Florida State Loses 27-24 to No. 19 SMU After Stadium Power Outage

Q: How did Florida State lose a home game despite forcing four turnovers and dominating the ground game?

Florida State lost because the turnover edge and rushing success were outweighed by major efficiency problems on offense and repeated breakdowns against SMU’s passing game. The Seminoles forced four turnovers and ran for 199 yards, but they did not consistently turn those advantages into points. Their offense went just 2-for-15 on third down, repeatedly stalling drives even while Ousmane Kromah and Ashton Daniels produced on the ground. Daniels finished with only 125 passing yards, and Florida State’s passing game never became reliable enough to punish SMU once the run-heavy approach became predictable. At the same time, Florida State’s defense gave up too many explosive plays. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 430 yards and three touchdowns, and the Mustangs piled up 585 total yards. Even after the interceptions, SMU kept answering, including a 50-yard touchdown, a 79-yard scoring play, and the final 71-yard drive that set up Nick Reed’s winning 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds left. The deeper issue was situational football. SMU converted 8 of 14 third downs, while Florida State could not get off the field defensively or stay on it offensively. So despite winning turnover margin and controlling the ground game, the Seminoles were beaten through the air, failed to sustain drives, and could not close out the game after tying it twice in the second half.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 8

27-24 was the final score after a power outage delayed Florida State's Labor Day home game, turning a standalone national showcase at Doak Campbell Stadium into another bruising night for the Seminoles.
SMU controlled most of the game, piling up nearly 600 total yards, converting 8 of 14 third downs and outgaining Florida State by 261 yards despite letting the result hang until the final possession.
Florida State fell to 1-1, and the narrow loss may ease immediate pressure on coach Mike Norvell more than a blowout would have, even as the program's struggles stayed in full view.
The defeat followed SMU's late winning field goal and left the Seminoles with an 0-1 start in conference play, deepening scrutiny on a program facing a reported $51 million buyout hurdle.