Noles News: FSU early favorite over Clemson, Miami, UF, Georgia Tech and Boston College — but not Notre Dame

Recruiting

Have questions about what’s been going down in the world of Florida State recruiting, be it 2025, 2026 or some other year that makes you realize how old you are? Head to the latest edition of our official recruiting thread:

Florida State Recruiting: Class of 2025 Commitments

QUARTERBACK: 4 star Tramell Jones Jr (FL)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: 5 star Solomon Thomas (FL)

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: 4 star Javion Hilson (FL)

LINEBACKER: 4 star Ethan Pritchard (FL)

Football

A familiar face is headed back to Tallahassee, with Omarion Cooper committing to the Seminoles on Tuesday. As you might remember, the defensive back started his career with FSU before transferring to Colorado:

DraftKings has early lines out for Florida State’s win total, championship odds (ACC and national), odds for making the playoff, Heisman chances for DJ Uiagalelei and spreads for a few matchups:

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech: Florida State -13

• Previous matchup: FSU 41, Georgia Tech 16 (10/29/2022)
• Last 10 Matchups: 6-4 in Florida State’s favor

Florida State vs. Boston College: Florida State -23

• Previous matchup: FSU 31, Boston College 29 (9/16/2023)
• Last 10 Matchups: 9-1 in Florida State’s favor

Florida State vs. Clemson: Florida State -4

• Previous matchup: FSU 31, Clemson 24 (9/23/2023)
• Last 10 Matchups: 3-7 in Clemson’s favor

Florida State vs. Miami: Florida State -1.5

• Previous matchup: FSU 27, Miami 20 (11/11/2023)
• Last 10 Matchups: 6-4 in Florida State’s favor

Florida State vs. Notre Dame: Florida State +3.5

• Previous matchup: Notre Dame 41, FSU 38 (9/5/2021)
• Last 10 Matchups: 5-5 (11/13/1993 – 9/5/2021)

Florida State vs. Florida: Florida State -13.5

• Previous matchup: FSU 24, Florida 15 (11/25/2023)
• Last 10 Matchups: 7-3 in Florida State’s favor

CBS Sports put out its post-spring power rankings for the ACC, with Florida State sitting at No. 1 ahead of Clemson (No. 2), Miami (No. 3) and NC State (No. 4).

Mike Norvell’s use of the transfer portal to roll off 23 wins across the last two seasons makes it easy to give Florida State the benefit of the doubt as the Seminoles welcome in yet another loaded class of instant-impact additions. While DJ Uiagalelei will demand a lot of the attention from that class, we’re more invested in Mavin Jones Jr. and a defense that has a lot to replace but boasts high-level playmakers on the edge and in the secondary.

The full list:

1. Florida State
2. Clemson
3. Miami
4. NC State
5. Virginia Tech
6. Louisville
7. SMU
8. California
9. Georgia Tech
10. Syracuse
11. North Carolina
12. Duke Blue
13. Wake Forest
14. Boston College
15. Pittsburgh
16. Virginia
17. Stanford

Some high praise for new New York Jets quarterback Jordan Travis from Mike Florio and Chris Simms:

“He lingers until round five, gets a chance to kind of take a back seat, no playing this year, get healthy, develop, and they may have a steal, they may have a guy who ends up becoming a great player. We know he was playing pretty damn well at Florida State before he got injured. He could get back on that trajectory. First, he’s got to get healthy, and he’s got a chance to do it because he goes in as, at best, the third option this year, if it even comes to that.”

Baseball

Florida State started slow but pulled off a comeback win vs. Jacksonville on Tuesday, moving to 14-0 on the season against in-state opponents:

Florida State will be happy that their three-game series has expired today with their neighbors down 1-10. After needing ninth-inning heroics in their first matchup and grinding out a 5-3 win the second time, Jacksonville pushed FSU to the limit Tuesday.

Florida State did not have any business winning this game, but timely pitching, impressive defense, and a patient approach at the plate made sure FSU sealed the deal and did not start their road trip on the wrong foot.

Softball

All Sports

Lottie Woad, after shooting a second consecutive score of 67, is in first place in the individual standings after two rounds of the NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship, with FSU women’s golf sitting in fourth:

The top five teams in the regional championship after Wednesday’s third round advance to play in the NCAA Championship Finals at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif. (May 17-22). The Seminoles have advanced out of the regional stage to the championship finals stage in each of the last seven years the tournament has been held.

Arkansas, which took over the team lead from the Seminoles in the first round, held its lead after two rounds of play. The Razorbacks hold a four-stroke lead over Purdue and have a hold a 14 stroke lead over UCLA. The top five teams with one round remaining to be played are Arkansas (-16), Purdue (-12), UCLA (-2), Florida State (-1) and Baylor (+2). Oklahoma is in sixth place (the first team currently out) at +3. Woad is the individual leader with a one stroke lead over Kajal Mistry of Arkansas. Mistry led the individual race after the first round with a career-low score of 66.

Woad carded her second consecutive round of 5 under par golf and is in first place in the individual standings with a 10 under par total of 134. She carded five birdies and the third eagle of her Florida State career during the round. She went under par with a birdie on her second hole of the day and stayed below par for the remainder of the round. Woad carded two birdies on her first six holes and made the turn at 2 strokes under par. She was on fire to begin her back nine with an eagle and two birdies on her first four holes to move to six under. She closed the round with one birdie on her final five holes to finish at 67.

Woad’s consecutive scores of 67 and her two-round total of 134 tied her own personal record as well as the school-record for a 36-hole score. She also began the 2023 Schooner Fall Classic with score of 68-66 for a total of 134.

Woad enters the third and final round of the regional championship looking to become the fourth player in school history to win a regional championship. She would join Beatrice Wallin (first place at the 2022 Tallahassee Regional), Maria Salinas (tied for first place at the 2012 Columbus Regional) and Matilda Castren (tied for first place at the 2016 Shoal Creek Regional) as Florida State’s individual regional champions.

Woad begins play on Wednesday morning with a career stroke average of 70.54 – the best career stroke average in school history. She moved ahead of Seminole All-American Frida Kinhult who finished her career with a 70.60 career stroke average with her 67 in the second round of the Las Vegas Regional championship.

Senior Alice Hodge carded a 2 over par score of 74 and is in a tie for 17th place in the individual standings with a two-round total of 144. Hodge carded one birdie and 12 holes scored at par in the second round. Hodge is looking to earn her second career top-20 NCAA regional finish. She finished in a tie for third place in leading the Seminoles to the team championship at the 2022 Tallahassee Regional championship.

Sophomore Mirabel Ting (3 over par 75) and senior Charlotte Heath (4 over par 76) are in the top 40 of the individual standings with 18 holes left to be played. Ting is in a tie for 35th place and Heath is in a tie for 38th place.

Florida State will play with Baylor and Arizona starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT from hole no. 10 in Wednesday’s final round of play.