As we approach the final days of 2025, it’s a time where we will also reflect on some of the top storylines in Florida State athletics.

We’ve seen a national championship (soccer), a prominent coaching hire (Luke Loucks), success on the diamond in advancing to the Super Regionals (baseball and softball), a stunning win over Alabama (football), an ACC record holder on the track (Micahi Danzy) and individual performances on the course (Luke Clanton, Mirabel Ting and Lottie Woad) that caught national attention.

Yes, there was disappointment. There were performances that fell flat (FSU football after a 3-0 start) and fell short (FSU softball in the seventh inning of the ACC Tournament title game).

There was also a major settlement in the FSU-ACC lawsuit, one which brought resolution to the legal tennis match between the school and the league. Ultimately, FSU spent approximately $5 million in legal fees to learn when it could exit the league and what the penalties would be.

There was also heartbreak. We lost two men in a shooting at FSU’s student union in May: Robert Morales, 57, and Tiru Chabba, 45. Morales worked as the Dining Coordinator at Florida State. Chabba worked for Aramark Services.

And we prayed for the recovery of Ethan Pritchard, an FSU freshman who was shot a day after the Alabama game when he was taking his aunt and a 3-year-old back to their apartment in Havana, Fla. Pritchard returned to FSU’s campus the day before a mid-November game against Virginia Tech. His father, Earl, said Ethan is working with therapists to walk again and plans to attend classes at FSU in January (in person or virtually).

Today we take a look back at five storylines or moments in FSU men’s athletics in 2025. (For the record, we’re just listing five and not ranking them.) And in a few days we’ll take a look back at five storylines or moments in FSU women’s athletics in 2025.

FSU 31, Alabama 17

After a summer of build-up, including Tommy Castellanos’ quotes about Alabama not having Nick Saban to save them and Alabama’s “disrespect will be addressed” comments, the quarterback didn’t back down. The Seminoles played what turned out to be their best game in week 1. For a grand re-opening of renovated Doak Campbell Stadium, it was an incredible day for FSU fans and the program.

FSU ran for 230 yards and four touchdowns — one apiece by Castellanos, Micahi Danzy, Gavin Sawchuk and Caziah Holmes — in a 31-17 win over top-10 Alabama. Earl Little Jr. had nine tackles against his old team as the Seminoles gave up a first-drive touchdown but from there allowed just 266 offensive yards and 10 points.

Nobody could have imagined that Alabama was indeed still good, and that FSU’s start was not nearly as good as it looked. But Aug. 30, 2025, will be remembered as a special day in a new-look Doak.

FSU retains Mike Norvell

There were two statements that sent shockwaves across the FSU community — the first an October decision to have a “comprehensive assessment” of the football program following a loss to Stanford and the second a November move to retain Mike Norvell and “address performance deficiencies in the program.”

Since the second announcement on Nov. 23, FSU has seen general manager Darrick Yray move on to UCLA. Assistant coaches Tony Tokarz, David Johnson and Patrick Surtain have moved on (Surtain posted on Twitter that he was fired, with his contract ending in February 2026).

FSU has yet to announce a GM hire, but it will be a critical one as the program builds for the future (the transfer portal window is open Jan. 2-16). The GM’s impact might not make an immediate impact, but it’s a hire that should help structure the program for the future.

Hoops hires Loucks, Hamilton resigns

March brought a period of coaching transition at FSU as Leonard Hamilton stepped down as coach of the program he had led since 2002. FSU administrators hired Luke Loucks, who played for Hamilton and the Seminoles from 2008-12 and had coaching experience in the NBA for three teams (Phoenix, Golden State and Sacramento).

Loucks hit the ground running in building a roster full of transfers and landed the nation’s No. 9 high school class in November (including 6-foot-11, 328-pound center Marcis Ponder). The Seminoles are off to a 7-6 start after Monday’s win over Jacksonville University, winning a second straight game after facing a tough non-conference schedule (losses to Houston, Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M). Loucks didn’t have much money to assemble this roster compared to ACC blue bloods, and we’ll see how the Seminoles fare in conference games beginning on Dec. 30 at North Carolina.

Alex Lodise walk-off grand slam, cycle vs. Florida

Florida State shortstop Alex Lodise had one of the most unreal nights of any baseball player at any level on March 25 in Jacksonville. Lodise hit for the cycle but pounded the last pitch he saw for a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning of an 8-4 win over Florida. For reference, MLB.com states that no major leaguer in history has had a grand slam as part of a cycle.

Lodise went on to win the Dick Howser Trophy and was named the ACC player of the year, ACC defensive player of the year and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He was among the national leaders in batting average (.394), home runs (17), doubles (18), RBI (68) and had just five errors (.977 fielding percentage). Lodise was drafted by the Atlanta Braves.

FSU fell short of a return trip to Omaha, losing in the Super Regionals at Oregon State, but it was a fun season watching Lodise, Myles Bailey and the pitching staff (led by first-round draft pick Jamie Arnold).

Luke Clanton wins golf’s top honor

FSU junior Luke Clanton won the Ben Hogan Award, which is presented to the nation’s top golfer, in May. Clanton juggled a busy spring schedule while playing college tournaments and pro tournaments.

He earned his PGA Tour card at the Cognizant Classic in March, and Clanton had a 69.11 stroke average in his junior season. On his final competitive round in Tallahassee, Clanton made it back-to-back regional wins and set a course record with a three-round 15-under 201 at the Seminole Legacy course. Clanton is the second FSU golfer to win the Hogan Award (John Pak won in 2021).

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