Florida State’s ACC opener had a little of everything - turnovers, explosive plays, and a fourth-quarter swing that proved too big to overcome. In the end, SMU walked out of Doak Campbell Stadium with a 27-24 win on Labor Day, and the play that will linger most came late: Yannick Smith’s 79-yard touchdown catch.
That bomb landed after Ousmane Kromah had tied the game at 17-17 late in the third quarter, turning what had been a tight fight into a sudden gut punch for the Seminoles. FSU answered again, but SMU’s ability to hit chunk gains all night made the difference. The Mustangs had three plays of 50 yards or more and eight plays of 15 yards or more, and Smith’s strike was the biggest of them all.
Florida State had its chances, especially with SMU coughing up four turnovers, but the offense never really found its footing. The Seminoles finished just 2 for 15 on third down, a rough number that showed how often drives stalled even when the defense handed them extra possessions. Ashton Daniels went 12 for 23 for 125 yards, while SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings piled up 430 passing yards.
FSU’s revamped roster, built with 23 transfer portal additions, was supposed to help shore up obvious trouble spots, especially along the offensive line, at linebacker, and at quarterback. Norvell added five offensive linemen, one of the top linebackers in the portal, and Daniels as the new starting quarterback. Against SMU, that new-look line did open space for Kromah, who ran for 116 yards on 22 carries and broke loose for a 54-yard run.
Even with that, the Seminoles were rarely in control. Tony White’s defense gave up 585 yards, and SMU’s front kept Florida State from getting into a real rhythm. The offense’s best moments came more from individual plays than from sustained drives.
Smith finished with five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, but the 79-yard score was the one that changed the game. Florida State did have a response, though, when Sam Singleton turned in a 39-yard touchdown catch-and-run to answer Smith’s blast. It was Singleton’s second touchdown in as many games, and for the second straight week he led the Seminoles in receiving.
In Other News...
Mandrell Desir Is Testing Florida State Fans After Rough Opener
Mandrell Desirs Week 1 outing against SMU gave Florida State fans plenty to chew on, and not in a good way. The Seminoles defensive back drew attention for a rough performance and for a bizarre pre-snap moment when he mimicked a basketball dribble, a flash that only added to the scrutiny as supporters picked apart his role in the opener.
After the criticism piled up, Desir went to social media with a dismissive response, while defensive coordinator Tony White moved to calm things down from the football side. White said no disciplinary action would be taken and framed the sequence as part of Desirs style, leaving the bigger question less about punishment and more about how quickly the Seminoles can turn the conversation back to play on the field. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Fans Need To Look Past Deions Name In This Debate
Florida States recent slide has pushed every coaching conversation into sharper focus, and Mike Norvells struggles have made the Seminoles a program searching for a clearer path forward. Deion Sanders will always be an obvious name in that discussion because of his ties to the school and the attention he commands, but the real question for FSU is whether a splashy hire would actually solve what has gone wrong on the field.
Sanders early work at Colorado has given supporters plenty to argue about on both sides, yet there are fair questions about how sustainable that model is once key players move on and the roster has to be rebuilt again. Florida State already has a major brand and a recruiting base that should matter in any search, so the bigger debate is whether the next coach needs nostalgia and headlines or a more durable answer to the programs deeper problems. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Suddenly Has A Real Miami Recruiting Threat
Florida States 2027 recruiting efforts are already feeling the pressure around ZaKari Johnson, the four-star commit who has become one of the most important names in the class. Johnson has long been viewed as a key piece for the Seminoles, so any movement in his recruitment carries extra weight, especially when a rival like Miami enters the picture with real momentum.
Johnson recently said Miami has been his dream school, and he is set to visit Hard Rock Stadium for a Hurricanes game, which only sharpens the concern for Florida State. A flip would sting not just because of the player involved, but because it would give Miami a major victory in a head-to-head battle for a coveted prospect, putting added scrutiny on the Seminoles' coaching staff and the rest of the class. [Read more 🡒]