College football’s opening weekend is going out with a bang.
No. 19 SMU travels to Tallahassee on Monday night to take on Florida State in a massive ACC showdown at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Mustangs are beginning their 2026 campaign, while the Seminoles enter the matchup at 1-0 following a 34-17 victory over New Mexico State.
SMU Enters With Major Expectations
SMU enters the season with plenty of hype surrounding the program.
The Mustangs have established themselves as one of the ACC’s top contenders and return quarterback Kevin Jennings, who is expected to be one of the conference’s biggest offensive stars.
SMU finished the 2025 season with a strong conference record and will immediately face one of its toughest tests of the year. A victory in Tallahassee would give the Mustangs an enormous early-season boost and strengthen their case as a legitimate ACC contender.
Florida State Looks to Make a Statement
Florida State has already played one game this season, defeating New Mexico State 34-17.
Quarterback Ashton Daniels had a solid Seminole debut, throwing for 202 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score. Running back Ousmane Kromah also provided a major spark with 115 rushing yards.
Now, the Seminoles face a completely different challenge.
Florida State will need to slow down an SMU offense that has the talent to put up points quickly. Playing at home could be a major advantage for the Seminoles, but they’ll need to avoid the mistakes that could allow SMU to take control.
A Chance to Set the Tone
This game could have major implications for both programs.
For SMU, winning its season opener against a Power Four opponent on the road would immediately send a message to the rest of the ACC.
For Florida State, beating the No. 19 team in the country would show that the Seminoles are ready to take a major step forward after struggling in recent seasons.
The two programs met for the first time as ACC opponents in 2024, when SMU dominated Florida State 42-16. The Seminoles will certainly be looking for revenge Monday night.
Everything Is on the Line
With the game kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, the entire college football world will be watching as Labor Day weekend comes to a close.
SMU has the ranking. Florida State has the home-field advantage. By the end of Monday night, one of these ACC contenders will have a massive statement win to start the season.
