Florida State University Athletics
Saturday, August 29
Tallahassee, Fla.
7:00 PM
Florida State
1-0 , 0-0
34
vs
17
New Mexico State
0-1 , 0-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico St. | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| Florida St. | 3 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
Seminoles Defeat New Mexico State 34-17
8/29/2026 11:03:00 PM | Football
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida State football team (1-0) opened its 2026 campaign with a 34-17 victory over New Mexico State (0-1) Saturday evening at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Seminoles improved to 61-19 all-time in home openers and are now 23-2 under head coach Mike Norvell when allowing fewer than 20 points.
Florida State totaled 419 yards of offense, surpassing 200 yards through the air and on the ground, while finishing a perfect 6-for-6 in the red zone. The Seminole defense forced one interception, recorded three sacks and held the Aggies to just 47 rushing yards.
Fifth-year quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 17 of 27 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown in his Seminole debut. He also added 30 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah set career highs with 115 rushing yards, 14 carries and a 52-yard run. His 115 rushing yards are the most by a Seminole running back since Lawrance Toafili rushed for 118 yards against Louisville in the 2023 ACC Championship Game.
Senior running back Samuel Singleton Jr. led Florida State in receiving with a career-high 54 yards on four receptions and one touchdown. He also rushed for 42 yards and one touchdown, totaling 164 all-purpose yards.
The Seminole defense was led by fifth-year defensive back Ashlynd Barker, who recorded a career-high eight total tackles and one pass breakup.
New Mexico State opened the game with a 13-play, 51-yard drive that was stopped by senior defensive back Quindarrius Jones, who recorded his first career interception to put the Seminole offense on the field.
Daniels began his Seminole career at the Florida State 20-yard line and on his first play from scrimmage, he completed a 10-yard pass to 2025 First Team All-ACC senior wide receiver Duce Robinson. Florida State followed with two Kromah rushes for 13 yards before Daniels connected with junior wide receiver Micahi Danzy for 44 yards to move the Seminoles to the Aggies' 14-yard line. FSU settled for three points, with fifth-year kicker Gabe Panikowski converting a 43-yard field goal.
The Florida State defense then forced a three-and-out on the next New Mexico State possession. Following the Aggies' punt, the Seminole offense put together a seven-play, 60-yard drive highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Daniels to Singleton Jr. The drive was capped by a four-yard touchdown run from Daniels, giving FSU a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.
New Mexico State responded with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to cut the Seminole lead to 10-7.
Florida State and New Mexico State then traded punts before the Aggies forced a turnover on the Seminoles' fourth drive. FSU began the possession at its own 24-yard line and moved into New Mexico State territory following a 24-yard reception by Robinson before Daniels' pass was intercepted.
The Seminole defense responded immediately, as fifth-year linebacker Mikai Gbayor sacked Aggies quarterback Trey Hedden, forcing another New Mexico State three-and-out.
Starting at their own 42-yard line, the Seminoles quickly moved the ball as Singleton Jr. broke off a 20-yard run. Following the two-minute timeout, Daniels found Singleton Jr. for a four-yard touchdown to extend the Florida State lead 17-7 at halftime.
Florida State punted on its opening possession of the second half before New Mexico State put three points on the board following a 12-play, 68-yard drive, cutting the Seminole lead 17-10.
The Seminoles began their next possession at midfield after a 46-yard kickoff return by Singleton Jr. FSU faced a fourth-and-four, but Daniels found Robinson for a 16-yard gain to move the chains. Singleton Jr. capped the 12-play, 51-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown, his second score of the game, to give FSU a 24-10 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Two plays into the fourth quarter, the Seminole defense forced an Aggie punt. On Florida State's first play of the ensuing possession, Kromah broke multiple tackles on his way to a 52-yard run, pushing him over 110 rushing yards for the game. The Seminoles picked up one more first down before Panikowski connected on a 41-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27-10.
The Aggies responded with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to cut the Seminole lead to 27-17.
Florida State answered with an eight-play, 90-yard touchdown drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Kromah to complete his 115-yard performance.
The Seminole defense then stopped New Mexico State on downs, securing the 34-17 victory.
Florida State returns to Doak Campbell Stadium for its conference opener Monday, Sept. 7, hosting No. 19 SMU. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The Seminoles improved to 61-19 all-time in home openers and are now 23-2 under head coach Mike Norvell when allowing fewer than 20 points.
Florida State totaled 419 yards of offense, surpassing 200 yards through the air and on the ground, while finishing a perfect 6-for-6 in the red zone. The Seminole defense forced one interception, recorded three sacks and held the Aggies to just 47 rushing yards.
Fifth-year quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 17 of 27 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown in his Seminole debut. He also added 30 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah set career highs with 115 rushing yards, 14 carries and a 52-yard run. His 115 rushing yards are the most by a Seminole running back since Lawrance Toafili rushed for 118 yards against Louisville in the 2023 ACC Championship Game.
