SMU’s ACC credentials face test against Florida State
No. 19 SMU enters its ACC opener as a narrow favourite against Florida State in Tallahassee, with both teams facing an early test of their conference ambitions.
Florida State is scheduled to host No. 19 SMU at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Monday, 7 September, at 7.30 p.m. ET. The Week 1 fixture carries potential implications for the ACC title race, with SMU listed as a three-point favourite by CBS Sports.
Florida State opened the season with a 34–17 win over New Mexico State. Running back Ousmane Kromah carried 14 times for 115 yards and a touchdown, including a late score that helped settle the game.
SMU arrives with a recent conference record that CBS Sports describes as 14–2 across its first two seasons in the ACC, alongside a College Football Playoff appearance. The Mustangs defeated Florida State 42–16 in 2024, when quarterback Kevin Jennings threw three touchdowns.
Jennings is again central to the matchup. CBS Sports identifies the quarterback as a key threat to a Florida State secondary that struggled to get off the field against New Mexico State. The preview also points to Kromah’s workload as an important factor for the Seminoles.
The game begins a demanding stretch for both teams. Florida State’s schedule includes visits to Alabama and Louisville, as well as a meeting with Miami, while SMU will travel to Louisville soon after the Tallahassee fixture.
CBS Sports’ preview selects SMU to win and recommends the Mustangs at minus three. That remains a projection rather than a reported result, with no outcome for the game included in the available material.
