SMU walks into Tallahassee with the cleaner hand and the louder expectations.
When No. 19 SMU and Florida State close out college football’s Week 1 slate Monday night, the Mustangs will be trying to make a statement in their first full ACC season. The Seminoles, meanwhile, are still trying to get their footing after a 34-17 win over New Mexico State in Week 0 that didn’t do much to calm the noise around the program.
For Florida State, the pressure is already baked in. Mike Norvell is coming off consecutive losing seasons and enters 2026 with plenty to prove, which makes this matchup feel like an early measuring stick.
A win would help. A sharp performance would help more.
Right now, the Seminoles need both.
Their opener left plenty to clean up. Ashton Daniels never really settled in at quarterback, and Florida State had trouble on both lines of scrimmage. The Seminoles also ran into issues on third down and piled up costly penalties, the kind of mistakes that can snowball fast against a top-20 opponent.
There are still pieces to work with. Norvell’s backfield is deep, and Daniels’ mobility gives the offense a wrinkle that could matter against SMU’s rebuilt defense.
But that only goes so far if Florida State can’t play cleaner football. The big question in Tallahassee is whether the Seminoles were holding something back in Week 0 with this game in mind.
SMU brings a much different vibe into the night. The Mustangs are 20-7 over the last two years under Rhett Lashlee and are being talked about as legitimate ACC title contenders. Kevin Jennings is at the center of it all, guiding one of the nation’s most efficient offenses.
That offense isn’t untouched, though. SMU is working in new receivers and adjusting after the departure of defensive coordinator Scott Symons.
The defense also returns only four starters, so there’s some uncertainty there. Still, the Mustangs’ attack tends to cover a lot of ground, and Jennings’ experience and poise give them an edge when the game tightens up late.
That’s why most of the forecast leans toward SMU. Florida State’s defense may have a hard time slowing Jennings, and the Mustangs have already shown they know how to finish. If they control the tempo and avoid mistakes, they’re in position to separate late.
In Other News...
Former Florida State Transfers Are Off To Some Eye-Opening Starts
Opening weekend gave Florida State fans an early look at just how much talent has flowed out through the transfer portal, and plenty of those former Seminoles wasted little time making an impression elsewhere. The review of the first slate of games showed former FSU quarterbacks, defensive backs and other transfers logging meaningful snaps, with Pro Football Focus data helping paint the picture of who settled in quickly and who immediately became part of the action for their new teams.
Quarterback play drew some of the most attention, but it was not just the signal-callers who stood out. Players such as Earl Little Jr. and Joseph also showed up in the defensive numbers, while the report tracked everything from completions and rushing production to tackles and receptions allowed. For Florida State, it is another reminder that the transfer market can reshape rosters in a hurry, and that the Seminoles will keep seeing familiar names pop up on Saturdays as those new situations develop. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Reignited A Recruiting Battle With Florida
Florida State is using a big home game as a recruiting stage, bringing in 2027 athlete Kamarion Johnson for its matchup against SMU as it continues to press for one of the more intriguing names in the next cycle. Johnson, a versatile standout from Clinch County High School in Georgia, has shown he can help in plenty of ways, turning heads on offense, defense and special teams while already carrying a commitment to Florida.
The Seminoles are not backing away from that part of the rivalry, either. Even with Johnson pledged elsewhere, Florida State is still working to stay in the picture and see whether it can chip away at Floridas hold on him, which makes this visit one worth watching as the recruiting battle develops. [Read more 🡒]
Ann Bowdens Birthday Brings Back A Florida State Legacy Fans Cherish
Ann Bowden marked her 94th birthday on Sept. 7, a reminder of how deeply the Bowden family remains woven into Florida State history. As the longtime wife of legendary coach Bobby Bowden, she was part of the fabric of an era that still resonates with Seminole fans, and her move from Tallahassee to Alabama in 2025 brought a quiet shift for a family whose name has long carried special meaning in the programs story.
Even after leaving Tallahassee to be closer to family, Ann remains in good health, and her birthday offered another moment for fans to reflect on that legacy. The Bowden family home, sold at auction in March 2026, is now back on the market, with potential negotiations involving Seminole Boosters, Inc., keeping one more piece of that history very much in play. [Read more 🡒]