex. The 2025 matchup was the first in the in-state series since 2014, also a 7-0 triumph to originally set the largest margin of victory in the series. In DeLand, the Seminoles own 4-0 wins in 1998 and 1999 and a 3-0 victory in 2009, the last road game before Thursday night.
One year ago, on September 4, 2025, Florida State scored a season-high seven goals, including five in the second half, in a 7-0 victory over Stetson in Tallahassee. Six players scored a goal and six registered an assist in the victory as 23 players appeared in the game, all but two for at least 19 minutes. The Seminoles out-shot the Hatters 26-1, including 21-1 in the second half, and the home side had a 13-1 advantage in shots on target. FSU had all six corner kicks in the match. Nawreen Ahmad scored twice, the first two goals of her career. A complete recap from the win can be found here.
Stetson was 5-14 in 2025 with a 2-3 record in the ASUN. The Hatters were picked to finish seventh in the ASUN Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Fifteen players return from last year with 12 newcomers. Junior forward Stella Comana earned Preseason All-ASUN accolades.
In 24 hours, we defend the 5-star legacy. pic.twitter.com/Vj6BZn1TJQ
— FSU Soccer (@FSUSoccer) August 12, 2026
Sam and Ashley are putting the country on notice. 👀 pic.twitter.com/wQG60WdjPD
— FSU Soccer (@FSUSoccer) August 12, 2026
The Preseason Best XI are Noles.
— FSU Soccer (@FSUSoccer) August 12, 2026
Congrats to Sam, Wrianna and Janet! 👏 pic.twitter.com/BGlHdlRVkQ
All Sports
Bringing our teams and community together through basketball 🏀 @OfficialVyStar | #GoNolespic.twitter.com/uU7uU8rgkm
— FSU Seminoles (@Seminoles) August 12, 2026
👀 What Coach Brooke is seeing 🍢 #NoleFAMpic.twitter.com/WFCxONXotn
— FSU Women's Basketball (@fsuwbb) August 12, 2026
In the lab: Brandon Bass Jr.#NoleFamily | #Connected 🍢 pic.twitter.com/aTZG9oSSnG
— Florida State Men’s Basketball (@FSUHoops) August 12, 2026
On to the Round of 32!
— FSU Golf (@FSUGolf) August 13, 2026
Jack Whaley outlasts Jackson Ormond in 22 holes at the U.S. Amateur ‼️
He will face Bowen Mauss on Thursday at 8:15 AM.#NoleFamily | @USGApic.twitter.com/2KSNhfTBHf
Check out our next Alumni Spotlight Windy Jones🍢
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) August 12, 2026
A reminder that Alumni Weekend will be April 16-18, 2027 pic.twitter.com/zprY3YgaUx