No. 19 SMU survived four turnovers and a nearly two-hour power outage delay in Tallahassee, then won on Nick Reed’s 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining.
The short answer: No. 19 SMU beat Florida State 27-24 at Doak Campbell Stadium. Kevin Jennings threw for a career-best 430 yards and three touchdowns, and Nick Reed kicked the winning 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds left. The game began at about 9:15 p.m. ET after an electrical problem delayed the scheduled 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Key facts
- Final score: No. 19 SMU 27, Florida State 24.
- Kevin Jennings: 26-of-36 passing, 430 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
- Winning play: Nick Reed made a 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining.
- Delay: kickoff moved from 7:30 p.m. ET to about 9:15 p.m. because of a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium.
- Florida State forced four SMU turnovers but finished 2-of-15 on third down.
- Ousmane Kromah led Florida State with 116 rushing yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.
SMU vs Florida State at a glance
| Game detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Final score | No. 19 SMU 27, Florida State 24 |
| Venue | Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida |
| Records | SMU 1-0, 1-0 ACC; Florida State 1-1, 0-1 ACC |
| Kevin Jennings | 26-of-36, 430 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Florida State rushing leader | Ousmane Kromah, 116 yards on 22 carries, 1 TD |
| Deciding score | Nick Reed 20-yard field goal, 21 seconds left |
| Kickoff delay | Nearly two hours because of a stadium power outage |
Jennings delivers after a chaotic start in Tallahassee
SMU’s season opener started under conditions neither team expected. A power failure at Doak Campbell Stadium pushed kickoff back nearly two hours, leaving players, coaches and fans waiting while crews worked on the problem.
According to WCTV’s report from the stadium, Florida State Athletics said an electrical short in the main transformer affected the west side tower. The game had been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and finally kicked off at about 9:15 p.m. The field lights returned first, with other stadium systems coming back online as play continued.
Once the game began, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings produced the night’s biggest individual performance. The ACC’s game recap lists Jennings at 26 completions on 36 attempts for a career-best 430 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions, part of a four-turnover night for the Mustangs.
SMU still generated 585 yards of offense and repeatedly found explosive plays through the air. Jennings connected with Jalen Cooper for a 50-yard touchdown and Florida State transfer Randy Pittman for a 10-yard score. Early in the fourth quarter, SMU struck again on a 79-yard touchdown pass to move ahead 24-17.
Florida State stayed alive by forcing turnovers
Florida State had chances to take control because its defense kept producing takeaways. The Seminoles recovered two fumbles and intercepted Jennings twice. Nehemiah Chandler picked him off near the goal line in the third quarter, while Ashlynd Barker intercepted him in the fourth.
The Seminoles also turned a muffed punt into points. That possession ended with Ousmane Kromah’s touchdown run, which tied the game at 17-17. Kromah was Florida State’s most consistent offensive threat, finishing with 116 yards on 22 carries. Florida State’s official recap notes that it was his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game to open the season.
Quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 12 of 23 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 71 rushing yards. His 39-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Singleton Jr. answered SMU’s fourth-quarter strike and tied the game at 24-24.
The larger problem for Florida State was sustaining drives. The Seminoles converted only two of 15 third downs, while SMU converted eight of 14. That difference helped the Mustangs survive their turnovers and create one final possession with the game tied.
SMU’s final drive decides it with 21 seconds left
After Florida State punted late in the fourth quarter, SMU took over and drove 71 yards in nine plays. Jennings moved the Mustangs into scoring range, and Nick Reed finished the possession with a 20-yard field goal that put SMU ahead 27-24 with 21 seconds remaining.
Florida State did not have enough time to answer. The result gave SMU a road win in its first game of the season and a 1-0 start in ACC play. SMU’s official postgame page highlights Jennings’ 430 passing yards and three touchdowns as the centerpiece of the victory.
The blackout became part of the story before kickoff
The delay also produced a second storyline online. Rival programs used the outage to joke about Florida State while the teams waited for power to be restored. Bleacher Report documented social-media posts from Miami, Baylor, TCU and Virginia that referenced the blackout.
The jokes did not affect the game itself, but they added to the unusual atmosphere around a nationally televised Labor Day matchup. The outage was a stadium operations issue, not a weather delay, and WCTV reported that Florida State attributed the disruption to an electrical short in the main transformer.
What the result means for SMU and Florida State
For SMU, the win is significant because it came on the road despite an uneven performance. The Mustangs committed four turnovers, but their passing game, third-down execution and final drive were enough to escape Tallahassee with a conference victory.
Florida State leaves the game 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the ACC. The Seminoles created enough defensive opportunities to win, but a limited passing attack and poor third-down conversion rate kept them from turning those chances into a lead they could protect.
The next stretch separates the teams quickly. SMU returns home to face UC Davis on September 12. Florida State has a bye before traveling to Tuscaloosa to play No. 13 Alabama on September 19, a matchup listed for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC by the ACC schedule.
Bottom line
SMU’s 27-24 win was defined by two things: a long blackout delay before kickoff and Jennings’ ability to recover from mistakes once the game finally started. Florida State forced four turnovers and matched the Mustangs deep into the fourth quarter, but SMU produced the last sustained drive and Reed converted the winning kick.
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