Nick Reed drilled a 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining to lift No. 19 SMU to a 27-24 road victory over Florida State, capping a back-and-forth game that began with a power outage and ended with a frantic finish.

The Mustangs overcame four turnovers and two second-half ties to escape with the win. Florida State’s final possession stalled with a series of incomplete passes before a desperation pitch by quarterback Ashton Daniels ended up in SMU’s hands on the final play.

Kevin Jennings delivered three touchdown passes, including a 79-yard strike to Yannick Smith that put SMU ahead 24-17 with 12:37 remaining. Florida State answered with an eight-play, 75-yard drive, tying the game on Daniels’ 39-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Singleton Jr. with 8:17 left.

The Seminoles had another opportunity when Ashlynd Barker intercepted Jennings at the FSU 22 with 6:33 remaining. But SMU ultimately broke the tie with Reed’s short field goal, leaving Florida State little time to respond.

A stadium power outage delayed kickoff and forced the teams to begin without several essential systems, including the scoreboard, replay, public-address speakers, referee microphone, sideline iPads and coach-to-player communications. Full stadium lighting was also unavailable.

According to ESPN’s report cited during the game, coach-to-player communications, the public-address system, the scoreboard and limited replay were restored during the first half. Sideline iPads were expected to return after halftime.

SMU lost an early possession when receiver Jalen Hale fumbled and Florida State recovered. The Mustangs later opened the scoring with Jennings’ 50-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Cooper, finishing a six-play, 75-yard drive for a 7-0 lead with 9:32 left in the first quarter.

Florida State responded with a methodical 13-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 6:37. Daniels finished it with an eight-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7-7.

Reed missed a 38-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but SMU’s defense provided another opportunity by stopping Ousmane Kromah for a two-yard loss on fourth down at the FSU 43.

The Mustangs capitalized with an eight-play touchdown drive, taking a 14-7 lead on Jennings’ 10-yard pass to Randy Pittman Jr. with 5:37 remaining in the half.

Kromah’s 44-yard run helped set up Gabe Panikowski’s 46-yard field goal, cutting Florida State’s deficit to 14-10. SMU answered with a 64-yard completion from Jennings to Hale that moved the ball to the FSU 10. Reed finished the possession with a 22-yard field goal, sending the Mustangs into halftime ahead 17-10.

Turnovers helped Florida State stay within reach in the third quarter. Nehemiah Chandler intercepted Jennings in the end zone and returned the ball to the FSU 3. Later, the Seminoles recovered a punt muffed by SMU’s Yamir Knight at the Mustangs’ 29.

An SMU offside penalty on a successful 50-yard field-goal attempt gave Florida State a first down and an opportunity to pursue a touchdown. Kromah finished with a seven-yard scoring run, and Panikowski’s extra point tied the game at 17-17.

Jennings and Smith supplied SMU’s response early in the fourth quarter. Their 79-yard touchdown connection capped a three-play, 83-yard drive that took just 1:05.

Florida State answered again through Daniels and Singleton, setting up the tense closing minutes. Despite another interception, SMU found the points it needed, with Reed’s kick delivering the decisive margin in a 27-24 victory. Florida State and Mike Norvel move to a record of 8-19 since being left out of the College Football playoff in 2023.