The Florida State-SMU blackout game had no modern technology, wild conspiracy theories, and Seminole humiliation

It’s nice to know that things are always going get weird sometimes, no matter how professional, sanitized, and refined college football gets. The Monday night game between SMU and FSU was peak #GoACC as a power outage in Tallahassee led to the game being played in near-darkness, and without almost any technology. Speculation is running rampant about what caused the power outage, though officials have denied rumors that a traffic accident outside the stadium cut the power. We do know, however, that after a delay it was decided to play the game without any technology available to either team — which meant no headset communication, no was for the head coach and coordinators to talk, no PA announcer, no scoreboard, and and only dimmer-than-usual lighting. The broadcast crew couldn’t believe what was happening. The 'ACC Huddle' crew couldn't believe the decision to play Florida State-SMU with significant limitations amid power outage. "This is insane." pic.twitter.com/tSMjWods0A — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 8, 2026 The rationale from officials was that there was enough light to play the game and get it in the books, though it’s understandable that people were upset. This wasn’t some random DIII game, an FCS contest without much on the line or even a game vs. a cupcake — it was No. 19 ranked SMU basically putting their entire season at risk by playing a game against FSU. It was an equal disadvantage on both sides, but in these cases it’s always the higher-ranked team that has more at risk. SMU played sloppy as hell, turning the ball over four times, yet Mike Norvell and Florida State still couldn’t get anything done. One moment which seemed indicative of it all was this. Please watch #3 for FSU right before the defense gives up a 30 yard gain on 3rd & 10 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/6vKtVqRr7A — Chris Marler (@Vern_Funquist) September 8, 2026 Defense was ugly, but somehow the offense for Florida State was even worse, only managing to throw for 125 yard and going 2-for-15 on third down. The final play of the game really said it all, with the desperate Seminoles flailing around on the final play without a lot of direction, ending it all in an interception. No. 19 SMU walks into Tallahassee and takes down Florida State despite four turnovers and a power outage delay ⚡ pic.twitter.com/HBirROqFms — ESPN (@espn) September 8, 2026 Hard to imagine a more inauspicious start to the season for the Seminoles. Maybe they could have been happier if the game was postponed. This was utter humiliation for FSU who shouldn’t be getting bodied like this at home in the ACC against SMU — even if they were the higher-ranked team at the time. Heck, just the act of SMU being ranked when Florida State isn’t is endemic of how far this program has fallen.

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