Stadium power outage delayed SMU Florida State game

A power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium delayed the start of the Week 1 college football matchup between the No. 19 SMU Mustangs and the Florida State Seminoles on Monday, September 7, 2026. The game, scheduled to kick off around 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, was postponed as stadium lights and the scoreboard went dark. The delay prompted both teams to return to their locker rooms while officials assessed the situation. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee indicated that both teams agreed to a 10-minute warm-up period once power was restored. While an official start time was not immediately announced, projections suggested a restart around 8:45 p.m. ET, allowing for the warm-up period and subsequent kickoff. The contest marked the final game of the opening week of the college football season and was the sole game scheduled for Labor Day. SMU entered the game with momentum from a 9-4 record last season, which included an appearance in the conference title picture. Quarterback Kevin Jennings was expected to lead the Mustangs' offense. Florida State, playing at home, sought a statement victory to bolster their standing in the conference.