The Florida State-SMU matchup at Doak Campbell Stadium got thrown into chaos before kickoff, as a power outage delayed the game and left both teams waiting to find out when they could actually start.
The trouble hit just as Florida State was getting ready to take the field. The stadium’s main light fixtures and audio suddenly went out, and Seminole fans were left in the dark. The exact cause wasn’t immediately clear, though the problems started shortly after FSU fired off pregame fireworks.
Both teams were already on the field when the technical issues began. The players stayed loose for about ten minutes before Mike Norvell and Rhett Lashlee met at midfield. After that, the Seminoles and Mustangs headed back to the locker room.
“I’ve never experienced a delay like this before.No rain or inclement weather around Doak Campbell Stadium. #Noles pic.twitter.com/Z188Rt6QGS”
Florida State offered only a brief update, saying the delay was due to a power outage. The school said more information was expected around 8:20 p.m. ET.
When the teams do return, they’ll have a 10-minute warmup period before play resumes.
There was at least some progress on one side of the stadium, with the light fixtures on the east side back online. No update was available on the other side.
Meanwhile, the crowd tried to keep things moving. Fans broke out the wave, kept the War Chant going and even turned on their phone flashlights in an effort to help light the stadium.
Still, the wait dragged on. Florida State and SMU were more than 45 minutes past their scheduled 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
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