On The Bench: An FSU football podcast network

Florida State heads back on the road for a Friday night matchup against Louisville, looking to build on its dominant 38-7 victory over Virginia.

On this episode of On The Bench, Trey Rowland, Chris Nee, John Evans and Kolby Crawford break down the matchup between the Seminoles and Cardinals. The crew examines Louisville's explosive offense, the challenges Jeff Brohm's scheme presents for FSU's defense, and the vulnerabilities in Louisville's struggling secondary.

On the other side of the ball, the guys discuss how Ashton Daniels and Florida State's offense can exploit Louisville's defense, the importance of...

Florida State responded in a major way Saturday, overcoming a slow start before scoring 38 unanswered points in a blowout of Virginia. On this episode of On The Bench, the guys discuss Mike Norvell's comments following the win, whether Saturday's performance can become a turning point for the Seminoles, and what stood out on both sides of the ball.

The discussion dives into FSU's dominant defensive performance, including 10 sacks and major improvement from the linebackers, while also breaking down Ashton Daniels, the Seminoles' playmakers and an efficient offensive attack. The guys then turn their attention to Friday night's r...

Florida State delivered its most complete performance of the season, dominating Virginia for a 38-7 win. The guys break down FSU’s offensive production and the performance of a defensive front that produced 10 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. They also discuss what this win says about Mike Norvell’s team, and the bigger question facing Florida State: can the Seminoles build on this performance on a short week at Louisville?

(0:00) - Intro
(5:05) - FSU Finally Puts Everything Together
(8:12) - Ashton Daniels’ Day & FSU’s Offense
(16:59) - Florida State’s Defense Dominates With 10 Sacks
(21:12) - What Doe...

Florida State is back at home for the second straight weekend for a pivotal matchup against Virginia. The On The Bench crew breaks down Virginia’s veteran offensive line, physical rushing attack and efficient offense, while examining how FSU can create explosive plays and take advantage of opportunities against the Cavaliers’ defense.

The guys discuss the importance of establishing the run with Ousmane Kromah, getting Ashton Daniels involved on the ground, and forcing Virginia out of its preferred game script. They also dive into FSU’s defensive concerns, recruiting ramifications surrounding the program, visitors expected in Tallahassee and ho...

Florida State improved to 2-2 with a 34-7 win over Central Arkansas this past Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. The On The Bench crew breaks down the performance against the Bears, the defense's struggles getting off the field, and which younger players made the most of their opportunities.

The guys turn their attention to Virginia as the Seminoles prepare to begin a critical stretch of ACC play. We break down the Cavaliers' experienced offense, rushing attack, and the matchups that could decide Saturday's game. We also discuss what the upcoming month could mean for Mike Norvell's future and the o...

Florida State improved to 2-2 with a 34-7 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Seminoles gained 417 total yards and allowed 248. Offensively, FSU had 238 passing yards and 179 rushing yards. UCA threw for 138 yards and ran for 110 yards.

Ashton Daniels was 12-18 for 224 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Jayvan Boggs had six catches for 122 yards and one touchdown. Ousmane Kromah ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns on 11 attempts.

The X's and Noles crew provides their instant thoughts on Florida State's win over Central Arkansas.

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This week's second episode of On The Bench features a wide-ranging FSU mailbag. The guys answers questions from the listeners about the latest on Florida State's athletic director search, what a new leadership structure could look like, and how Mike Norvell's future could factor into the process.

The conversation also focuses on Tony White's struggling defense, the possibility of Jimbo Fisher returning, and a rundown of potential head coaching candidates. The group also examine Florida State's roster construction and why the Seminoles continue to have personnel issues. The episode wraps up with a look at Luke Loucks' aggressive...

Florida State fell to 1-2 after a 50-36 loss at Alabama despite jumping out to a strong start and producing its best offensive performance of the season. The On The Bench trio of Chris Nee, John Evans, and Kolby Crawford break down why FSU's defense struggled to slow the Crimson Tide's offense and whether the problems are rooted more in personnel or coaching. 

The discussion also covers encouraging signs from the offense and Sam Singleton's injury. The guys looked ahead at the remaining schedule and close with the latest on recruiting and the athletic director search.

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Florida State suffered its 10th straight road loss in a 50-36 defeat at No. 10 Alabama on Saturday evening.

For FSU, Ashton Daniels finished 17-of-29 for 377 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. He had 13 rushes for seven yards and a pair of touchdowns. Duce Robinson had six receptions on eight targets for 135 yards and a score.

Alabama out-gained FSU, 567-to-471, on the day. Keelon Russell was 23-of-30 for 320 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, while adding three rushes for 56 yards and a score. The Crimson Tide rushed for 247 yards on the day and scored thre...

