A true nightmare season in Tallahassee is unfolding before our eyes. After securing its first win of the 2024 season after a 0-3 start, Florida State traveled to Dallas for a matchup with SMU, feeling confident after scratching the donut off the record.
Confidence and hope are all but lost. A cataclysmic result on Saturday night saw the Seminoles get dominated by the Mustangs in SMU's first conference game of ACC play by a score of 42-16.
SMU QB Kevin Jennings put on a show, throwing a career-high three touchdowns and totaling over 260 total yards.
“It means a lot to come in and get a ‘W’ against any team,” Jennings said, “but for the ACC (opener), it’s a home game and a jam-packed stadium, it means a lot to the city of the Dallas.”
The Mustang defense stifled, to no surprise, one of, if not the worst, offenses in the country. The Mustangs forced three turnovers, including an 82-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter that sent DJ Uiagalelei to the bench.
SMU rushed for over 200 yards at four yards per carry, went 8/15 on 3rd down, and dominated time of possession—just an absolute clinic.
Many were out on SMU as a player in the ACC following its loss to BYU to begin the season, which looks like a much better loss now. With their remaining schedule, SMU is in the driver's seat to be a contender in the ACC:
- October 5th: @ Louisville
- October 19th: @ Stanford
- October 26th: @ Duke
- November 2nd: vs Pittsburgh
- November 16th: vs Boston College
- November 23rd: vs Virginia
- November 30th: vs California.
The Mustangs dodge Clemson and Miami in the regular season, whose to say they can't run the table with this schedule? Props to Rhett Lashlee for galvanizing his team after making a quarterback change early in the season and rallying his troops to splatter Florida State.
For Florida State, where does it end? What could possibly happen to make the 2024 football season any worse?
Since DJ Uiagalelei was benched in Saturday's contest in favor of Brock Glenn, Seminole fans should not expect a massive jump in production. If Glenn couldn't beat out DJU in fall camp and practice, what exactly does that tell you about the coaching staff's belief in Glenn?
The squad has no time to lick their wounds as they travel back home to Doak for a matchup with the Clemson Tigers, who will beat down this FSU team.
The SMU game was a must-win in order to compete for a bowl bid. This 2024 Florida State team is very much in the cards for a two-win season; the only "sure-fire" win left on the schedule is Charleston Southern.
It has been a genuinely disappointing last ten months for the university. Between the snub, the lawsuit, and now the product on the field, there is a total absence of optimism surrounding Mike Norvell's program.
With recruiting on a severe downturn, the fundamental lack of development of previous recruiting classes under Norvell's tenure, and the apparent regression of Norvell's ability as a coach and a leader, is it possible that conversations surrounding his future with the program begin?
However, if you pay Norvell's buyout, who exactly would the university target to be its next head coach?
One of the worst seasons in program history will only continue to get worse. The Seminoles are back home this week for a noon matchup with the No. 15-ranked Clemson Tigers.