Florida State’s ACC opener arrives Monday night under the lights at Doak Campbell Stadium, where the Seminoles welcome No. 19 SMU in a matchup that doubles as the Mustangs’ season debut.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, with radio coverage available on the Seminole Sports Network and SiriusXM Channel 84. Florida State enters at 1-0 after beating New Mexico State at home last Saturday, while SMU comes in ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 20 in the Coaches Poll.
This is only the second meeting between the programs. The first came in 2024, when Florida State traveled to Dallas for SMU’s first ACC conference game, and the Mustangs won that matchup. Monday also marks SMU’s first game of the season.
The Mustangs’ ranking carries some added context. It’s the second straight year SMU has been ranked in the top 20 in the preseason polls, something the program had not done since the 1984 and 1985 seasons.
Florida State is 4-4 all-time on Labor Day, with wins over No. 9 Miami in 2005, No.
12 Miami in 2006, Pitt in 2013 and No. 11 Ole Miss in 2016.
Mike Norvell is in his seventh season leading the Seminoles and his 11th season overall as a head coach. He is 39-34 at Florida State and 77-49 in his coaching career.
On the other sideline, Rhett Lashlee enters his fifth season at SMU and first as a head coach. Lashlee is 38-16 with the Mustangs, who have gone 14-2 in ACC play since joining the conference in 2024, the most wins by an ACC team during that stretch.
Updates from the game will include pregame observations, announced starters, actual starters, big plays, drive-by-drive notes, injury updates and more.
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 🡒]