The College Football Playoff matchup between No. 20 SMU and Florida State was halted shortly after the scheduled 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee because a power outage plunged the venue into darkness.
The blackout originated from a transformer failure when officials attempted to reset the unit, which cut power to the stadium lights and the press box, preventing the game from starting on time.
Although the teams had planned to remain on the field for only five to ten minutes while the issue was addressed, the prolonged darkness forced them to retreat to the locker room until the lights could be restored.
SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee voiced his frustration, stating, “We waited long enough to play, what's another 30 minutes,” reflecting the growing impatience among players and staff.
The contest is part of SMU’s 2026 season, in which the Mustangs are considered a dark horse contender for the playoff, adding heightened stakes to the ACC showdown.
Fans initially booed the delay, but when the stadium lights flickered briefly, the crowd responded with cheers, momentarily brightening the atmosphere before the outage deepened.
Coach Lashlee's Frustration
Lashlee’s comment underscored the tension of the moment, as the delay threatened the momentum of a high‑profile playoff game and highlighted the challenges of managing unexpected technical failures on a national stage.