Here's what's happening:
— Orchrd (@OrchrdSports) September 24, 2026
The CFP has a set revenue-sharing program.
They're paying out HUGE amounts to SEC and BIG10.
Why?
They get the most viewers.
Why would ESPN want more SEC schools in the playoffs?
More views. More money.
It's not about football. pic.twitter.com/MXiBWEtWsu
Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) have finalized core agreements establishing the long-term framework for @FSU_Health, an integrated academic health system focused on improving health and expanding access to advanced care and research across North… pic.twitter.com/7fDeCVu0f0
— Florida State University (@FloridaState) September 30, 2026
Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) have finalized core agreements establishing the long-term framework for FSU Health, an integrated academic health system focused on improving health and expanding access to advanced care and research across North Florida and beyond.
These agreements include lease and operating agreements and other definitive legal documents, including an academic and clinical framework supporting the partnership at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and the future FSU Health hospital in Panama City Beach.
“Today marks a defining step forward in our shared vision to build an academic health system that will serve our community and our state for generations to come,” FSU President Richard McCullough said. “Through FSU Health, with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital as its clinical anchor, Florida State University is bringing together the people, expertise and resources needed to improve lives, expand access to advanced care and create new opportunities for medical education and research across North Florida and beyond.”
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Inc. will serve as a cornerstone of FSU Health, bringing trusted expertise in community-based care, an extensive network of physicians and advanced practice providers, and leading specialty and advanced-care services.
“For nearly 80 years, TMH has grown alongside this community, always looking for new ways to bring better care closer to home,” said Mark O’Bryant, chief executive officer of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. “Our work with FSU, including the academic medical center strategy we developed together in 2021, has created an opportunity to build on that legacy in ways we could not achieve alone. Our patients, physicians, advanced practice providers and colleagues can expect the same commitment to exceptional, compassionate care, strengthened by new opportunities to advance medicine, educate future healthcare professionals and bring more specialized care and innovation closer to home.”
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Inc. will continue managing day-to-day operations under the FSU Health brand at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, the future Panama City Beach hospital, TMH’s other clinical care locations and its employed physician network, TMH Physician Partners. Patients will continue receiving care from their established physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and team members, while benefiting from the added strengths and capabilities of a Top 25 public research university.
The agreements build on an academic health center strategic alignment plan that started in 2021 and the transfer of city-owned hospital assets to FSU earlier this year and establish the long-term governance, operational and academic framework supporting the continued growth of FSU Health across North Florida and the Panhandle. They also preserve TMH’s existing charity care policy at both hospitals and establish a new governance structure that gives FSU the ability to nominate candidates for boards in Tallahassee and Panama City Beach.
As the region’s only academic health system, FSU Health will connect patients with leading physicians, advanced treatments, clinical research and specialized services while training the next generation of healthcare professionals. Future plans for FSU Health in Tallahassee include developing new graduate medical education programs in high-demand specialties such as trauma surgery, minimally invasive and bariatric surgery and pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Patients and the community can learn more about the partnership at TMH.ORG/FSUHealth
Current 📺 viewership among ACC schools after Week 4:
— Danny Neckel (@DNeckel19) September 30, 2026
FSU: 13.19M
Clemson: 10.78M
UNC: 8.64M
Louisville: 7.14M
GT: 6.56M
SMU: 5.49M
Miami: 5.02M
NC St: 4.00M
Wake: 3.79M
UVA: 3.50M
Stanford: 3.24M
Cal: 2.68M
Pitt: 2.55M
BC: 1.99M
Syracuse: 1.50M
VT: 0.99M
Duke: 0.87M
Alabama vs South Carolina got 2.9 million views. FSU vs Alabama had 9 million. But yeah it’s all Alabama fans https://t.co/sYUL9hO3He
— Stephen (@rangernole5) September 30, 2026
Current 📺 viewership among ACC schools after Week 3:
— Danny Neckel (@DNeckel19) September 22, 2026
FSU: 13.04M
Clemson: 9.49M
UNC: 8.64M
Louisville: 6.12M
GT: 5.68M
SMU: 5.34M
Miami: 4.47M
NC St: 3.76M
UVA: 3.35M
Wake: 2.77M
Pitt: 2.55M
Stanford: 2.36M
BC: 1.84M
Syracuse: 1.50M
Cal: 1.39M
Duke: 0.87M
VT: 0.84M
Week 3 belonged to @ESPNCFB 🏈
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 22, 2026
✅ Top 5 most-watched games
✅ Won every Saturday window
✅ @LSUfootball-@OleMissFB (10.9M viewers) topped all nets, outperforming the nearest competitor by 237%
✅ 66% of total viewing share pic.twitter.com/OjLG8DFUtK
Current 📺 viewership among ACC schools after Week 2:
— Danny Neckel (@DNeckel19) September 16, 2026
FSU: 6.03M
Clemson: 5.90M
GT: 5.53M
UNC: 5.05M
Louisville: 4.84M
SMU: 4.07M
NC St: 3.36M
UVA: 3.20M
Miami: 2.18M
Stanford: 2.18M
BC: 1.84M
Pitt: 1.35M
Cal: 1.23M
Duke: 0.64M
VT: 0.52M
Wake: 0.43M
Syracuse: 0.30M
Your final Week 1 TV ratings, per Nielsen:
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 10, 2026
ND-Wis. (NBC): 8.1M
LSU-Clemson (ABC): 5.8M
Wash-Wash St (NBC): 5.1M
Oregon-Boise St (CBS): 4.8M
Lou-Ole Miss (ABC): 4.7M
Baylor-Auburn (ABC): 4.2M
Mich-WMU (NBC): 4.1M
FSU-SMU (ESPN): 4.1M
Sunday doubleheader paid off big for NBC.
