Florida State walked out of Doak Campbell Stadium with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State, but the Seminoles’ defensive backfield spent plenty of the night under pressure.
The Aggies didn’t roll over. They kept Florida State uncomfortable early, held the Seminoles to three points in the first quarter, and trailed just 17-7 at halftime before fading late.
Quarterback Trey Hedden, a former FCS starter at Furman, was at the center of it all, throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns while completing 26 of 42 passes. He also converted five first downs through the air and connected on throws of 33 and 34 yards.
Florida State coach Mike Norvell didn’t dance around the obvious problem after the game.
“Obviously the two coverage on the touchdowns. I mean, that can't happen,” said Norvell.
“We've got to be better in communication, obviously execution on that, being able to go do the job of what we need to do in that moment. And then there were some things that we're going to have to get better at where we got beat.
Whether it was being a little bit too soft in our coverage. You see the potential that is there, right?
Obviously, we had some mistakes tonight when you give up what we gave up on third down, I mean, that has to get corrected.”
That was the story of the Seminoles’ secondary: busted coverages, poor communication, and too much room for a quarterback who kept finding answers. Hedden completed 62 percent of his passes, threw one interception, and repeatedly worked the Florida State defense for chunk gains. The Seminoles surrendered five completions of at least 10 yards, including the two long plays of 33 and 34 yards.
New Mexico State receiver Brodie Malone-Bradford did most of his damage in a six-catch, 96-yard performance that included a diving touchdown. On the scoring play, he got behind the secondary after shaking cornerback and Bednarik Award watch list member Ja’bril Rawls, who bit on a fake out-route. Hedden put the ball where only Malone-Bradford could get it, and the receiver finished the play with a leaping grab in the end zone.
There’s reason Florida State expected more from that part of the field. Last season, the Seminoles were a top-30 pass defense in the FBS, allowing 190 passing yards per game, intercepting 12 passes, and returning two starters this year.
They also added transfers to help fill the gaps. But against New Mexico State, the chemistry just wasn’t there.
Hedden’s background helps explain why he looked so comfortable. At Furman last season, he completed 68 percent of his passes for 2,967 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He entered the Florida State game with a career completion rate of 66 percent and had seven games at Furman with a completion percentage of 70 percent or better.
Now the challenge gets even sharper. Florida State’s next opponent is SMU on Labor Day, and the Mustangs know how to stress a defense through the air. Under Rhett Lashlee, SMU ranked No. 13 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC in passing offense last season at 283 yards per game.
Third-year starter Kevin Jennings returns after throwing for 3,641 yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He completed 66 percent of his passes, going 300-for-454, and also scored four rushing touchdowns. SMU also brings back Yamir Knight, the 5-foot-8 receiver who led the team’s returning pass catchers with 54 receptions for 637 yards and five touchdowns.
That sets up an immediate test for Florida State’s secondary, and communication is going to have to be cleaner fast. The home crowd and the war chant may help, but the Seminoles’ defensive backs will need more than noise to keep pace with what SMU brings.
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Sam Singleton Just Gave Florida State A Weapon It May Need
Sam Singleton Jr. gave Florida State something it can always use and not always find: a back who can tilt the field in more than one way. In the Seminoles 34-17 win over New Mexico State, he piled up 164 all-purpose yards, scored twice and made his presence felt as both a runner and a returner, including a pair of kickoff returns that helped swing field position. Coach Mike Norvell pointed to Singletons versatility and the way he affected the game in multiple phases, and Pro Football Focus also came away impressed with his offensive work.
For a Florida State offense still sorting out where its biggest weekly advantages will come from, that kind of performance matters beyond the box score. Singletons blend of burst, efficiency and special-teams value gives the Seminoles a cleaner path to creating favorable situations, especially when games tighten and hidden yardage starts to matter. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-game spark or the start of a role that keeps expanding as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
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Florida State Won But One Worry Still Looks Very Real
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New Mexico State kept leaning on the Seminoles and made them work for every bit of separation, which is where the concern lingers for Florida State. The offense eventually found enough rhythm to pull away, but it was not the sort of clean, authoritative start that settles a fan base or a coaching staff, and the early-season tension around how reliable this team really is still feels very real. [Read more 🡒]