Florida State University Athletics
Florida State
1-1 , 0-1
SMU
1-0 , 1-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
| Florida St. | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Florida State Falls 27-24 to No. 19 SMU
9/8/2026 1:10:00 AM | Football
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida State football team (1-1, 0-1) fell to No. 19 SMU (1-0, 1-0) 27-24 in its conference opener on Monday night at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Florida State outgained SMU on the ground, 199-155, led by sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah, who once again led the Seminoles in rushing. Kromah set a new career high with 116 yards on a career-high 22 carries and added one touchdown. He became the first Seminole with 100 or more rushing yards in consecutive games since Trey Benson recorded three straight 100-yard games in 2022 against Georgia Tech, Miami and Syracuse.
Fifth-year quarterback Ashton Daniels finished 12-of-23 passing for 125 yards and a touchdown. His 15-yard completion to senior wide receiver Duce Robinson in the first quarter pushed him past 5,000 career passing yards. Daniels also added 71 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Robinson recorded two catches for 25 yards, bringing his career total to 100 receptions.
The Seminole defense forced four turnovers, including two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Senior defensive back Ja'Bril Rawls, fifth-year linebacker Omar Graham Jr. and junior linebacker Chris Jones each recorded a team-high nine tackles. Fifth-year defensive back Ashlynd Barker added seven tackles, a TFL and one interception.
For the second consecutive game, senior defensive back Quindarrius Jones recorded a takeaway on the opening drive, forcing and recovering a fumble to end a six-play, 44-yard Mustang drive. It marked the first forced fumble and fumble recovery of Jones' career.
On its second drive, SMU scored the first points of the game on a 50-yard touchdown. The Seminoles answered with a 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive. After moving the ball across midfield, Florida State faced a fourth-and-three, which it converted on a six-yard completion from Daniels to sophomore wide receiver Jayvan Boggs. The Seminoles then ran six consecutive rushing plays before Daniels capped the drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the season.
SMU threatened on its third drive, advancing to the Florida State 21-yard line. On first-and-10, senior linebacker Caleb LaVallee and junior defensive back CJ Richard Jr. combined to stop SMU for a four-yard loss. On third-and-10, LaVallee broke up a pass from Kevin Jennings, forcing SMU into a missed 38-yard field goal attempt.
SMU regained the lead with 5:35 remaining in the second quarter after stopping the Seminoles on downs and driving 43 yards on eight plays for a touchdown.
Florida State responded on its next possession when Kromah broke loose for a 54-yard run on his seventh carry of the night. The big play set up a 46-yard field goal by Gabe Panikowski, cutting the SMU lead to 14-10.
SMU opened its next drive with a 64-yard play that moved the ball to the Florida State 10-yard line, but the Seminole defense held the Mustangs to a field goal. SMU converted the 28-yard attempt to take a 17-10 lead into halftime.
On SMU's first possession of the second half, junior defensive back Nehemiah Chandler intercepted Jennings in the end zone on third-and-goal for his first takeaway of the season.
The Seminoles forced another turnover on a muffed punt, with senior running back Gemari Sands recovering the ball at the SMU 29-yard line. An offsides penalty on fourth down kept the Florida State drive alive. Facing another fourth down, Daniels connected with senior tight end Desirrio Riles for a three-yard completion to extend the drive and set up a six-yard touchdown run by Kromah, tying the game at 17-17.
SMU broke the tie early in the fourth quarter on a 79-yard touchdown pass to take a 24-17 lead.
Florida State responded with a big play of its own, as Daniels connected with senior running back Samuel Singleton Jr. for a career-long 39-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 24-24.
Four plays into the next SMU drive, Florida State forced its fourth turnover of the night when Barker intercepted Jennings for his first interception of the season.
SMU regained possession following a Florida State punt and drove 71 yards on nine plays, setting up a 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining to win the game, 27-24.
Florida State enters its first bye week of the 2026 season before traveling to Tuscaloosa for its first road game of the season at Alabama on Sept. 19. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
SMU 7, FSU 0
SMU - Cooper,Jalen 50 yd pass from Jennings,Kevin (Reed,Nick kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:38
SMU 7, FSU 7
FSU - Daniels,Ashton 8 yd run (Panikowski,Gabe kick), 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:37
SMU 14, FSU 7
SMU - Pittman Jr.,Randy 10 yd pass from Jennings,Kevin (Reed,Nick kick) 8 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:18
SMU 14, FSU 10
FSU - Panikowski,Gabe 46 yd field goal 5 plays, 47 yards, TOP 01:37
SMU 17, FSU 10
SMU - Reed,Nick 22 yd field goal 5 plays, 69 yards, TOP 02:03
SMU 17, FSU 17
FSU - Kromah,Ousmane 6 yd run (Panikowski,Gabe kick), 8 plays, 29 yards, TOP 04:40
SMU 24, FSU 17
SMU - Smith,Yannick 79 yd pass from Jennings,Kevin (Reed,Nick kick) 3 plays, 83 yards, TOP 01:05
SMU 24, FSU 24
FSU - Singleton Jr.,Samuel 39 yd pass from Daniels,Ashton (Panikowski,Gabe kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:20
SMU 27, FSU 24
SMU - Reed,Nick 20 yd field goal 9 plays, 71 yards, TOP 04:35