Alright, you won’t believe this, but the kickoff for the Florida State and No. 19 SMU game tonight got pushed back after a transformer reportedly blew out at Doak Campbell Stadium! Seriously, the lights just went completely dark as both teams were making their grand entrances, turning what should have been an electric season opener into a literal blackout.
Stadium Goes Dark: A Full-Blown Power Outage
Initial kickoff was set for 7:30 p.m. ET, but Florida State announced we wouldn’t get an update until 8:20 p.m. ET, followed by a quick 10-minute warm-up period. Can you imagine the scene? The stadium lights flashed, then BAM, total darkness across the entire place as the teams were walking onto the field. Minutes later, the stadium screens, somehow, still managed to display the message that the game was delayed because of a power outage. ESPN’s Taylor McGregor then dropped the bomb on the broadcast: Florida State tried to reset the stadium’s power and a transformer actually blew out. This wasn’t some minor flicker, either; there was even a campus-wide power outage overnight! This is a nightmare start for a game everyone’s been waiting for.
Big Early Season Stakes for Both Teams
This isn’t just any game getting delayed, either. The No. 19 Mustangs rolled into Tallahassee as a 2.5-point favorite over the Seminoles, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. FSU already kicked off their season with a Week 0 victory over New Mexico State, but their schedule is brutal early on. After this hiccup against SMU, they’re heading straight into an even tougher road game against No. 13 Alabama next week. Florida State is desperate to claw their way back to national relevance, and racking up some wins against ranked opponents right out of the gate is absolutely crucial for setting that tone. Meanwhile, SMU isn’t messing around either; they made it to the College Football Playoff just two years ago, even after going 9-4 last year. Talk about a high-stakes, early-season clash!
Once the power is back on and this game actually kicks off, these teams have a massive battle ahead of them. SMU will then face UC Davis next week, while FSU gets ready for that brutal road trip against No. 13 Alabama. Get ready, because these early season matchups mean everything, and every single snap will count!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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