SMU Escapes Florida State With Dramatic Win After Long Delay

 

SMU Holds Off Florida State 27-24 After Wild Night in Tallahassee

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No. 20 SMU survived a chaotic night at Doak Campbell Stadium, defeating Florida State 27-24 on Monday, Sept. 7, after overcoming turnovers, a lengthy power outage and a late Seminoles rally.

                                                                          

The game was delayed for nearly two hours after an electrical short in a stadium transformer caused a power outage that knocked out several lights and the scoreboard. The teams eventually took the field at 9:15 p.m. ET.

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings delivered a standout performance, throwing for 430 yards and three touchdowns. He also tossed two interceptions as the Mustangs struggled with turnovers throughout the game.

Florida State forced four turnovers but managed to turn those takeaways into only seven points. SMU ultimately finished with a huge 585-324 advantage in total yards, highlighting the difference in offensive production.

With the score tied 24-24 late in the fourth quarter, SMU put together a nine-play, 71-yard drive. Nick Reed then kicked a 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining to give the Mustangs the lead.

Florida State had one final opportunity, but a desperate series of laterals on the final play ended the game. The Seminoles needed to travel 75 yards with only two seconds remaining, making a comeback extremely unlikely.

                                                                                

Ousmane Kromah was one of Florida State's brightest performers, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.

Florida State Quarterback Struggles Continue

Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels received a D+ grade after another difficult performance.

Daniels faced constant pressure and struggled to establish consistency from the pocket. He showed flashes of playmaking ability, including a rushing touchdown and several difficult completions, but his decision-making remained a concern.

He also held onto the ball too long at times, allowing SMU's defense to create pressure and disrupt important drives. Although his mobility helped extend possessions, Florida State struggled to create big plays through the passing game.

Final Score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
SMU	7	10	0	10	27
Florida State	7	3	7	7	24

                                                                               

The loss adds further pressure on Florida State coach Mike Norvell, while SMU strengthens its position as one of the ACC's leading contenders.