Florida State returns from the bye week with a massive challenge on the road against No. 10 Alabama. The guys break down how the Crimson Tide have changed since FSU's upset win last season and what Ashton Daniels and the Seminoles' offense must do to have a chance in Tuscaloosa.

Plus, we give our score predictions and examine what Saturday's result could mean for Mike Norvell as pressure continues to build around the program.

(0:00) - Intro
(5:20) - Florida State’s Mindset Entering Tuscaloosa
(10:17) - Ashton Daniels and the Offense
(13:44) - Key Matchups
(24:05) - Break...

Florida State decided to fire Athletic Director Michael Alford on Monday morning, and the On The Bench crew of Chris Nee, Kolby Crawford, and John Evans break down why the move happened and what comes next for FSU. Brendan Sonnone and Zach Blostein also joined the conversation.

The guys discuss the decisions that led Florida State to this point, including roster spending, NIL strategy, the delayed construction of the football front office, and organizational misalignment. They also examine President Richard McCullough’s comments and what they could signal about a more business and revenue-focused approach for FSU’s ne...

Florida State is 1-1 after a frustrating 27-24 loss to SMU. In this episode of On The Bench, Chris Nee, Kolby Crawford, and John Evans take a closer look at what went wrong for the Seminoles. They break down FSU's inability to capitalize on four takeaways, the lack of a consistent passing game with Ashton Daniels, offensive line concerns, defensive breakdowns in the secondary, and a pass rush that has struggled to generate pressure.

The discussion also highlights some early bright spots, including Ousmane Kromah, Samuel Singleton Jr., Ashlynd Barker and the linebacker group, before looking at what the...

Florida State suffered its first loss of the season in a 27-24 defeat to SMU on Monday night in Doak Campbell Stadium. Trey Rowland and Kevin Little, joined by Kolby Crawford mid-episode, break down Florida State's loss to the Mustangs and what it means moving forward.

The Seminoles produced a +4 (technically +3, due to the final play of the game) turnover margin but were unable to overcome Kevin Jennings' 430 passing yards. Jennings threw for a trio of touchdowns as the Mustangs out-gained FSU by 261 yards. SMU produced 585 total yards, averaging 8.7 yards per play. The Seminoles averaged 4.9 yards per...

Florida State turns its attention to SMU for a big Labor Day matchup and its first ACC game of the season. We break down Kevin Jennings and the Mustangs’ high-tempo offense, the key matchups on both sides of the ball, what FSU needs to improve after Week 0, and how the Seminoles can attack SMU’s defense. Plus, we discuss the latest Florida State recruiting news and give our score predictions for Monday’s matchup.

(0:00) - Intro

(3:52) - What SMU Brings Back From 2025

(14:04) - Kevin Jennings & SMU’s Offensive Weapons

(21:24) - How SMU’s Of...

In this episode of On The Bench, Chris Nee, Kolby Crawford, and John Evans break down Florida State's season-opening win over New Mexico State. The Seminoles defeated the Aggies, 34-17, on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium. Some of FSU's strengths were validated, while some question marks became more concerning.

Our trio of analysts provide breakdowns of the offense and defense, one big question moving forward, and a recruiting update from week zero.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X's and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As alwa...

Florida State began the 2026 season with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State. The X's and Noles crew provides an instant breakdown of FSU's season opener against the Aggies. Trey Rowland, Coach AB, and Kevin Little gave their insights on the Seminoles' performance on both sides of the ball and how they look heading into the SMU game next week.

Stay tuned to Noles247 and On The Bench for more breakdown of the win. On Monday, there will be a new episode of the podcast reviewing the game.  

(0:00) - Instant Reaction: FSU Beats New Mexico State<...

Florida State opens the 2026 season against New Mexico State on Saturday night in Doak Campbell Stadium. This episode of On The Bench previews the season opener, including score predictions for the game.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated!

Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

On this episode of On The Bench, Trey Rowland hosts Noles247's annual team draft. To kick off Florida State's first game week of the 2026 season, Chris Nee drafted against the young guns - John Evans & Kolby Crawford - as each filled out a complete starting lineup from the Seminoles' roster.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated!

Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do liv...

The latest episode of On The Bench features Noles247's Recruiting Corner with Chris Nee and Kolby Crawford. Chris and Kolby preview Florida State's upcoming weekend visits, 2029 targets to know, and where the 2027 and 2028 classes currently stand.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X's and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated!

Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our Y...

In this episode of On The Bench, Trey Rowland hosts the full Noles247 staff to preview the 2026 season. With less than two weeks until Florida State's season opener, our roundtable covers Mike Norvell's optimism over Ashton Daniels, areas of confidence/concern, record predictions, and more.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated!

Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you ca...

This episode of On The Bench gives the latest outlook on Florida State in the midst of 'moving week' of preseason camp. The trio of Chris, Kolby, and John recap their latest viewing of practice and discuss each position group individually.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X's and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated!

Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we'r...

