Florida State’s offense had just enough juice to keep itself in the fight against SMU, but not nearly enough consistency to seize control in Tallahassee.
The Seminoles opened with some real spark after the game was delayed more than an hour and a half because of a power outage. Ashton Daniels gave them a lift right away, using his legs to help drive the offense early and cap one march with an eight-yard rushing touchdown that tied the game at seven.
That mobility showed up again and again. Daniels kept extending plays, slipping away from pressure and trying to manufacture something out of broken situations, and the read-option gave Florida State a workable answer in the run game.
That threat also helped the backs find space. With SMU forced to respect Daniels as a runner, the Seminoles were able to get yards inside, and Ousmane Kromah took full advantage. He finished with 116 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, giving Florida State one of its steadier offensive constants.
But the good stretches never lasted long. The pass protection broke down too often, and SMU’s rush got home three times.
Florida State’s third-down issues were even harder to ignore. At one point in the fourth quarter, the Seminoles were 0/10 on third down before finally converting with about 10 minutes left.
Too many snaps landed in that third-and-medium range, and too many of them ended without a first down. The crowd let the offense hear it at times as drives fizzled out.
The passing game never really found a rhythm either. Daniels completed 12 of 23 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, but the overall production was uneven. Florida State’s final chance to force overtime or win outright ended with three straight incompletions on the last drive, with the game sitting at 27-24.
Even with no turnovers, the Seminoles couldn’t overcome the rough edges. The offense did enough to rally back into the game, but not enough to finish it.
Florida State dropped the contest 27-24 and fell to 1-1. The team now heads into a bye week before facing Alabama on September 19th.
In Other News...
FSU Fans Are Confronting One Brutal Mike Norvell Reality
Mike Norvells tenure at Florida State has reached the point where the frustration is no longer just about one bad stretch or one disappointing season. Seven years into the job, the Seminoles are staring at a 39-35 record under his watch, and the recent slide has made the conversation around the program feel heavier than it did even a year ago. What once looked like a long-term build now has fans weighing patience against the reality of how long the skid has lasted.
Money only makes that conversation harder to ignore. Norvells 2024 extension runs through 2031 and includes a modest base salary with supplemental income that rises each year, but the real issue is the buyout, which sits around $46.7 million. That kind of number puts Florida State in a familiar college football bind: even when a program starts asking tough questions about direction, the cost of making a change can be almost as daunting as standing pat. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvell's Future Just Became A Tough Florida State Debate
Florida States recent slide has turned Mike Norvells tenure into one of the more complicated discussions in the sport, because this is no longer just about wins and losses. The Seminoles are coming off a 13-1 season, but the stretch since then has been rough, with an 8-18 record overall and a 3-14 mark in ACC play, a downturn that has changed the temperature around the program in a hurry.
The harder part for Florida State is what comes next, because Norvells long-term contract is a major financial commitment. His 8-year, $84 million extension carries a buyout estimated at around $45 million if the school were to move on, which means the universitys decision may hinge as much on the rest of this season as on the frustration already building in the fan base. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Fans Have A Costly Portal Question After Week 1
Florida States Week 1 loss did more than dent the record. It reopened the conversation around a roster that was supposed to look like a major investment, especially with roughly $24 million tied up in NIL funds and a ranking that placed the Seminoles 26th in college football. After the opener, the concerns were easy to spot: the secondary had issues, the offense never fully settled in, and the price tag attached to the roster suddenly felt like part of the story.
Mike Norvell is now dealing with the kind of scrutiny that comes when expectations and production drift apart early. High-value additions such as quarterback Ashton Daniels and running back Quintrevion Wisner have not matched the hope that came with their arrival, and the debate around which transfers were worth the spending is only getting louder. For a fan base already frustrated by the loss, the lingering portal question is no longer just about who came in, but whether the Seminoles spent in the right places at all. [Read more 🡒]