FSU-SMU game turns into old-school football after stadium power outage wipes out in-game communication

Just when we thought the college football weekend couldn’t get any crazier, a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium on the campus of Florida State sent school officials into a frenzy on Monday night in Tallahassee.

Minutes before SMU and FSU were set to close out Labor Day weekend with there ACC game to finish week one, the lights went out inside the stadium that forced both teams back into the locker room.

The game was scheduled to kickoff at 7:39 p.m. ET, but a power surge sent the stadium into darkness just as both teams had taking the field.

Trust me, the jokes could write themselves for Florida State, but this unfortunate set of circumstances for everyone involved turned into a chaotic night.

A very critical decision awaited, knowing there would also be no official replay during the game if both schools decided to play

Both SMU and FSU decided to play the game without half the stadium having power

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Every twenty minutes, officials from both schools and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips were meeting to discuss possible outcomes if they weren’t able to play the game on Monday night.

For the fans, credit to them for sticking around through the madness, with games being played in the stands and the Florida State marching band trying their best to keep them all engaged. But, this was a mess.

At 8:45 ET, following a third meeting between officials, the decision was made to play the game on Monday night without any type of communications. This included helmet-to-helmet comms, communication between coordinators or iPad usage along the sideline.

A general view from the 50-yard line inside Doak S. Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field before Florida State hosted No. 19 SMU in Tallahassee, Fla., on Sept. 7, 2026. (Getty Images)

Simply put, both teams decided to go full old-school tonight in Tallahassee.

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The officials were having to practice hand signals with the coaches from both teams at 9:06 p.m. ET, while stadium officials were praying that the power would be fully-restored by the second half at the very least.

No sideline communication for either team during the game

I’ve seen some things covering this sport, but tonight is up their on the list on wildest events that have taken place in the past twenty years on the field.

Both teams decided it would be a wise move to play without communications that are key for everyone involved in a college football game.

And, sources told OutKick that there would have been an ample amount of problems for SMU to play this game on Tuesday. The Mustangs host UC Davis on Saturday, while the Seminoles have the weekend off.

Head coach Rhett Lashlee of the SMU Mustangs stands on the sidelines prior to a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on Sept. 7, 2026, in Tallahassee, Fla. (Getty Images)

So, pushing this game back a day might have been the smart move, but would have been challenging for Rhett Lashlee and his football program. Also, you cannot just reschedule the game for later in the season for obvious reasons.

The outcome was crucial for Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, who was already feeling the heat coming into the season.

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SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee noted that his team had not practiced without coach-to-player communication in over two years, so tonight was the first time since 2024 that he had not been in communication with his quarterback during a game.

Even though both teams were dealing with the same problems Monday night, the result of this decision to play was going to haunt one of these coaches.

In the end, this might have been fun for the fans inside Doak Campbell Stadium and those watching at home.

But this was a massive gamble for SMU and Florida State to play this game Monday night, with so much on the line.