SMU overcomes Florida State, power outage: Mustangs survive mistakes after lengthy delay

Florida State decided not to invest heavily at quarterback in the transfer portal, instead adding a value piece in Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels. There was some reason for optimism after Daniels showed some fight in close games against Vanderbilt and Alabama to close the year. But two games into the season, it's clear that Mike Norvell made a terrible mistake. 

Daniels was a total non-factor through the air for Florida State, posting only 125 yards and completing 12 of 23 passes. The final sequence bordered on embarrassing after Daniels threw a ball into the dirt and then threw into triple coverage. His legs were a factor, but not enough to keep the offense moving. 

Last year, Norvell handed the keys to Tommy Castellanos, who was inconsistent during a 5-7 campaign. Now, the Daniels acquisition seems even more likely to waste star receiver Duce Robinson -- and potentially cost Norvell his job once and for all. 

SMU outplayed Florida State for nearly the entire night and quarterback Kevin Jennings was electric. That is, until his old turnover issues started to turn up in the second half. The senior turned the ball over three times, including an interception in the end zone. 

When Jennings is clean, he has a case as one of the most impressive quarterbacks in America. The return of his mobility was significant, and none more than his second touchdown pass to Randy Pittman after directing traffic. Jennings finished with 430 yards and three touchdowns. 

But if Jennings can't clean up the sloppiness, SMU can't seriously contend. All three losses from 2025 came in the final minute of games. It's great that the Mustangs broke through today, but those missed opportunities have defined SMU in these games. 

Florida State's offense was anemic for most of the night, but its saving grace was running back Ousmane Kromah. The former Georgia commit delivered in a huge way with 116 yards and a touchdown on the ground. 

Kromah was wildly impressive behind an offensive line that struggled to keep SMU out of the backfield. He was patient, finding holes and dodging tacklers. When the defense arrived, he broke through contact with ease and kept the chains moving. 

Florida State has a lot of issues, but Kromah looks like a return to the Dalvin Cook or Devonta Freeman level of transcendent running backs in Tallahassee. 

FINAL: SMU 27, Florida State 24

No. 19 SMU survived a sloppy performance against Florida State to escape Tallahassee with a 27-24 victory. The Mustangs kicked a game-winning field goal with 21 seconds remaining to move to 1-0 in ACC play. 

The Mustangs dominated most of the game and seemed positioned to pull away at multiple points. However, silly mistakes proved incredibly costly. Star quarterback Kevin Jennings threw an interception in the end zone to kill a scoring opportunity, and a muffed punt by Yamir Knight led to a touchdown. 

Jennings' second interception came with 6:33 remaining, and then the Mustangs finally took over. Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder sacked Ashton Daniels to force a three-and-out, and then SMU went on a physical drive over 4:35 to burn the clock and go ahead late. 

Florida State had one more chance to tie the game, but Daniels whiffed on one pass, overthrew another and was nearly intercepted on the third. That set up a 75-yard path to the end zone, and Daniels didn't even attempt to pass it. 

Outside of the turnovers, Jennings was highly productive. The senior threw for 430 yards and three touchdowns and added 33 yards on the ground. He found Yannick Smith for a 79-yard touchdown and Jalen Cooper for a 50-yard score. 

Outside of running back Ousmane Kromah, who finished with 120 yards, Florida State's offense was miserable. The Seminoles were outgained 585-330 and went 2-of-15 on third down. 

The game was initially delayed after a power surge in the stadium caused a transformer to burst and a power outage. The game was delayed by 90 minutes and started without access to helmet communications, sideline tablets or scoreboards. 

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings has been unbelievable for most of the night, but his turnover issues have been horrendous. The senior threw a second interception -- third turnover overall -- to end a promising drive. At least this one is deep in Florida State territory, but the defense will have to come up big once again. There's no excuse for the game to be this close when SMU has outplayed Florida State for so much of it. 

4Q: SMU 24, Florida State 24

Florida State has essentially eliminated the passing game from its offense, but the Seminoles caught the defense off guard on its last drive. Daniels ran his first real play action, which set up a 21-yard pass to Micah Danzey. Then, Daniels rolled out and connected with Samuel Singleton Jr. for a pitch-and-catch 39-yard touchdown. 

4Q: SMU 24, Florida State 17

SMU has been awfully sloppy, but they just have a gear that the Seminoles can't hit. This time, it was wide receiver Yannick Smith breaking a tackle and going 79 yards for a game-breaking touchdown. The sequence nearly pushes the Mustangs to 500 yards of offense with most of the fourth quarter left to go. 

End 3Q: SMU 17, Florida State 17

No. 19 SMU is knotted up with Florida State 17-17 after a sloppy season opener in Tallahassee. The Mustangs have outgained the Seminoles by nearly 200 yards and held them to 0-of-10 on third down, but three costly turnovers have kept the game close. 

In the most recent sequence, SMU muffed a punt deep in its own territory. Florida State converted a fourth down to help set up a rushing score from Ashton Daniels. Heisman hopeful quarterback Kevin Jennings has played well with 277 yards and two touchdowns, but an interception in the end zone and an early fumble have kept them off the board. 