Trey Rowland hosts another episode of On The Bench, featuring Chris Nee, Kolby Crawford, and John Evans. In this episode of OTB, the guys get caught up on Florida State's preseason to this point, including a couple of scrimmages and a trip to Jacksonville. The group also discusses some recent conference realignment news.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X's and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated!

Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live...

Chris is joined by John and Kolby to discuss the first few days of preseason practice. The guys talk for over an hour about their takeaways from their first look at the team and the coaches' comments following practices. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our Yo...

This episode of On the Bench discusses storylines heading into fall camp and recaps FSU's preseason media day. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

Day 1 OTB host Brendan Sonnone enters his final few days on the FSU beat. Before transitioning to another role at 247Sports, Sonnone sits down with Trey Rowland to go over some of the most memorable moments from 10 years on the beat.

Chris Nee and Kolby Crawford recap the first day of ACC Kickoff, which included Jim Phillips' annual press conference and availabilities for Mike Norvell and players. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

Chris, Kolby, and Brendan preview ACC Kickoff, which is set for July 15-17 in Charlotte. The guys also break down Noles247's recruiting class grades. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

The countdown of Florida State’s 40 Most Important Players for the 2026 season has concluded. Diving into the yearly exercise is always worthwhile to get a better sense of the roster and how we perceive strengths and weaknesses. This list was highlighted by a crystalizing moment midway through sifting among the candidates as it felt like depth fell off a cliff. It was an interesting experience to discover in real-time. This is what we came up with as Trey Rowland led the charge, Brendan Sonnone set the parameters, and the X’s and Noles fellas sorted the order with Kolby Crawford chim...

This episode of On The Bench covers Florida State's recent run of commitments over the past few days. The episode also covered camps, official visits, and baseball/softball landing transfers from the portal. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

This episode of On The Bench covers Jernard Albright's commitment, more recruiting news from this past weekend, and the current status of softball's Isa Torres. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

This episode of On The Bench covers the latest Florida State recruiting updates from the past weekend. The Seminoles had one commitment and one de-commitment. We also look ahead to June 5th official visits. The episode ends with thoughts on baseball's season ending. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by...

Trey Rowland sits down with Zach Blostein to wish him a happy goodbye in Zach's final episode on On The Bench before he moves into his new role as the state of Florida's regional recruiting analyst.

It's a bittersweet show as the two go over Zach's time at Noles247: From Newberg having to vouch to get an overly-eager Zach onto the staff to the Amarius Mims Stakeout and all the recruiting shenanigans in between.

Brendan Sonnone, Chris Nee, Zach Blostein, and Kolby Crawford are On the Bench to discuss Florida State's latest recruiting updates before official visit season begins.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated!

Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

The newest member of Noles247, Kolby Crawford, joins an OTB hosted by Trey Rowland to explain his journey to the bench.

This episode of On the Bench discusses the latest recruiting developments, news from the ACC's spring meetings, and baseball's comeback win over Miami. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠ and ⁠Spotify⁠. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our ⁠YouTube channel⁠.

This episode of On The Bench discusses the following topics:

- The pipeline to the NFL has never been worse for FSU while current peers are thriving.

- Ashton Daniels' more accurate price tag?

- FSU is struggling to buy goodwill on the recruiting trail entering OV season. 

- Is it a toxic environment between football and the athletic department?

This episode of On The Bench recaps Florida State's final week of spring practice and discusses Mike Norvell's comments on the Seminoles' quarterback decision. The episode also dives into FSU's quarterback recruiting and basketball's recent portal addition. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube ch...

Florida State held its final scrimmage and padded practice of spring camp on Saturday. Mike Norvell called it a 'good third scrimmage for us' after running over 125 plays. This episode of On The Bench recaps the Seminoles' offensive performance throughout the spring, the quarterback room, and how the depth chart currently projects. We also discuss offensive/QB recruiting.

You can subscribe to On The Bench, X's and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated!

Also, you can watch the show on...

This episode of On The Bench discusses Noles247's scoop from FSU's recent spring scrimmage. We also talk about early impressions of Nick Williams and more. You can subscribe to On The Bench, X’s and Noles, and Beyond The Bench on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. As always, five-star reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts are appreciated! Also, you can watch the show on YouTube now. We'll do live streams as well, and you can get notifications on when we're live by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

March Madness is HERE! Join Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander as they pick the winner for EVERY game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. They will take you from Dayton all the way to Indianapolis. Who do the guys have winning it all? Tune in to find out!

(0:00) Intro + Norlander is doin’ more stuff with brackets

(1:00) This is the bracket preview … it’s different from yesterday

(7:00) East Region Picks & Predictions

(24:00) South Region Picks & Predictions

(37:45) West Region Picks & Predictions

(53:00) Midwest Region Picks & Predictions

(1:05:30) Who is the 12...