*Remember that FSU was the only one of this bunch that was on ESPN cable/streaming only… and the game was on a return to work night and 1 hour 1/2 late. The game went to 1:00am-ish. All the others were on OTA networks.
Your final Week 1 TV ratings, per Nielsen:
ND-Wis. (NBC): 8.1M
LSU-Clemson (ABC): 5.8M
Wash-Wash St (NBC): 5.1M
Oregon-Boise St (CBS): 4.8M
Lou-Ole Miss (ABC): 4.7M
Baylor-Auburn (ABC): 4.2M
Mich-WMU (NBC): 4.1M
FSU-SMU (ESPN): 4.1M
📈📈📈 pic.twitter.com/UkMeYI7upu
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) September 2, 2026
Florida State’s season-opening win over New Mexico State did more than put the Seminoles at 1-0, it also delivered a record audience for The CW.
The Week 0 matchup averaged 1.96 million viewers in primetime, making it the most-watched sports broadcast in The CW’s history, according to Nielsen Panel + Big Data figures released by Nexstar Media Group on Wednesday.
Viewership peaked at 2.4 million between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. ET as Florida State pulled away for a 34-17 victory at Doak Campbell Stadium. The broadcast also drew 718,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demographic, another network record for a sports event.
The game’s performance extended beyond The CW’s own benchmarks. According to Nexstar, Florida State-New Mexico State was the second-strongest primetime broadcast of the night among Adults 25-54, outperforming every primetime program on ABC, CBS and NBC in that demographic.
Updated Week 0/1 CFB TV Viewers in West
— SuperWest Sports (@SuperWestSports) September 11, 2026
5.50M—WSU-Washington (NBC)
4.83M—Boise St-Oregon (CBS)
3.73M—Colorado-Ga Tech (ESPN)
1.98M—Miami-Stanford (ESPN)
1.96M—NMSU at FSU (CW)
1.86M—SJSU at USC (NBC)
1.69M—Ore St-Houston (ESPN)
1.65M—Memphis-UNLV (FOX)
1.32M—Fresno St-USC (FOX)…
Nielsen measured viewership for the B12 & ACC during the 2025 season
/A necessary sacrifice: Saying goodbye to FSU campus residence halls
Rejoice, parking spot chasers! A new parking garage is coming to the FSU campus in Summer 2027 through the Northwest Campus project.
The Northwest Housing & Dining project refers to FSU's plans to modernize the Northwest side of campus by replacing Rogers, McCollum, and Salley halls and, in their place, building a 10-story, 1,200-bed residence hall, a 765-seat dining hall, and a 930-space parking garage.
The new housing and dining facilities are estimated to open in Summer 2028, and the new parking garage is set to open in Summer 2027. That means next Fall semester, hopefully, there won't be as much trouble finding parking on campus.
Rejoice, parking spot chasers! A new parking garage is coming to the FSU campus in Summer 2027 through the Northwest Campus project.
The Northwest Housing & Dining project refers to FSU's plans to modernize the Northwest side of campus by replacing Rogers, McCollum, and Salley halls and, in their place, building a 10-story, 1,200-bed residence hall, a 765-seat dining hall, and a 930-space parking garage.
