Monday night, September 7, the Florida State Seminoles will host the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. ET. The contest will be televised live on ESPN and streamed via the ESPN app or the Fubo service, giving fans multiple ways to watch.
FSU’s opening week ended in a 34‑17 defeat to New Mexico State, exposing significant vulnerabilities on the defensive side of the ball. While the offense managed 217 rushing yards and three touchdowns, the unit struggled to contain the opposition’s attack, raising concerns heading into the conference opener.
Quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 17 of 27 passes for 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while running back Ousmane Kromah contributed 115 yards on the ground and a score, highlighting a balanced but not dominant offensive showing.
Across the field, SMU returns quarterback Kevin Jennings, who posted 3,641 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during the previous season. Despite lingering injury concerns that have limited his mobility, Jennings remains the cornerstone of a Mustangs attack that averaged 364.1 yards per game.
The matchup marks a rare Week 1 meeting between two programs that typically open against non‑conference opponents, underscoring the significance of the contest early in the schedule. ESPN’s coverage, complemented by streaming options, promises broad visibility for the high‑stakes showdown.
Betting lines from BetMGM place SMU as a 3.5‑point favorite, with an over/under set at 53.5 points and a moneyline of -165 for the Mustangs versus +140 for the Seminoles, indicating a market that expects a close but ultimately SMU‑leaning result.
Analysts suggest that the outcome will hinge on whether FSU’s defense can pressure Jennings enough to offset his experience, while SMU will look to exploit any lapses in the Seminoles’ secondary and capitalize on the momentum from their returning quarterback.