Florida State won’t be on the field today, but the Seminoles are still set for a prime-time Week 1 stage.
FSU opened its 2026 season with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State last week at Doak Campbell Stadium, and the running game did the heavy lifting. Three Seminoles found the end zone on the ground, including new quarterback Ashton Daniels, while sophomore Ousmane Kromah led the way with 114 rushing yards and his first collegiate rushing touchdown.
The challenge ramps up quickly from there. Florida State’s next opponent is No.
20 SMU, which visits for the ACC opener after these two teams last met during FSU’s rough 2024 season. In that game, SMU rolled to a 42-16 win behind Kevin Jennings, who threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
Jennings is aiming to help push the Mustangs back into the College Football Playoff.
The Seminoles and Mustangs will meet Monday night in a Labor Day game, marking the second time in three years FSU has played on the holiday.
Florida State’s first bye week comes right after the SMU game, so the Seminoles will be off Sept. 12 in Week 2 before returning Sept. 19 for a road trip to No. 13 Alabama.
After that, FSU comes home for matchups with Central Arkansas and Virginia, then heads into two more difficult road games at No. 24 Louisville and at archrival No.
7 Miami. Their final off week arrives Oct. 24 in Week 8.
FSU vs. SMU is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Monday and will air nationally on ESPN. Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek will be in the booth at Doak Campbell Stadium, with Taylor McGregor reporting from the sideline.
Streaming options include the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
In Other News...
Florida State Faces A Bigger Test Than Fans Wanted This Early
Florida State got the opening-night result it wanted, but the schedule is already tightening around the Seminoles. After a season-opening win over New Mexico State, they now turn quickly to a Labor Day night matchup with SMU, a nationally televised test that arrives before anyone around Tallahassee can really settle into September. It is the kind of early-game measuring stick that can shape the tone of a season, especially for a team trying to build on a solid first step.
The concern is not just the opponent, but how much cleaner Florida State still needs to be. New Mexico State found enough success to keep the Seminoles honest, and now SMU brings a different level of urgency and execution to the table. For Florida State, this is the sort of game that can tell you a lot about where the team really stands, even if the full answer will not come until after the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Early Bye Puts Norvell Under Pressure Fast
Florida State is getting an unusual early breather, with a Week 2 bye tucked between its season opener and a looming matchup with Alabama. In a schedule like this, the timing matters almost as much as the rest itself. If the Seminoles look sharp against SMU, the pause can serve as a reset and a chance to sharpen details before the level of difficulty rises quickly.
If the opener goes sideways, though, the break could feel less like a gift and more like a source of lost rhythm for Mike Norvells team. Florida State still has a demanding path ahead, with several ranked opponents on the schedule, so the Seminoles do not have much room to treat this stretch casually. The first two weeks may say a lot about whether the early pause helps them build or leaves them scrambling to regain momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces An Early ACC Test Fans Can't Ignore
Florida State heads into its ACC opener with some momentum after a 34-17 win over New Mexico State, but the real measure of where the Seminoles stand comes quickly with No. 19 SMU on deck. The Mustangs have made a smooth jump into the league, going 14-2 in conference play and reaching the playoff in their first two seasons, which is exactly the sort of early barometer that can tell a team whether its September start is built to last.
The Seminoles will lean on a lineup still looking to settle into its identity, while SMU brings the kind of tested conference profile that can expose small flaws fast. Ousmane Kromah offered Florida State an encouraging spark last week, and Kevin Jennings gives the Mustangs a quarterback who can tilt a game in their direction, which makes this one feel less like a routine league game and more like an early read on where both seasons are headed. [Read more 🡒]