Florida State’s injury picture got a little murkier on Saturday, and that could matter plenty with No. 19 SMU coming to Tallahassee for the ACC opener.
The second availability report of the week brought a pair of notable downgrades for the Seminoles. Wide receiver Tae'Shaun Gelsey and safety K.J. Kirkland both moved from questionable to doubtful, a shift that leaves Florida State with even less room for error as kickoff approaches.
If Gelsey can’t go, the Seminoles would be down two of their top six receivers. That would leave Duce Robinson, Micahi Danzy, Jayvan Boggs, and Jasen Lopez to carry a thinner-than-ideal rotation.
The concern on the back end is just as real. Florida State already has safety Karson Hobbs, cornerback Chauncey Kennon, safety Jordan Crutchfield, and wide receiver Devin Carter ruled out.
Hobbs is done for the season with an ACL injury, while Kennon, Crutchfield, and Carter are expected back at some point this fall. With Hobbs and Crutchfield already unavailable, Kirkland’s status matters because the Seminoles would be short on experience behind Ashlynd Barker, Ma'Khi Jones, and CJ Richard Jr. if he sits.
There was another shift worth watching for Florida State: sophomore defensive lineman Darryll Desir was downgraded from probable to questionable. Desir graded out as the worst player on Florida State's defense in Week 0, and the depth behind him is extremely limited outside of Deamontae Diggs.
SMU has its own key injury to monitor, too. Safety Ahmaad Moses remains questionable after offseason spinal fusion surgery.
The injury was uncovered at the NFL Combine, and he was recently granted a temporary restraining order to play another year for the Mustangs. Moses led the team in tackles and interceptions last season.
The ACC’s new availability report system is adding a fresh layer to the buildup, requiring teams to publicly list injuries 72 hours before game time. Florida State and SMU released their first reports on Friday night, and now the second update has tightened the focus even more as the nationally televised Labor Day matchup draws near.
The game marks the ACC opener for both teams, with Florida State looking for a result similar to the Alabama matchup in 2025 while SMU arrives with plenty of momentum after going 14-2 in conference play since joining the ACC two years ago.
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Now comes the part that really matters for the Seminoles, because their ACC opener arrives Monday night against No. 20 SMU on ESPN. With two bye weeks on the slate and more ranked opponents still ahead, Florida State has already banked a win, but the next stretch will say far more about how real this team is. [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 🡒]