Florida State gets its ACC schedule rolling on Labor Day night with a tough one.
After a 34-17 win over New Mexico State that looked more comfortable on the scoreboard than it felt in real time, the Seminoles now welcome No. 20 SMU to Doak Campbell Stadium on Monday, Sept.
- It’s a matchup that immediately raises the temperature for Mike Norvell’s team, especially with the Mustangs arriving in Tallahassee as one of the league favorites.
FSU’s opener gave plenty to like and plenty to worry about. Ashton Daniels, Norvell’s latest new quarterback, threw for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The running game carried the load, with Ousmane Kromah leading the way and Samuel Singleton Jr. punching in two scores. But the defense let New Mexico State linger longer than expected, and that’s the part that will stick heading into this one.
SMU brings a more dangerous offense and a quarterback with real track record. Kevin Jennings is back after posting career highs in passing yards and touchdowns last season, though he also piled up interceptions and led the ACC with 13.
His road numbers were especially shaky in 2025, when he completed 58.9% of his passes and threw at least one pick in all six road games. The Mustangs also added new pieces around him, including running back Kendrick Raphael, who finished fifth in the ACC in rushing last year at Cal, and former East Carolina receiver Yannick Smith.
That makes the pass rush a major storyline for Florida State. If the Seminoles can’t get to Jennings, SMU has the tools to make life difficult for Daniels and force the ball out of FSU’s hands. The Mustangs were third in the ACC in sacks and led the league in interceptions in 2025, so they’re built to punish mistakes.
There are still questions on the Florida State side after the opener. New Mexico State, despite being a team that went 3-9 and 4-8 the past two seasons in Conference USA, was able to chip away at the Seminoles’ pass defense and keep the game within reach after halftime.
The Aggies trimmed the margin to seven in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth, which kept FSU’s starters on the field longer than expected. That’s not the kind of defensive showing you want before SMU, and certainly not with Alabama waiting next week.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. The game will air on ESPN, with streaming options including Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
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FSU Snap Counts Just Raised A Bigger Depth Concern
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Tony Whites comments about conditioning and managing snap totals for certain defenders only added to the sense that this is about more than a single rotation choice. The bigger question for Florida State is what those usage patterns say about the players who were supposed to grow into larger roles, and whether the gap between the transfers and the homegrown talent is becoming a depth issue the Seminoles have to address sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]