Start of No. 19 SMU-Florida State Game Delayed by Power Outage
Officials delayed the ACC opener after lights and the press box lost power, and ESPN reported the outage forced a reset transformer that blew.
- On Monday, September 7, 2026, the Florida State Seminoles' matchup against the SMU Mustangs at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, faced an unexpected delay following a power outage just before the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
- The outage affected the press box, sound systems, and floodlights, with ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregor noting officials attempted to reset a transformer, but the "transformer blew."
- As fans held up lighted cell phones in the darkening stadium, both teams were sent back to their locker rooms while officials and coaching staffs remained in discussions regarding resumption.
- SMU coach Rhett Lashlee and Florida State coach Mike Norvell agreed to a 10-minute warmup period once power is restored, while ACC commissioner Jim Phillips awaited restart updates.
- The Monday night contest marks the ACC opener for both programs, though a storm warning in Tallahassee meant officials offered no confirmation that weather caused the electrical failure.
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The game between No. 19 SMU and Florida State kicked off after a delay of nearly two hours due to a power outage at the stadium. Power went out at Doak Campbell Stadium minutes before the scheduled kickoff.
ESPN crew baffled by 'insane' decision amid power outage at Florida State-SMU game
Jimbo Fisher and his huddlemates were not fans of the decision to push through with Monday’s Florida State-SMU game amid a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. The lights in the venue went out shortly before the game’s original kickoff time of 7:30 p.m. E.T. Power eventually returned, but only in a …
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