TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida State vs SMU game was delayed for nearly two hours Monday night after a power outage disrupted operations at Doak Campbell Stadium moments before kickoff.
The ACC matchup between Florida State and No. 19 SMU was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on September 7. However, the stadium lights went out shortly before kickoff, forcing both teams to leave the sidelines and return to their locker rooms.
Power outage in Tallahassee 👀
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 7, 2026
No. 19 SMU vs. Florida State has been delayed. pic.twitter.com/yDOpe1KNwE
What caused the power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium?
A message displayed inside the stadium said an electrical short in the main transformer had disrupted power to the west-side tower. Electricians worked to restore service while officials considered whether the game could safely continue.
ESPN reported during its broadcast that a transformer encountered problems while crews were attempting to reset it. The outage affected more than the stadium lighting, leaving the press box and several essential game-day systems without normal power.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips spoke with Florida State athletic director Michael Alford and SMU athletic director Damon Evans as administrators assessed their options. Moving the game to Tuesday was reportedly considered if enough power could not be restored.
According to an Associated Press report, the Seminoles and Mustangs returned to the field for warmups around 9 p.m., with kickoff following approximately 15 minutes later.
What was unavailable when the FSU-SMU game started?
Although officials determined that there was enough lighting to play, the game initially began without several systems normally considered essential for a major college football broadcast.
- No coach-to-player headset communication
- No sideline tablets or iPads
- No functioning public-address system
- No visible public game clock
- No fully operating stadium scoreboard
Officials kept track of the game clock on the field, while communication from the coaching booths to the sidelines remained available. Some replays could still be shown on the stadium’s video board.
Coach-to-player communication was restored with approximately six minutes remaining in the second quarter. The scoreboard later began displaying the clock and yardage information again as electrical service gradually returned.
The unusual interruption came during an important early-season ACC game. Florida State entered the matchup with a 1-0 record after defeating New Mexico State, while SMU was playing its 2026 season opener. It was also SMU’s first visit to Tallahassee, according to the official Florida State schedule announcement.
The delayed kickoff added another remarkable moment to the opening stretch of the college football season, which has already included dramatic finishes such as Bryce Underwood’s Michigan Hail Mary victory.
This report is based on information released inside Doak Campbell Stadium, ESPN’s game coverage and reporting from the Associated Press. Details may be updated if Florida State releases additional information about the electrical failure.
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