Recruits React As Florida State Wins First ACC Title In Nine Years Despite Playoff Snub

The Seminoles pulled out a victory in Charlotte with a gritty effort.

Everyone began to count Florida State out when news began to trickle around the country that true freshman Brock Glenn would be starting for the first time in his career. With that being said, the Seminoles accepted the challenge as the defense allowed a season-low 188 yards to push the team to its first ACC Championship since 2014.

RECAP: Florida State's Defense Shuts Down Louisville To Win 2023 ACC Championship

The contest was nationally televised on ABC on a weekend when most teams weren't playing. That meant a lot of eyes were on Florida State as recruits around the country tuned in for the game.

NoleGameday reached out to commits and targets to get their thoughts on the performance. Check out their reactions below.

2026 Four-Star Quarterback Romin Seymour: "I thought the defense played amazing and they won the game the game for FSU."

Four-Star Running Back Kam Davis (FSU commit): "Another statement game to the playoff committee if you ask me. The guys went out fought hard and used the coaching and technique from practice leading into the game. Defense played an amazing game to showcase their physicality and willing to make plays. WE NOT DONE YET!"

2025 Four-Star Running Back Taevion Swint (UCF commit): "Ohhhhhhh yeaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Four-Star Wide Receiver Camdon Frier (FSU commit): "Well deserved. Heck of a season and glad we pulled it out. Go Noles."

2025 Four-Star Wide Receiver Daylyn Upshaw: "Go Noles."

2026 Wide Receiver Javar Bowden: "Big hard-fought win!"

Three-Star Offensive Lineman Jayden Todd (FSU commit): "I am so proud of this team and these coaches! I can’t wait to be a part of such an elite program! Go NOLES!"

2025 Four-Star Offensive Lineman Ziyare Addison: "Don’t count Florida State out. they always going to fight until the very end."

2025 Four-Star Offensive Lineman Max Buchanan: "It’s crazy they didn’t get the bid for the playoffs."

2025 Three-Star Offensive Lineman Mario Nash Jr: "Best DLine in the country! Took guts to win with 3rd string QB. They deserve a CFP invite."

2026 Five-Star Offensive Lineman Maxwell Riley: "I’m just excited for the team and the coaching staff, they went through a lot of adversity and came out as ACC Champs… a testimony to their resilience and grit."

2026 Four-Star Offensive Lineman Micah Smith: "My thoughts are FSU knows how to win. Even tho they struggled at the QB position, coach Atkins, the OC, found different ways the put the ball in the end zone and win the game."

Four-Star Defensive End DD Holmes (FSU commit): "Proud of them!"

Three-Star Defensive End Jordan Boyd (Georgia Tech commit): "It was a well-played defensive game!"

2025 Four-Star Defensive End Jalen Wiggins: "I think that defense played lights out tonight and the offense picked it up the second half to get the win."

2025 Three-Star Defensive End Tylon Lee: "It was a good game and I love the way both sides of the ball dominated no matter what the situation was an got after it each and every play!!!"

2025 Four-Star Defensive Lineman Myron Charles: "Love watching their defense play shut out and they just gonna get better and better as the year goes on looking real promising."

2025 Four-Star Linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale: "LETSSS GO"

2026 Five-Star Linebacker Tyler Atkinson: "I loved seeing the defense get after it!! They played lights out!! I counted 7 sacks and at least 12 or 13 TFLs!!!!"

Five-Star Defensive Back KJ Bolden (FSU commit): "Great team win it doesn’t always have to be pretty. The defense came up big that’s what a great team does find ways to win. CFP bound."

2025 Four-Star Defensive Back JaDon Blair: "Loved how FSU defense completely took over the game despite their offense not clicking like usual but they knew they had to because they had a freshman QB trying to step up in a big role during a big game. Every time I thought the defense might let Louisville score even one time they fought back even harder and I could tell how much that defense loves each other and how they got each other always, love to see FSU’s defense doing that at high levels!! Really up’s the chances of picking a school like that!!"

2026 Five-Star Defensive Back Zechariah Fort: "It was a close game, but the Seminoles were still dominant in the run game, and I think the defense was the highlight of the game, all levels of the defense were dominant from the start to finish."

Three-Star Kicker Jake Weinberg (FSU commit): "13-0. Let's go Noles!"

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