Florida State opened its season with a win, but the kind that leaves plenty of room for questions. The Seminoles beat New Mexico State 34-17, yet the postgame conversation centered less on the score and more on the defensive breakdowns that kept the game from ever feeling comfortable.
Linebacker Chris Jones didn’t sugarcoat it afterward.
"Defensively, I feel like we didn't play up to our standard. If we're being honest.
We just got to come out faster, be more urgent. Clean up the details that need to be cleaned up," Jones said postgame.
"When the details get cleaned up, don't go out there and do your own thing. We just got to go out there and execute what's given to us...
Don't get me wrong, we won the game. But we didn't go out there and play to our standard."
That was the tone of the night for Florida State’s defense, which had trouble getting New Mexico State off the field. The Aggies converted 10 of 17 third downs and piled up 178 of their 319 total yards on those snaps. Two of their touchdowns came on third down, both aided by coverage busts in the secondary.
New Mexico State quarterback Trey Hedden took advantage, finishing 26-of-42 for 272 yards. For a Florida State defense that had already dealt with third-down issues last season, that was the kind of opening-game stat line that jumps off the page for the wrong reasons.
Norvell pointed directly at the communication and execution problems behind the blown coverages.
"The two coverage [burts] on the touchdowns. That can't happen.
We've got to be better in communication, execution on that. ... There were some things where we have to get better.
We got beat, whether it was being a little bit too soft in our coverage, trust in what we saw as it unfolded, "Norvell said.
"At the end of the day, you see the potential of what's there. We had some mistakes tonight.
When you give up what we gave up on third down, that has to get corrected. I think it's a very capable group, and we will get that addressed.
Still, there were signs Florida State can build on. Defensive back Quindarrius Jones returned from injury and made an impact with an interception and an athletic pass breakup.
The Seminoles also found production on the ground, rushing for 222 yards. Ousmane Kromah led the way with 115 yards and averaged 8.2 yards per carry.
Samuel Singleton added 164 total yards, including 54 through the air, 42 on the ground, and 68 on kickoff returns. He also scored twice, once as a receiver and once on a short-yardage run.
Ashton Daniels turned in a mixed performance at quarterback, throwing for 202 yards with a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown while also throwing an interception that drew some boos from the crowd. He had stretches of hesitation and indecision, and some of that appeared tied to an offensive line that was uneven throughout the night.
That line was one of the bigger preseason questions after being rebuilt through the transfer portal, and the opener didn’t answer all of them in a positive way. Even so, Florida State walked away at 1-0, which matters in college football and matters even more in Tallahassee after recent seasons.
Now the focus shifts quickly to SMU on Labor Day, where Norvell said the Seminoles will have a chance to correct what went wrong.
"I saw flashes of what you want to see. I saw some areas where we get to continue to build upon," Norvell said. "There is going to be a lot of things that we are going to be able to do this next week to help put us in the best position the next time we get out on the field."
In Other News...
Sam Singleton Just Gave Florida State A Weapon It May Need
Sam Singleton Jr. gave Florida State something it can always use and not always find: a back who can tilt the field in more than one way. In the Seminoles 34-17 win over New Mexico State, he piled up 164 all-purpose yards, scored twice and made his presence felt as both a runner and a returner, including a pair of kickoff returns that helped swing field position. Coach Mike Norvell pointed to Singletons versatility and the way he affected the game in multiple phases, and Pro Football Focus also came away impressed with his offensive work.
For a Florida State offense still sorting out where its biggest weekly advantages will come from, that kind of performance matters beyond the box score. Singletons blend of burst, efficiency and special-teams value gives the Seminoles a cleaner path to creating favorable situations, especially when games tighten and hidden yardage starts to matter. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-game spark or the start of a role that keeps expanding as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Already Has An O-Line Problem It Cant Ignore
Florida States offensive line was always going to be a work in progress in 2026, with five new starters trying to settle in and especially a fresh battle developing on the right side. Chimdia Nwaiwu got the opening nod at right tackle, while Nate Pabst and Paul Bowling have also been part of the discussion, and the early weeks have already shown how important that spot is for an offense trying to find its footing.
Nwaiwus first start brought enough pressure and issues in the run game to make the decision far less straightforward than the staff likely hoped. With SMU next on the schedule, Florida State is already weighing whether to stay patient or make a change and see if Bowling offers a better answer at right tackle, a choice that could shape how the rest of the line settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A Secondary Problem At The Worst Time
Florida State opened the season with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State, but the celebration came with a clear defensive concern hanging over it. The Seminoles secondary had too many issues staying connected in coverage, and New Mexico State was able to find space through the air more often than Florida State would like to see this early in the year.
Mike Norvell pointed to communication and execution problems after the game, which makes the timing especially uncomfortable with SMU next on the schedule. The Mustangs bring a passing attack that can punish busted assignments, so Florida States back end will need a cleaner performance fast if it wants the opener to be remembered for the win and not the warning signs. [Read more 🡒]