Florida State’s ACC showdown with No. 19 SMU took an unexpected turn Saturday night when a partial power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium threw the home opener into uncertainty and left both programs waiting to learn whether the game could even be played.
The Seminoles and Mustangs eventually kicked off in Tallahassee, Fla., following a delay of nearly two hours, despite the stadium still not having full electrical power. The outage hit at 7:29 p.m., just moments before the scheduled start time.
Play finally began at 9:15 p.m. inside a stadium operating under reduced lighting and stripped-down technology. Both teams had to manage without several standard game-day tools, including coach-to-player communication systems and iPads, while the game clock was handled on the field.
ESPN’s Taylor McGregor reported during the broadcast that booth-to-sideline communication was still available, but the night went on without a working public address announcer or scoreboard.
“They believe they have enough lights to play this game,” McGregor said.
SMU coach Rhett Lashlee told her that his team had not practiced without coach-to-player communication in two years.
Before the decision was made to restart, ESPN reported there were around 30 people — including the ACC commissioner and both schools’ athletic directors and presidents — in a room at 8:15 p.m. and that they were throwing a “Hail Mary to get the power back on” and were on their “last option.”
McGregor added that playing the game on Tuesday was a possibility.
This was the season opener for SMU, which jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, and Florida State enters off a win over New Mexico State.