Senior running back Samuel Singleton Jr. led Florida State in receiving with a career-high 54 yards on four receptions and one touchdown. He also rushed for 42 yards and one touchdown, totaling 164 all-purpose yards.
The Seminole defense was led by fifth-year defensive back Ashlynd Barker, who recorded a career-high eight total tackles and one pass breakup.
New Mexico State opened the game with a 13-play, 51-yard drive that was stopped by senior defensive back Quindarrius Jones, who recorded his first career interception to put the Seminole offense on the field.
Daniels began his Seminole career at the Florida State 20-yard line and on his first play from scrimmage, he completed a 10-yard pass to 2025 First Team All-ACC senior wide receiver Duce Robinson. Florida State followed with two Kromah rushes for 13 yards before Daniels connected with junior wide receiver Micahi Danzy for 44 yards to move the Seminoles to the Aggies' 14-yard line. FSU settled for three points, with fifth-year kicker Gabe Panikowski converting a 43-yard field goal.
The Florida State defense then forced a three-and-out on the next New Mexico State possession. Following the Aggies' punt, the Seminole offense put together a seven-play, 60-yard drive highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Daniels to Singleton Jr. The drive was capped by a four-yard touchdown run from Daniels, giving FSU a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.
New Mexico State responded with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to cut the Seminole lead to 10-7.
Florida State and New Mexico State then traded punts before the Aggies forced a turnover on the Seminoles' fourth drive. FSU began the possession at its own 24-yard line and moved into New Mexico State territory following a 24-yard reception by Robinson before Daniels' pass was intercepted.
The Seminole defense responded immediately, as fifth-year linebacker Mikai Gbayor sacked Aggies quarterback Trey Hedden, forcing another New Mexico State three-and-out.
Starting at their own 42-yard line, the Seminoles quickly moved the ball as Singleton Jr. broke off a 20-yard run. Following the two-minute timeout, Daniels found Singleton Jr. for a four-yard touchdown to extend the Florida State lead 17-7 at halftime.
Florida State punted on its opening possession of the second half before New Mexico State put three points on the board following a 12-play, 68-yard drive, cutting the Seminole lead 17-10.
The Seminoles began their next possession at midfield after a 46-yard kickoff return by Singleton Jr. FSU faced a fourth-and-four, but Daniels found Robinson for a 16-yard gain to move the chains. Singleton Jr. capped the 12-play, 51-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown, his second score of the game, to give FSU a 24-10 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Two plays into the fourth quarter, the Seminole defense forced an Aggie punt. On Florida State's first play of the ensuing possession, Kromah broke multiple tackles on his way to a 52-yard run, pushing him over 110 rushing yards for the game. The Seminoles picked up one more first down before Panikowski connected on a 41-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27-10.
The Aggies responded with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to cut the Seminole lead to 27-17.
Florida State answered with an eight-play, 90-yard touchdown drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Kromah to complete his 115-yard performance.
The Seminole defense then stopped New Mexico State on downs, securing the 34-17 victory.
Florida State returns to Doak Campbell Stadium for its conference opener Monday, Sept. 7, hosting No. 19 SMU. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ FootballTeam Stats
NMS
FSU
Total Yards
319
419
Pass Yards
272
202
Rushing Yards
47
217
Penalty Yards
68
65
1st Downs
18
20
3rd Downs
10
8
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
28:28
31:32
1st Quarter
NMS 0, FSU 3
FSU - Panikowski,Gabe 43 yd field goal 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 05:08
2nd Quarter
NMS 0, FSU 10
FSU - Daniels,Ashton 4 yd run (Panikowski,Gabe kick), 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 02:23
NMS 7, FSU 10
NMS - Malone-Bradford,Brodie 33 yd pass from Hedden,Trey (Uvaydov,Ilya kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:26
NMS 7, FSU 17
FSU - Singleton Jr.,Samuel 4 yd pass from Daniels,Ashton (Panikowski,Gabe kick) 8 plays, 58 yards, TOP 02:49
3rd Quarter
NMS 10, FSU 17
NMS - Uvaydov,Ilya 38 yd field goal 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 05:15
NMS 10, FSU 24
FSU - Singleton Jr.,Samuel 2 yd run (Panikowski,Gabe kick), 12 plays, 51 yards, TOP 05:17
4th Quarter
NMS 10, FSU 27
FSU - Panikowski,Gabe 41 yd field goal 7 plays, 64 yards, TOP 04:08
NMS 17, FSU 27
NMS - King,TK 34 yd pass from Hedden,Trey (Uvaydov,Ilya kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:59
NMS 17, FSU 34
FSU - Kromah,Ousmane 1 yd run (Panikowski,Gabe kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:33
Game Leaders
CMP
17
TD
1
YDS
202
INT
1
Wednesday, August 26
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Tuesday, August 25