Florida State walked out of its season opener with a win, but the film also handed Tony White a clear warning: the Seminoles have to get cleaner on communication fast.
After FSU’s 34-17 victory over New Mexico State, the defensive coordinator pointed to breakdowns in the secondary as the biggest problem from Saturday night. The issue, White said after Monday’s practice, wasn’t simply about losing individual battles. It was about players not being on the same page.
"Anytime that it’s miscommunication, it’s us,” White said after Monday's practice. “The first thing coach wrote down, the first thing he wanted to make sure that we all emphasized the month leading up, was communication.”
The numbers show a defense that did plenty right, but also gave up too much through the air. Florida State held NMSU to 47 yards on the ground, yet allowed 272 passing yards and a 58% third-down conversion rate. White said one Aggies touchdown came after a breakdown in the middle of the field, and another happened when a young defensive back didn’t recognize how FSU wanted to handle an empty formation.
“You get under the lights, and there’s, you know, 80-plus thousand; they’re screaming,” White continued. “You got to think and process in the blink of an eye.”
There isn’t much time for a reset. Florida State now turns right around and gets No.
19 SMU on Labor Day, a matchup White knows will demand sharp communication from the start. He said Rhett Lashlee’s offense brings tempo, tricky formations, and a knack for creating matchup problems.
“They’re warp speed at times. They know how to go warp speed,” White continued.
“A lot of times, it seems like they know what you’re in defensively. So, they happen to just call a really, really good play.”
At the center of it all is SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, a fifth-year college player who threw for 3,641 yards and 26 touchdowns last season while helping the Mustangs reach the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff in 2024.
“Jennings can make all the throws, and he’s mobile as heck and smart,” White said. “He knows where to go with the football.
And then, when in doubt, you can see the trust he has in his players... The most important guy with the ball in his hands; he’s a vet.
He knows what to do, and he’s elite. So, it’s going to be a tall task.”
Florida State will host SMU at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 7, inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Florida State Already Has An O-Line Problem It Cant Ignore
Florida States offensive line was always going to be a work in progress in 2026, with five new starters trying to settle in and especially a fresh battle developing on the right side. Chimdia Nwaiwu got the opening nod at right tackle, while Nate Pabst and Paul Bowling have also been part of the discussion, and the early weeks have already shown how important that spot is for an offense trying to find its footing.
Nwaiwus first start brought enough pressure and issues in the run game to make the decision far less straightforward than the staff likely hoped. With SMU next on the schedule, Florida State is already weighing whether to stay patient or make a change and see if Bowling offers a better answer at right tackle, a choice that could shape how the rest of the line settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A Secondary Problem At The Worst Time
Florida State opened the season with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State, but the celebration came with a clear defensive concern hanging over it. The Seminoles secondary had too many issues staying connected in coverage, and New Mexico State was able to find space through the air more often than Florida State would like to see this early in the year.
Mike Norvell pointed to communication and execution problems after the game, which makes the timing especially uncomfortable with SMU next on the schedule. The Mustangs bring a passing attack that can punish busted assignments, so Florida States back end will need a cleaner performance fast if it wants the opener to be remembered for the win and not the warning signs. [Read more 🡒]