The new housing and dining facilities are estimated to open in Summer 2028, and the new parking garage is set to open in Summer 2027. That means next Fall semester, hopefully, there won't be as much trouble finding parking on campus.
During the FSU Board of Trustees meeting on Aug. 28, FSU announced that it has “the funding secured” for the estimated $365 million project. This makes the Northwest Expansion the most expensive ongoing project FSU has undertaken since the Doak Campbell Stadium renovations in 2025, which totaled $265 million. It also overshadows the 2026 construction of the Herbert Wertheim Center for Business Excellence, which cost $65 million and was received as a donation.
The last time FSU opened a newly constructed housing facility and dining hall was in 2017 with the opening of 1851 and Azalea & Magnolia Halls. The last parking complex constructed and opened was Pensacola Street Garage in 2012, and every FSU student with a car knows just how evident that lack of new parking projects is.
Over the years, these dorms have been monumental institutions of FSU’s campus and have housed tens of thousands of students since their creation.
The destruction and closure of these buildings will mean saying goodbye to a large part of FSU’s history. Roger’s Hall was first opened in 1965, originally to house married students, and was later opened to undergraduates.
McCollum Hall was originally known as "Hall X" when it was first built in 1975 and has received renovations from 2005 to 2011.
The infamous Salley Hall was constructed in 1964 and originally housed the football team. It was also the first dorm to become co-ed, and its latest renovation was completed in 2000. Today, Salley is known for not necessarily being the top choice for dorms, but those who stay there freshman year tend to leave with interesting stories and the title “Salley Survivor."
It is certainly sad to see these notable pieces of FSU go, and some would say renovating these dorms would be the best step to continue the legacy of these complexes instead of building a new housing facility.
This new construction is set to offer roughly 250 more beds than the 950 beds offered by McCullom, Rogers, and Salley combined. This increase in housing will allow more students to live on campus in brand-new facilities. Not to mention, the inclusion of a new dining hall and parking garage is undoubtedly great for students.
FSU launches School of Design amid program expansion
Florida State University kicked off the fall semester with the launch of a new academic unit for some of its creative and detail-oriented students – the School of Design.
As someone passionate about the world of design, 21-year-old Dallas, Texas native and FSU senior India Skipper is one of nearly 200 students in the school who are stepping into the new era with the university.
FSU’s College of Fine Arts launched the new School of Design for the 2026-27 academic year that began last month, which comes after the college's design program has been around for over 50 years. It is housed in the William Johnston Building on campus, which is located near Landis Green.
While a new bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary design was recently launched at FSU, a graduate certificate in graphic design was created last year. Although the number of students enrolled int the new undergraduate major is unclear, approximately 192 students are currently enrolled in FSU's design programs, according to a College of Fine Arts spokesperson.
Besides the latest offerings, the new school also consists of bachelor's and master's degrees in interior design. Current students in FSU's design programs are not affected by the new transition, according to the university.
While interior designing is not a profession in high demand compared to jobs in fields with shortages – such as healthcare – the employment of interior designers is projected to grow by 3% in the next few years, which is an average job growth percentage, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median pay is about $67,000 a year.
Potential job offerings for design students include being a commercial designer in an interior design firm or architectural firm, a residential designer, a design project manager, a facilities planner, a design marketing specialist and a creative director.
In addition, FSU's decision for the new school designation comes as the university's interior design program is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation for both undergraduate and graduate education by Niche, a publication that analyzes dozens of public data sets for its college and graduate school rankings.
National rankings highlight FSU’s strength in student success, academic quality
Florida State University is reaffirming its position as one of the nation’s premier public universities, earning strong rankings from U.S. News & World Report, TIME and Niche.
FSU placed highly in each of the three publications’ latest rankings, released over the past month.
“Rankings may change from year to year or vary by publication, but Florida State’s commitment to excellence is constant,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “Our university continues to break records year after year and reach new heights in student success, academic quality, and research funding and expenditures. That momentum reflects the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff and students, and it gives us tremendous confidence in Florida State’s future. We are clearly one of America’s top public universities.”
On Tuesday, U.S. News & World Report released its “Best Colleges 2027” guidebook, ranking Florida State among the nation’s top 25 public universities for the eighth consecutive year. FSU placed No. 24 among public universities.
