Florida State has the lead at halftime of its season opener, but it’s not the kind of cushion the Seminoles were expected to build.
The No. 31.5 favorites are up 17-7 on New Mexico State after a first half that included a little bit of everything: an early interception, a blown-up touchdown, a quarterback giveaway, and enough uneven play to leave room for concern despite the scoreboard edge.
It started messy. New Mexico State moved the ball on its opening possession before Quindarrius Jones ended it with an endzone interception. Florida State then had to settle for a field goal after a touchdown was erased by a tripping penalty, followed by a false start on Xaiver Chaplin and a sack on Ashton Daniels in a third-and-long spot.
There were still signs of life. Jones’ pick gave FSU an early jolt, and Daniels later hit Micahi Danzy for a 44-yard gain to help keep the offense moving.
Florida State then looked like it was finding a rhythm. The Seminoles forced a New Mexico State punt and answered with a drive highlighted by Samuel Singleton Jr., who turned a screen pass into a 35-yard gain. Three plays later, Daniels shook off a defender and ran it in himself to open the second quarter and give FSU its first touchdown of the 2026 season.
But the Seminoles never fully pulled away. New Mexico State’s passing game found some answers against Florida State’s defense, with multiple completions of 15 yards or more before a 33-yard strike pushed the Aggies deeper into scoring territory. FSU’s offense then stalled on its next trip, going three-and-out for the first time, though the defense quickly returned the favor with a three-and-out of its own.
A promising Florida State drive followed a big completion to Duce Robinson, but it ended when Daniels tried to force a sideline throw to Chase Loftin and was intercepted. The Aggies couldn’t capitalize, as FSU responded with another three-and-out stop.
Then came a break in field position that the Seminoles took full advantage of. A short punt took a lucky bounce, Singleton Jr. helped push the ball into the red zone again, and he finished the drive by hauling in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to make it 17-7.
The numbers reflected a half that was productive but not clean for Florida State. The Seminoles outgained New Mexico State 220-140, held a 144-124 edge through the air, and were much better on the ground with 76 rushing yards to the Aggies’ 16. FSU also went 3-for-3 in the red zone, while New Mexico State never got there.
Still, the Seminoles’ lead only sat at 10 after two quarters, and with a season-opening favorite trying to separate, the second half will tell whether Florida State can finally turn control into a runaway.
In Other News...
Florida State Fans Now Face A Troubling Devin Carter Injury Question
Devin Carter has become the latest Florida State injury storyline to watch, and this one carries more uncertainty than the usual day-to-day practice update. A public Instagram post from his father, Dexter Carter, said the wide receiver has been dealing with fractures to four lumbar transverse processes, and it painted a picture of a player pushing through significant pain while still trying to stay involved. For a Seminoles offense that values depth and continuity, any extended absence at receiver is worth monitoring closely.
Mike Norvell confirmed Carter is currently unavailable because of injury, but stopped short of adding much detail beyond that. The public account has left fans with more questions than answers, especially after the post said the injury worsened when Carter was hit while wearing a no-contact jersey. For now, Florida State is left waiting on the next update, and Carters timeline remains one of the more unsettling unknowns around the program. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Fans Heading To Doak Face A Game Day Traffic Squeeze
Florida States 2026 football opener at Doak Campbell Stadium will arrive with more than the usual first-game buzz, as fans heading to the final Saturday in August will also have to navigate a tightened traffic plan around campus. The Tallahassee Police Department and Florida State University have already laid out parking guidance, recommended routes and adjusted traffic flow for the day, with the SeminoleSafe App set up as a real-time resource for updates before and after kickoff.
The added wrinkle is the calendar, with Florida A&M also scheduled to play at home on the same day, a setup that could stack traffic across the city and make the approach to Doak more crowded than usual. For Seminole fans, that means leaving extra time, paying close attention to the universitys guidance and expecting a busier-than-normal game day even before the seasons first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Daniels Rumor Puts Florida State's Week 0 Commitment In Focus
As Florida State turns the page toward its season opener, the quarterback picture has settled in a way that leaves little room for interpretation. Ashton Daniels was named the starter in the spring and held that spot through fall camp, and the Seminoles official depth chart made it clear he is still in line to open the year under center.
Still, the chatter around Daniels surfaced enough for David Pollack to ask about it publicly, which says something about how closely people are watching the Seminoles first real decision point of the season. For Florida State, the important part is that the rumor never turned into a camp battle, and the Week 0 commitment appears to be exactly what the staff said it was all along. [Read more 🡒]