Florida State is back in the spotlight on Monday night, and this one already feels bigger than a normal Week 1 ACC game.
The Seminoles opened their 2026 season with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State in Week 0, a result that got them to 1-0 but didn’t exactly erase the questions hanging over the program. Now they welcome No. 19 SMU to Doak Campbell Stadium as conference play begins, and Florida State will do it as a home underdog.
That matters because the margin for error around Mike Norvell is razor thin. Over the last two seasons, Florida State has won only three ACC games total, and a loss here - even against the second-highest-ranked team in the league - would only crank up the pressure. A win would quiet things down fast and give the Seminoles a real chance to build momentum after two rough years.
The timing adds another layer. FSU already got its rust off in Week 0, and those extra days off should help cancel out SMU’s rest advantage. Still, the Mustangs come in with film on Florida State’s new-look offense, including transfer quarterback Ashton Daniels and Norvell back on the headset as the play-caller.
Florida State also has its own familiarity advantage, at least in one spot. The Seminoles know the Rhett Lashlee-Kevin Jennings pairing from a 2024 blowout in Dallas, even if there’s no film on this season’s version of SMU yet.
And the schedule doesn’t get any kinder after this. No. 13 Alabama is waiting in Week 3, with a bye in Week 2 setting up that next test.
Florida State injury report:
- Karson Hobbs, DB: OUT (knee)
- Devin Carter, WR: Doubtful (back)
- Chuck Kennon, DB: Questionable (undisclosed)
- Jordan Crutchfield, S: Questionable (undisclosed)
SMU injury report:
- Abel Hoopii, OL: OUT (foot)
- Link Rhodes, RB: OUT (knee)
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Moneyline: SMU -156, Florida State +130
- Spread: SMU -3.5 (-105), Florida State +3.5 (-115)
- Total: 53.5 (over -105/under -115)
Weather in Tallahassee calls for a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, building through the afternoon with a high of 88 degrees. The low is 72 at night with limited wind, and while conditions on Bobby Bowden Field could get sloppy, rain is unlikely to affect the game.
In Other News...
Florida State May Have Found Its Next Difference Maker At Running Back
Florida State got an early look at the kind of backfield boost every season opener hopes to uncover, and it came from a sophomore who wasted little time making himself part of the conversation in Week 0. With the Seminoles still sorting out roles and rhythm, he led the offense on the ground with 115 yards and a touchdown, giving Florida State a much-needed source of explosiveness while the rest of the sport was opening its season.
For a team looking to build momentum in 2026, that kind of debut matters because it hints at more than just one productive afternoon. It suggests Florida State may have found a runner who can change the feel of an offense, especially if that early burst carries into the tougher tests ahead and turns a promising opener into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Heads Into SMU Week With One Lineup Battle Still Unsettled
Florida State got through its season opener with the same five offensive linemen on the field, but Mike Norvell made it clear the depth chart up front is still very much alive. As the Seminoles turn their attention to SMU week, the coaching staff is using both practice and game tape to keep evaluating the group, with Norvell saying the competition remains open and that performance will keep driving the decisions.
The approach leaves one of the more important parts of the roster in a state of flux heading into the conference opener. Norvell pointed to areas that still need improvement while also praising specific efforts he saw, which suggests the staff is looking for more consistency before settling on a long-term combination. For a team about to step into league play, the final call on the line could carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Snap Counts Just Raised A Bigger Depth Concern
Florida States recent snap counts told a familiar story for a roster still trying to sort itself out: when the game got tight, the Seminoles leaned hard on transfer players on both the offensive line and defense. For a team that has spent plenty of time talking about development and building sustainable depth, the numbers from that matchup offered a clear look at who the staff trusted most and how quickly that trust was put into action.
Tony Whites comments about conditioning and managing snap totals for certain defenders only added to the sense that this is about more than a single rotation choice. The bigger question for Florida State is what those usage patterns say about the players who were supposed to grow into larger roles, and whether the gap between the transfers and the homegrown talent is becoming a depth issue the Seminoles have to address sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]