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SMU Survives Four Turnovers and Stadium Blackout to Beat Florida State, 27-24

Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 430 yards and Nick Reed kicked the winning field goal after a bizarre power outage delayed Monday night’s ACC matchup.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — No. 19 SMU overcame four turnovers, a nearly two-hour power-outage delay and repeated missed opportunities to defeat Florida State 27-24 on Monday night at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Kicker Nick Reed broke a 24-24 tie with a 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining, completing a decisive 65-yard drive and giving the Mustangs their second consecutive victory over Florida State.

Quarterback Kevin Jennings powered SMU with a career-high 430 passing yards and three touchdowns. His performance allowed the Mustangs to survive two interceptions, two lost fumbles and an uneven night in which Florida State repeatedly received opportunities to seize control.

The final statistics told the game’s story. SMU outgained Florida State 585-324, recorded 23 first downs to the Seminoles’ 16 and converted eight of 14 third-down attempts. Florida State finished only 2-for-14 on third down, according to the official Florida State box score.

Power Outage Creates Chaotic Start in Tallahassee

The night became unusual before either team ran a play.

A power outage struck Doak Campbell Stadium moments before the scheduled 7:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff, leaving portions of the stadium in darkness. Players returned to their locker rooms while officials, electricians and university administrators attempted to resolve the problem.

An electrical short involving the stadium’s main transformer caused the disruption. The game eventually began at approximately 9:15 p.m., nearly two hours behind schedule, despite officials restoring only part of the stadium’s normal operation.

The teams played without working coach-to-player helmet communication, sideline tablets, a public-address announcer or a fully operational scoreboard. Game officials kept the official time on the field. Reuters reported the unusual conditions surrounding the delayed kickoff.

SMU handled the bizarre circumstances better at the beginning, scoring the game’s first touchdown. Florida State answered, and the teams finished the opening quarter tied at 7.

Mustangs Control the Field but Give Florida State Chances

SMU took a 17-10 lead into halftime after adding a touchdown and field goal during the second quarter. Jennings consistently attacked Florida State’s secondary, generating several explosive completions while the Seminoles struggled to create a sustainable passing game.

Florida State remained close because its defense forced four turnovers.

The Seminoles recovered a fumble on SMU’s opening possession, intercepted Jennings twice and capitalized on a viral special-teams play. Australian punter Daniel Hughes used an unconventional spinning “tornado kick” that proved difficult to field. SMU muffed the punt, allowing Florida State to recover at the Mustangs’ 27-yard line.

Despite those opportunities, Florida State could not produce enough points. The Seminoles generated 199 rushing yards but only 125 passing yards and repeatedly stalled on third down.

SMU, by comparison, averaged approximately 8.7 yards per offensive play. The Mustangs’ explosive passing game continually erased the damage created by their turnovers.

Jennings and SMU Take Control in the Fourth Quarter

Florida State tied the game at 17 during the third quarter while holding SMU scoreless. The Seminoles appeared positioned to convert the Mustangs’ mistakes into a pivotal ACC victory.

Jennings responded during the fourth quarter.

The SMU quarterback led a touchdown drive that restored the Mustangs’ seven-point advantage. Florida State answered again, tying the game at 24 and placing the outcome in the hands of whichever offense could produce the final possession.

Jennings received the ball with enough time to mount one more drive. Shaking off his earlier interceptions, he moved SMU 65 yards and into the Florida State red zone.

Rather than forcing the ball into the end zone, SMU protected the possession and positioned Reed for a short field goal. Reed converted from 20 yards with 21 seconds remaining.

Florida State could not produce a final answer, allowing SMU to escape with a three-point victory.

Kevin Jennings Overcomes Mistakes With Career Night

Jennings’ final statistics demonstrated why SMU entered the season ranked among the country’s top 20 teams.

The quarterback finished with 430 passing yards, three touchdown passes and 54 rushing yards. He created 484 of SMU’s 585 total yards despite Florida State’s defense intercepting him twice.

Four SMU receivers surpassed 70 receiving yards. Florida State transfer tight end Randy Pittman Jr. contributed against his former team, while the Mustangs repeatedly stretched the Seminoles’ secondary vertically.

SMU running back Kendrick Raphael added 75 rushing yards, providing enough balance to prevent Florida State from dropping every available defender into coverage.

The Mustangs cannot expect to overcome four turnovers consistently, especially against the strongest teams on their schedule. Monday’s victory nevertheless showed that Jennings and the SMU offense possess enough explosiveness to survive an otherwise damaging performance.

Florida State Wastes Four-Turnover Advantage

Florida State’s defense did more than enough to give the Seminoles a chance. The unit forced four turnovers and kept SMU scoreless during the third quarter.

The offense failed to take advantage.

Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels struggled to establish a consistent downfield passing attack. The Seminoles leaned heavily on their rushing game, but SMU forced them into too many third-and-long situations.

Florida State converted only two of 14 third-down attempts and went 2-for-4 on fourth down. That inefficiency prevented the Seminoles from sustaining possessions and left the defense exposed to 430 passing yards.

The Seminoles also controlled the ball for 32:16, nearly five minutes longer than SMU, but possession time meant little when so many drives ended without points.

The loss dropped Florida State to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in ACC play. More concerning for head coach Mike Norvell, the Seminoles have now lost three consecutive ACC openers.

Florida State has also accumulated 14 conference losses since the beginning of the 2024 season, adding pressure to a program that entered the year needing significant improvement.

SMU Extends Its ACC Success

SMU improved to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC while strengthening its position as a conference championship contender.

The Mustangs have won both meetings with Florida State since joining the ACC and have compiled a 15-2 record in conference games during that span. Their ability to win in Tallahassee despite four turnovers represents another meaningful step for a program that has quickly become one of the league’s strongest.

SMU will host UC Davis in its next game. Florida State enters a bye week before traveling to face No. 13 Alabama, a matchup that will provide another significant test for Norvell and the Seminoles.

SMU–Florida State Final Statistics

• Final score: No. 19 SMU 27, Florida State 24
• Total yards: SMU 585, Florida State 324
• Passing yards: SMU 430, Florida State 125
• Rushing yards: Florida State 199, SMU 155
• First downs: SMU 23, Florida State 16
• Turnovers: SMU 4, Florida State 0
• Third-down conversions: SMU 8-for-14, Florida State 2-for-14
• Time of possession: Florida State 32:16, SMU 27:44
• Winning score: Nick Reed’s 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining

Turning Point

Florida State tied the score at 24 late in the fourth quarter, but Jennings responded with a poised 65-yard drive. SMU protected the football, advanced into the red zone and allowed Reed to kick the winning field goal.

Star of the Game

Kevin Jennings, SMU: Jennings threw for a career-high 430 yards and three touchdowns while adding 54 rushing yards. His two interceptions mattered, but his explosive production ultimately overcame all four SMU turnovers.

What the Result Means

SMU should feel relieved rather than satisfied. Turning the ball over four times will usually produce a loss, but the Mustangs held a 261-yard advantage and possessed the best player on the field in Jennings.

Florida State faces a more troubling conclusion. The Seminoles forced four turnovers, controlled possession and played in front of their home crowd, yet still lost. The 430 passing yards allowed and 2-for-14 third-down performance exposed problems that could become even more damaging against Alabama.

The stadium blackout created the night’s strangest storyline, but Florida State’s offensive darkness ultimately mattered more.

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