Florida State’s Monday night meeting with SMU turned into something nobody in the building expected before a snap was even played.
A power outage hit before kickoff, and the fallout was immediate. Fans were left using phone flashlights to see around the stadium while crews worked to get things sorted out. The game is still set to be played, but the scene around it is far from normal.
A whole list of usual game-day basics is apparently out, too. The stadium lights are on, but technology tied to the building is not.
That means no iPads, no coach-to-player communication and no replay. There also won’t be a PA announcer or a scoreboard for the matchup.
Even the pregame routine went sideways. The spear was supposed to be planted on the field, but that did not go smoothly either.
Rod Brooks summed up the mood with a post that said: “The spear not staying planted and the game being delayed because the lights don’t work in Doak is the perfect metaphor for the current state of Florida State football LOL https://t.co/JRSkAme5iZ”
ESPN, meanwhile, is still broadcasting the game and is not relying on stadium power. So from the network’s perspective, things are moving ahead as planned.
The delay does create a headache for the production crew, though, after they had been preparing for a 7:30 PM EDT start. With the game now pushed back, the finish will come nearly two hours later than originally expected.
All of it lands especially awkwardly for Florida State, which spent $250 million renovating the stadium.
In Other News...
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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 🡒]