In the latest report by U.S. News, Florida State climbed to No. 5 among all public universities nationally for First-Year Experiences, a reflection of its 97% first-year retention rate. FSU also excelled among all public institutions in several new categories, ranking No. 7 for Best Value for In-State Students, No. 7 for Study Abroad and No. 13 for Most Innovative Schools.
Earlier this fall, Niche ranked Florida State No. 12 among national public universities, using verifiable data from the U.S. Department of Education along with reviews and ratings from current students, alumni and parents. Niche also ranked FSU No. 46 on its list of 2027 Best Research Universities in America, improving four spots from last year.
Last month, FSU ranked No. 17 among public universities in TIME’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges list, which emphasizes student outcomes and the value of a college education.
The strong rankings reflect the momentum Florida State has built in key measures of student success. Most recently, the university achieved a record four-year graduation rate of 82%, the highest in State University System history and four percentage points above last year’s record. FSU’s Office of Institutional Research projects the new rate would place the university in a tie with the University of Michigan at No. 7 among public universities nationally.
Along with its record four-year graduation rate, FSU maintained its record six-year graduation rate and achieved a new milestone for transfer-student success, setting a record graduation rate for students from the Florida College System.
Demand for a Florida State education continues to reach new heights. Nearly 97,000 students applied for admission for fall 2026, representing a 233% increase over the past decade. The university welcomed approximately 6,000 freshmen from one of the most competitive applicant pools in its history. The admitted class boasts an average high school GPA of 4.5, average SAT and ACT scores of 1430 and 32, respectively, and 92% graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes. Twenty-five percent are first-generation college students.
“Students choose Florida State because of the quality of our academic programs and the opportunities available to them here,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “They stay and graduate because of the experience they have once they arrive. We have built a culture that combines academic excellence with strong student support, helping more students achieve their goals and earn their degrees on time.”
This year, U.S. News revised its methodology and removed student debt from its formula. Student affordability remains a top priority for FSU, which ranks among the nation’s best public research universities for graduating students with little or no debt.
Under the new calculation, FSU’s ranking among national public universities dropped three spots despite gains across all previously measured metrics, including first-year retention rate, six-year graduation rate and the six-year Pell recipient graduation rate.
“Our responsibility is not to chase rankings but to create one of the nation’s best educational experiences,” McCullough said. “That means continuing to invest in outstanding faculty, innovative academic programs and the resources that help students succeed from enrollment through graduation. If we remain focused on those goals, the results will follow.”
FSU ranked No. 36 among all undergraduate business programs at public schools in U.S. News’ 2027 Best Colleges rankings. The Herbert Wertheim College of Business’ Dr. William T. Hold/The Alliance’s Program in Risk Management and Insurance ranked No. 3 among the nation’s top public and private RMI programs.
The Wertheim College’s Real Estate Program moved up three spots to No. 3 among public universities and No. 6 overall, with the Dr. Persis E. Rockwood School of Marketing maintaining its No. 18 spot among public universities.
“These high marks reflect the transformative education our students receive from an exceptional faculty who, supported by our dedicated staff, alumni and industry partners, inspire students daily to reach their full potential,” said Michael D. Hartline, dean of the Wertheim College of Business. “Our hope is that all Wertheim College students will graduate with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead in their chosen fields and to make a meaningful impact in the global marketplace.”
New this year, U.S. News ranked entrepreneurship programs. The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship’s undergraduate program ranked No. 13 among public universities and No. 39 overall on the publication’s inaugural list.
“The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship is honored to be counted among the nation’s very best undergraduate programs,” said Michael Brady, interim dean of the Moran College. “This achievement reflects the extraordinary talent and drive of the faculty, staff and students who continue to strengthen our entrepreneurial community, and it wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of The Jim Moran Foundation and our devoted alumni.”
FSU Law is No. 1 in Florida for first-time bar passage.
— FSU College of Law (@FSUCollegeofLaw) September 18, 2026
On the July 2026 Florida Bar Exam, 91.8% of FSU Law’s first-time test takers passed — 101 of 110 graduates — the highest rate among Florida law schools.
Read the full story: https://t.co/6B7MFavwqT pic.twitter.com/nQJ240eyoI
ACC schools ranked academically by US News for 2026-27
Using the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 National University Rankings, here’s how all 17 ACC schools stack up academically.
