Power Outage Chaotic at Florida State Football Game

Monday night at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee brought unexpected drama as a power outage disrupted the college football game between Florida State University (FSU) and Southern Methodist University (SMU). The game, marking the end of Labor Day weekend, was set to kick off at 7:39 p.m. ET when a sudden power surge led to a blackout in the stadium.

Both teams were forced to retreat to their locker rooms, and officials scrambled to address the situation. There was a potential risk for both schools, considering the absence of official replay if the game proceeded as planned. FSU’s head coach, Mike Norvell, joined the discussions during the delay.

After several meetings involving school officials and Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner Jim Phillips, a decision was made to continue the game without full power. This meant the absence of standard communication tools, such as helmet-to-helmet communication and sideline tablets.

Despite the lack of power in half the stadium, dedicated fans remained, entertained by the Florida State marching band. The officials decided to proceed with the game around 8:45 p.m. ET, emphasizing traditional methods of communication. Coaches and officials used hand signals, hoping for a power restoration by the second half.

Notably, the decision to play on Monday night without communication aids was challenging, especially for SMU. The team’s head coach, Rhett Lashlee, had not practiced without player communication since 2024, making this an unusual challenge.

Delaying the game posed logistical issues for SMU, as they were scheduled to face UC Davis on Saturday, while FSU had no upcoming game that weekend. Rescheduling for later in the season was also impractical.

The game’s outcome held significant importance for FSU’s head coach, Mike Norvell, as he faced pressure coming into the season. Simultaneously, Lashlee expressed concerns about adapting to unexpected communication disruptions.

Although entertaining for many fans both in the stadium and watching remotely, the situation was a significant risk for both teams. The evening ended as a memorable event in college football history.