Florida State’s loss to SMU didn’t just sting because of the final result. It reopened the same questions the Seminoles carried into Week 1, and a weird start to the night only made the whole thing feel more jarring.
The game was delayed nearly two hours after a power surge caused a major outage that almost pushed the matchup to another date. Instead, the teams agreed to keep going with limited digital tools to open the game.
SMU handled the strange setup just fine. Florida State did not handle the aftermath nearly as well, and now Mike Norvell’s team is heading back to the drawing board.
One of the biggest issues remains at quarterback. Ashton Daniels was not able to create much of a threat throwing the ball, and that concern didn’t come out of nowhere.
In Week 0 against New Mexico State, he averaged 7.5 yards per completion, and the Seminoles still hoped for more rhythm in the passing game. Against SMU, that progress never really arrived.
Daniels was stuck under 100 passing yards deep into the final quarter, and the Mustangs never seemed forced to respect the vertical game. Some of that can be tied to the offensive line problems Florida State has already shown, but Daniels also has experienced targets such as Duce Robinson who need to be involved.
The Seminoles cannot lean on one part of the offense and expect it to hold up. If Daniels can’t get the ball to his best players more consistently, Norvell may need to start considering Malachi Marshall.
The secondary is another spot that followed Florida State from Week 0 into Week 1. Norvell said the staff had been pumping in extra crowd noise during practice to recreate game-day chaos, but that work didn’t translate on the field. Too often, the defensive backs were out of position or locked onto the wrong assignment.
SMU took advantage early. Kevin Jennings settled in quickly, and Florida State kept giving him soft zones and easy chances to push the ball downfield.
The Seminoles’ safeties also had multiple breakdowns, expecting help that never came. Injuries have clearly played a role, but the larger issue is a defense that keeps losing its awareness at the worst possible moments.
There was at least one bright spot back there. Nehemiah Chandler came up with an interception at a key time and was one of Florida State’s better defensive performers against SMU. With so many injuries in the secondary, he was the kind of player who needed to step forward.
The final problem is the one that keeps showing up everywhere else: the offensive line. It’s been the biggest area of concern, and it affects everything around it.
Daniels can be more effective as a dual-threat quarterback when he has enough protection and balance up front, and Ousmane Kromah has given the offense a burst with his explosiveness out of the backfield. There have been flashes, but the line hasn’t been consistent enough to let those flashes turn into something bigger.
Norvell entered Week 0 still evaluating that group, and after a poor performance plus a week of practice, no changes were made. Florida State did find some success with Kromah on the ground against SMU, but the bigger question is how much better this offense could look with a sturdier front.
The Seminoles now have a week off before facing Alabama, and if the line doesn’t get sorted out, that matchup could put every one of these problems under a brighter spotlight.
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 🡒]