17. University of Louisville
Undergraduate enrollment: 17,086
U.S. News ranking: No. 158
In-state tuition and fees: $13,136
Acceptance rate: 79%
No. 16 Southern Methodist University
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,285
U.S. News ranking: No. 88 (tied)
Tuition and fees: $69,722
Acceptance rate: 63%
No. 15 Syracuse University
Undergraduate enrollment: 15,957
U.S. News ranking: No. 75 (tied)
Tuition and fees: $68,429
Acceptance rate: 46%
No. 14 Clemson University
Undergraduate enrollment: 23,401
U.S. News ranking: No. 86 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $15,554
Acceptance rate: 38%
No. 13 University of Pittsburgh
Undergraduate enrollment: 20,418
U.S. News ranking: No. 69 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $22,736
Acceptance rate: 58%
No. 12 University of Miami
Undergraduate enrollment: 13,250
U.S. News ranking: No. 64 (tied)
Tuition and fees: $65,430
Acceptance rate: 19%
No. 11 North Carolina State University
Undergraduate enrollment: 28,422
U.S. News ranking: No. 64 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $9,028
Acceptance rate: 42%
No. 10 Virginia Tech
Undergraduate enrollment: 31,035
U.S. News ranking: No. 51 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $16,450
Acceptance rate: 55%
No. 9 Florida State University
Undergraduate enrollment: 32,720
U.S. News ranking: No. 51 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $6,517
Acceptance rate: 24%
No. 8 Wake Forest University
Undergraduate enrollment: 5,490
U.S. News ranking: No. 51 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $70,332
Acceptance rate: 22%
No. 7 Boston College
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,654
U.S. News ranking: No. 36 (tied)
Tuition and fees: $73,508
Acceptance rate: 16%
No. 6 Georgia Institute of Technology
Undergraduate enrollment: 20,592
U.S. News ranking: No. 32 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $12,008
Acceptance rate: 14%
No. 5 University of Virginia
Undergraduate enrollment: 17,901
U.S. News ranking: No. 26 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $23,897
Acceptance rate: 17%
No. 4 University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Undergraduate enrollment: 21,075
U.S. News ranking: No. 26 (tied)
In-state tuition and fees: $9,096
Acceptance rate: 15%
No. 3 University of California, Berkeley
Undergraduate enrollment: 33,469
U.S. News ranking: No. 15 (tie)
In-state tuition and fees: $17,721
Acceptance rate: 11%
No. 2 Duke University
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,523
U.S. News ranking: No. 7 (tied)
Cost: $73,172
Acceptance rate: 6%
No. 1 Stanford University
Undergraduate enrollment in fall 2023: 7,904
U.S. News ranking: No. 4 (tied)
Cost: $68,544
Acceptance rate: 4%
Rankings: FSU gets A+ and is nation's top party school
It turns out FSU is an academics and party powerhouse. The school was named as an A+ school and was also ranked the No. 1 party school in America in the publication's latest rankings after coming in second place the last two years,
Far down the list from FSU's top party school ranking is the University of Florida, which was ranked No. 47 in the category. Many individuals shared their reactions to the placements on social media, with some embracing the publication-given reputation while others argued that Florida State is "not just a party school."
Niche's report did not lay out what particular features of FSU earned it the No. 1 spot among party schools, but it comes as FSU is surrounded by a buzzing College Town district that serves as the epicenter of student nightlife and game-day festivities.
"The 2027 Top Party Schools ranking is based on student reviews and nightlife statistics," Niche wrote on its website. "Top party colleges have a vibrant and diverse party scene − they offer fun options both on and off campus and students rate their peers as being fun, friendly and into partying."
Although Niche rankings include social categories such as the best party school or the best college for Greek life – where FSU was also ranked No. 1 – it also ranks institutions among the top public universities in America, where FSU came in 12th place this year compared to No. 11 last year.
Here is where Florida colleges landed in Niche.com's 2027 Party School rankings:
According to Niche.com's rankings, the top 10 schools are:
FSU trustee on President McCullough's goals: 'The higher, the better'
The six university goals that were considered when evaluating McCullough's performance were related to investments in student success, metrics that impact key and national rankings, FSU’s research and entrepreneurial excellence, fundraising efforts, the student athlete experience and the expansion of FSU initiatives.
He was rated "exceeds expectations" by all trustees when it comes to student success, and one of the 2026-27 goals he set out for himself in the category includes reaching a 97% retention rate while the university is currently at 96.2%, according to the Florida Board of Governors' 2026 performance-based funding metrics.
In addition, McCullough highlighted his goal for the university's Foundation to raise $200 million in 2029 after targets to raise $160 million in 2027 and $172 million in 2028. The FSU Foundation raised $154.9 million this year.
