Florida State University suffered a narrow 27‑24 defeat to SMU in the opening game of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the loss taking place at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.
A Rocky ACC Opening
Although the Seminoles forced four turnovers, they were unable to translate those opportunities into points, managing only seven on the scoreboard, while sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah broke out with a career‑high 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, becoming the first FSU player to post back‑to‑back 100‑yard games since Trey Benson in 2022.
SMU’s quarterback Kevin Jennings exploited the defense with two long touchdown passes—50 and 79 yards—while maintaining an average of 8.7 yards per play despite his own four turnovers, underscoring the Mustangs’ offensive firepower.
Defensive standouts for Florida State included Quindarrius Jones, who forced and recovered a fumble on SMU’s opening drive, Nehemiah Chandler, who intercepted Jennings in the end zone, and Gemari Sands, who recovered a muffed punt, yet the trio’s efforts were not enough to offset the Seminoles’ third‑down woes.
The Seminoles’ third‑down conversion rate languished at 2‑of‑15, a stark contrast to SMU’s 8‑of‑14 efficiency, and the disparity highlighted the growing pains of a program still adjusting to life in the ACC after a 3‑14 record since its 2024 entry.
Coach Mike Norvell’s ACC ledger now stands at 22‑27, marking the third consecutive opening‑game loss for Florida State and adding pressure to a season that has yet to find its footing.