Power Outage Halts Early Kickoff
The Florida State Seminoles and SMU Mustangs were forced to wait as the lights at Doak Campbell Stadium went out just minutes before the scheduled 7:30 PM ET kickoff on September 7, turning what should have been a high‑profile ACC opener into a pause that lasted well into the night.
A faulty transformer sparked the blackout, prompting stadium staff to escort both teams back to their locker rooms while they attempted a rapid fix; by 9 PM the power remained absent, leaving the game in limbo.
If the illumination does not return soon, officials have indicated the contest could be pushed back to Tuesday, raising the prospect of a mid‑week adjustment to the early‑season schedule.
This matchup marks Florida State’s first ACC contest at Doak Campbell since the program’s 2024 return to the conference, following a season‑opening victory over New Mexico State on August 29 that gave the Seminoles a 1‑0 start.
Among the standouts, wide receiver Duce Robinson continues to lead the ACC in receiving yards and has earned preseason All‑American honors, while quarterback Ashton Daniels posted 232 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, and kicker Gabe Panikowski maintained his flawless 17‑for‑17 career record on field goals.
Other contributors include running back Samuel Singleton Jr., who was recognized as the ACC Receiver of the Week, safety Ma’Khi Jones securing his first career start, and Quindarrius Jones recording his inaugural interception on the season’s opening drive.
Beyond the individual performances, Florida State has now posted points in five straight seasons, tying for the second‑longest active streak, and its 38 opening‑drive points since 2020 rank highest nationally, underscoring the program’s consistent offensive production.