Florida State running back Ousmane Kromah has been the only real playmaker to show up on offense for the Seminoles. The sophomore has rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries, including one of their two touchdowns. FSU's defense has started to firm up as the game goes on, forcing an interception and a punt in the second half. 

The game was initially delayed after a power surge in the stadium caused a transformer to burst and a power outage. The game was delayed by 90 minutes and started without access to helmet communications, sideline tablets or scoreboards. 

3Q: SMU 17, Florida State 17

It makes no sense that Florida State is still in this game. They're nearly doubled up in total yardage and are allowing 8.3 yards per play. They've gotten only 65 yards passing from quarterback Ashton Daniels. And yet, somehow, Florida State has tied things up. 

The touchdown run from Ousmane Kromah was set up by a muffed punt by SMU returner Yamir Knight. The Seminoles whiffed on yet another third-down conversion, but Daniels found Desirrio Riles for a fourth-and-2 conversion in the red zone. 

SMU has turned over the ball three times. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Mustangs have to clean things up to keep their conference title hopes alive. 

Florida State's offense and defense still have major issues, but SMU just keeps making mistakes. This time, the Seminoles booted a tricky punt that bounced up the air and was muffed by Yamir Knight and recovered by Florida State. The Seminoles desperately need to take advantage. 

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings has been sensational all night long, but he cost the Mustangs big with an interception in the end zone. Jennings was pressured through the line and panicked, getting rid of the ball off his back foot, where it was easily picked off by Nehemiah Chandler. SMU is obliterating Florida State in nearly every phase, but has not finished drives. This could easily be a three-touchdown game otherwise. 

HALF: No. 19 SMU 17, Florida State 10

No. 19 SMU leads Florida State 17-10 after a back-and-forth first half at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Mustangs got a magical period from Heisman hopeful quarterback Kevin Jennings, who threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns to key the lead. 

Jennings got things started early with a missile to a wide-open Jalen Cooper after a coverage bust for a 50-yard touchdown. Florida State was able to fight back, but Jennings orchestrated another touchdown drive completed by an acrobatic throw into the end zone for another score. 

Florida State has put together a few physical drives to get on the board behind running back Ousmane Kromah. The sophomore rushed for 69 yards, including an impressive 54-yard breakaway to set up a field goal. However, Florida State's line is struggling to hold up against the aggressive Mustangs. 

FSU quarterback Ashton Daniels threw for 52 yards and rushed for 27 with a touchdown in the first half. The Mustangs posted 328 yards of offense in the first half. Cooper and Pittman combined for six catches for 122 yards. 

The game was initially delayed after a power surge in the stadium caused a transformer to burst and a power outage. The game was delayed by 90 minutes, and it started without access to helmet communications, sideline tablets and scoreboards. 

2Q: SMU 17, Florida State 10

Florida State running back Ousmane Kromah has been the best player on the field for the Seminoles, and a 54-yard run helped set up a field goal for the Seminoles. On the next drive, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings put together another masterful drive, but it fell just short in the red zone, leading to another field goal. 

Additionally, coach-to-player communications are now back, and the stadium has clock, down and distance on the scoreboard. Sideline iPads still aren't back yet, but they could be up by halftime. 

2Q: SMU 14, Florida State 7

Florida State is hanging tough against the run, but SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings is tearing them to pieces. The senior has completed 13 of 15 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, and used his mobility to create a wide-open touchdown for tight end Randy Pittman. 

Jennings was limited by a lower-body injury for nearly all of last season, rushing for only 54 yards. While he's comfortable working from the pocket, Jennings' speed gives him a nearly unstoppable dynamic when he's fully healthy. So far, Florida State is feeling the pain. 

SMU seemed to be building momentum down the field, but the Seminoles were able to force a field goal attempt deep in their own territory. After a 38-yard whiff from SMU, the Seminoles have new life. 

End 1Q: SMU 7, Florida State 7

Florida State and No. 19 SMU are knotted up at 7-7 after one of the most unusual starts in college football history. The game was delayed by nearly two hours due to a power outage on the field, but both teams came out aggressive and decisive. 

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings got the fireworks started early by finding wide receiver Jalen Cooper on a blown coverage for a 50-yard touchdown. Jennings has been sensational, completing his first eight passes for 120 yards against a struggling Seminoles secondary. 

However, Florida State responded to the touchdown with a tough, physical 13-play touchdown drive. Quarterback Ashton Daniels took center stage during the sequence, including a 9-yard touchdown run. Nothing has come easily for Florida State, but they've found ways to pick up tough yards in key spots. 

SMU has the ball back and is driving into Florida State territory to start the second quarter. 

Late 1Q: SMU 7, Florida State 7

The Seminoles withstood the early shot from SMU and bounced back in impressive fashion. Florida State ground out a gutsy 13-play, 75-yard drive over 7:37 to tie the game with an 8-yard touchdown run from Ashton Daniels. Florida State converted a tough fourth down and drew a facemask to set up a goal-to-go situation. That's exactly the kind of response Florida State needed. 

