The Florida State Seminoles football team (1-1, 0-1 ACC) fell to the No. 19 SMU Mustangs (1-0, 1-0 ACC) 27-24 in a thrilling season opener on Labor Day night at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Why it matters: This game marked the second meeting between Florida State and SMU, with the Mustangs winning both encounters. The loss puts FSU at a challenging start in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Florida State entered the game as a 3-point underdog against SMU, which was ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
The Seminoles now face an uphill battle as they look to recover in their upcoming games, starting with a road trip to Alabama.
This game was a litmus test for Florida State, highlighting areas needing improvement, particularly in defense and third-down conversions.
Driving the news: The game kicked off at 7:30 p.m. ET after a delay due to power issues, which affected communication devices and the scoreboard. Fans witnessed a back-and-forth battle that kept them on the edge of their seats.
Florida State outgained SMU on the ground, rushing for 199 yards compared to SMU’s 155 yards.
Ousmane Kromah led the Seminoles with a career-high 116 rushing yards and one touchdown, marking him as a standout player.
Ashton Daniels, FSU's fifth-year quarterback, surpassed 5,000 career passing yards during the game with a completion to senior wide receiver Duce Robinson.
State of play: The first half saw SMU take an early lead with a 50-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin Jennings to Jalen Cooper. Florida State responded with a 14-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in an 8-yard touchdown run by Daniels.
By halftime, SMU led 17-10, having outgained Florida State 328-165 in total yards.
FSU struggled on third downs, finishing 0-for-6 in the first half, allowing SMU to convert 5-of-8 attempts.
Defensively, Florida State forced four turnovers, including two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, but failed to capitalize on these opportunities.
The big picture: The game showcased both teams' strengths and weaknesses. Florida State's running game was effective, but inconsistencies in the passing game and defense hampered their efforts.
Kromah became the first Seminole since Trey Benson in 2022 to rush for over 100 yards in consecutive games.
Daniels ended the game with 125 passing yards and one rushing touchdown, but his decision-making was questioned as he struggled to find rhythm.
SMU's Jennings finished with over 400 passing yards and three touchdowns, indicating Florida State's defensive vulnerabilities.
What they're saying: Coaches and players acknowledged the challenges faced during the game, particularly the impact of the power outage.
“The power issues disrupted our communication, but we fought hard throughout the game,” said head coach Mike Norvell.
Kromah noted, “We have to learn from this game and come back stronger. We showed we can compete.”
Daniels added, “We need to execute our plays more effectively, especially on third down.”
By the numbers: The statistics from the game highlight the competitive nature of the matchup.
Florida State rushed for 199 yards, led by Kromah's 116 yards on 22 carries.
SMU's Jennings completed 26 of 36 passes for over 400 yards and three touchdowns.
FSU's defense recorded four turnovers, but the offense failed to convert these into points.
What's next: Florida State enters its bye week before traveling to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on September 19.
The Seminoles will need to address their third-down efficiency and defensive lapses before the challenging road game.
Kickoff for the Alabama game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.
As the Seminoles regroup, fans are hopeful that the team can build on the positives from the game and improve their performance in the coming weeks.