Florida State had SMU on the ropes for stretches Monday night, then let the game slip away anyway.
No. 19 SMU escaped Doak Campbell Stadium with a 27-24 win on a late field goal, and the final margin barely hinted at how lopsided the numbers were.
The Mustangs piled up 585 yards to Florida State’s 324, moved the chains on 8 of 14 third downs, and threw for 430 yards. The Seminoles, meanwhile, went 2 of 15 on third down.
And still, FSU had chances.
The Seminoles forced four turnovers and got nothing from them on the scoreboard. SMU also helped keep the game close by committing six penalties, which let Florida State hang around deep into the fourth quarter. But the big moment never arrived for the home team, and the late field goal with 21 seconds left finished off the upset bid.
“A lot of 'one-plays.' You think back through it, some of the explosive plays we gave up defensively, missed opportunities there offensively. We never really got in rhythm throwing the ball,” FSU head coach Mike Norvell said postgame.
The night began in chaos before a snap was even taken. A blown transformer caused a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium, delaying the game and setting the tone for an odd evening in Tallahassee. By the time the lights were back on, Florida State still couldn’t find enough offense to cash in on the breaks SMU handed over.
That was the story again and again.
Tied at 17 early in the fourth quarter, Florida State had SMU pinned at its own 21-yard line and facing third-and-6. The Seminoles blitzed, got a hit on Kevin Jennings, but left Yannick Smith enough room to make the catch and enough space to turn it into a 79-yard go-ahead touchdown after shaking off two would-be tacklers.
Florida State answered with a chance to swing the game back. Ashlynd Barker picked off Jennings later in the fourth, and the crowd at Doak shifted from restless to ready. But the Seminoles went three-and-out, ending the possession with a sack of Ashton Daniels and drawing boos back out of the stands.
SMU then went 71 yards in nine plays and closed it out with the winning field goal.
Those “one-play” swings weren’t limited to the fourth quarter. Florida State also hurt itself with a strange second-quarter fourth-and-short toss play that ended in a turnover.
Duce Robinson dropped a touchdown pass from Daniels, turning what could have been six points into three. And the defense gave up too many third-down answers at the wrong time.
“Those things, they show up big,” Norvell said. “It's just the consistency of that that has to improve. Then, ultimately you got to go make the play when you get the opportunity to make the play.”
Daniels finished 12 of 23 for 125 yards and a touchdown, and the Seminoles never found the rhythm they needed to take control. For all the chances and all the noise around them, they left with another ACC loss and a 1-1 record this season.
Since 2024, Florida State is 3-14 in ACC play, the worst mark in the league over that span. Monday’s game gave them yet another example of how close they can look without finishing the job.
“It makes you sick to see it. Then obviously I just want it so bad for these players.
Just to be able to understand what they can accomplish, understand what they can do. But we've got to go do it.”
Florida State football schedule 2026
vs. New Mexico State | 34-17 W
vs. SMU* | 27-24 L
Bye
at Alabama | Sept. 19
vs. Central Arkansas | Sept. 26
vs. Virginia* | Oct. 3
at Louisville* | Oct. 9
at Miami* | Oct. 17
Bye
vs. Clemson* | Oct. 31
at Boston College* | Nov. 7
at Pittsburgh* | Nov. 13
vs. NC State* | Nov. 21
vs. Florida | Nov. 27
In Other News...
FSU Fans Are Confronting One Brutal Mike Norvell Reality
Mike Norvells tenure at Florida State has reached the point where the frustration is no longer just about one bad stretch or one disappointing season. Seven years into the job, the Seminoles are staring at a 39-35 record under his watch, and the recent slide has made the conversation around the program feel heavier than it did even a year ago. What once looked like a long-term build now has fans weighing patience against the reality of how long the skid has lasted.
Money only makes that conversation harder to ignore. Norvells 2024 extension runs through 2031 and includes a modest base salary with supplemental income that rises each year, but the real issue is the buyout, which sits around $46.7 million. That kind of number puts Florida State in a familiar college football bind: even when a program starts asking tough questions about direction, the cost of making a change can be almost as daunting as standing pat. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvell's Future Just Became A Tough Florida State Debate
Florida States recent slide has turned Mike Norvells tenure into one of the more complicated discussions in the sport, because this is no longer just about wins and losses. The Seminoles are coming off a 13-1 season, but the stretch since then has been rough, with an 8-18 record overall and a 3-14 mark in ACC play, a downturn that has changed the temperature around the program in a hurry.
The harder part for Florida State is what comes next, because Norvells long-term contract is a major financial commitment. His 8-year, $84 million extension carries a buyout estimated at around $45 million if the school were to move on, which means the universitys decision may hinge as much on the rest of this season as on the frustration already building in the fan base. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Fans Have A Costly Portal Question After Week 1
Florida States Week 1 loss did more than dent the record. It reopened the conversation around a roster that was supposed to look like a major investment, especially with roughly $24 million tied up in NIL funds and a ranking that placed the Seminoles 26th in college football. After the opener, the concerns were easy to spot: the secondary had issues, the offense never fully settled in, and the price tag attached to the roster suddenly felt like part of the story.
Mike Norvell is now dealing with the kind of scrutiny that comes when expectations and production drift apart early. High-value additions such as quarterback Ashton Daniels and running back Quintrevion Wisner have not matched the hope that came with their arrival, and the debate around which transfers were worth the spending is only getting louder. For a fan base already frustrated by the loss, the lingering portal question is no longer just about who came in, but whether the Seminoles spent in the right places at all. [Read more 🡒]