1Q: SMU 7, Florida State 0

Following an early fumble, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings didn't need long to turn things around. The senior signal-caller dropped back and found an uncovered Jalen Cooper streaking down the field for an early 50-yard touchdown. Jennings has connected on his first four passes against an overmatched Florida State secondary. 

Start of 1Q: No. 19 SMU 0, Florida State 0

After a delay of 1 hour and 40 minutes, the ball is in the air, and we are playing football. A critical ACC matchup between No. 19 SMU and Florida State is finally underway -- albeit with some limitations as the power continues to return.

Technology will be limited in several areas. There will be no replay review. There will be no headset communications between coaches and players. There will be no PA announcer. There will be no sideline iPads. We're going old school.

As the power slowly returns throughout the game, some of that technology may become available.

Florida State and SMU are set to kick off at 9:15 p.m. ET after a power outage of more than 90 minutes. The staff feels confident that the lights will be online enough by 9 p.m. ET to send players out for warmups. 

While the game will be played, technology will be seriously limited for the matchup. The scoreboards are still not online, so the clock will come exclusively from the field, with no PA announcer. Coach-to-player helmet communications are also offline, and there won't be sideline iPads available. 

But despite the bizarre context, there will be a major ACC football game on Monday. 

Florida State and SMU remain delayed due to a lengthy power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium. A transformer blew on one side of the stadium, casting the field into darkness. 

According to the broadcast, FSU staff have run through several different options without success and are trying what they describe as a "Hail Mary" to get the lights on by 9 p.m. ET. If it doesn't work, the game could be postponed until tomorrow. 

If the lights come back on at 9 p.m., both teams would be granted a 10-minute warm-up period before kickoff. 

The start of the game between Florida State and SMU is delayed due to a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium. Kickoff was slated for a little after 7:30 p.m. ET, but we'll have to wait. 

Players from Florida State and SMU both returned to the locker room to wait out the delay after a conversation between SMU coach Rhett Lashlee and FSU coach Mike Norvell. They're planning for a 10-minute warmup when players get back on the field. 

"They were hoping that they could get things up in about 10, but they haven't," Lashlee told the broadcast. "As soon as they get it up, we'll come out and give a quick 10 to warm up, and then we'll play." 

Lashlee said that they've identified the problem and they believe it will be solved soon. The next official update is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. According to the broadcast, Florida State staff went under the stadium to try to reset the power when a transformer blew. The stadium is dark as the sun sets in Tallahassee. 

The Mustangs have only been in the ACC for two seasons, but they've quickly asserted themselves as a force within the conference. Over the last two seasons, SMU has gone 14-2 in ACC play, and the team is once again a favorite to reach Charlotte for the conference championship game.

Florida State, on the other hand, has been trending in the wrong direction against ACC opponents. Over the last two years, the Seminoles have put together an abysmal 3-13 record in conference play, and the ACC hasn't exactly been a gauntlet in that span. If the Noles are going to get back on track, it has to start with being more competitive in conference games.

Florida State made real progress in 2025, and a return to form is on the table, even despite the poor showing in Week 0. Regardless, SMU will prove to be a brutal matchup for getting back on track. Kevin Jennings will cause trouble for a Seminoles secondary that struggled to get off the field against NMSU, and the Mustangs will better contain Kromah. SMU wins and stays in the ACC title race. Pick: SMU -3

When Florida State plucked Ashton Daniels out of the transfer portal in the offseason, that move didn't exactly garner rave reviews from the college football world. To this point in his career, Daniels has been a journeyman quarterback who makes as many mistakes as splash plays. Will that change at Florida State, the third stop of his college career?

Daniels' debut last weekend left something to be desired. He completed 63.0 percent of his throws for 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 17-point win over New Mexico State. Daniels did rush for 30 yards and a score, and if he can harness that dual-threat ability against SMU, Florida State will have a shot to pull off the mild upset.

With a Heisman Trophy dark horse on the other sideline, the pressure will be on Daniels to raise his game. Can he do that and deliver a big win for a program that desperately needs one?

Florida State earned a late flip in 2025 from blue-chip running back Ousmane Kromah, who picked the 'Noles over Georgia. In his first real start against New Mexico State, Kromah showed major explosiveness in the run game

The sophomore rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on only 14 carries in the 34-17 win over NMSU. The Seminoles didn't use Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner much in the opener, but the combination -- plus the running ability of quarterback Ashton Daniels -- could prove highly valuable.

SMU launched its first Heisman campaign in decades centered around quarterback Kevin Jennings. The fifth-year senior threw for more than 3,600 yards last season and is set to rewrite SMU's record books with a healthy season.

Jennings remains around 80-to-1 odds to win the award, but may be less of a long shot than people think. If he can push towards the 4,000-yard, 40-touchdown mark and win an ACC title, he'll have a chance. A strong statement against Florida State on Monday night will help.

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