Up to date Sept. 7, 2026, 9:21 p.m. ET
The ultimate sport within the Week 1 slate of the 2026 faculty soccer season is a Labor Day matchup between Florida State and No. 20 SMU, though didn’t begin on time.
The sport, happening on the Seminoles’ Doak Campbell Stadium on Monday, Sept. 7, didn’t kick off a 7:30 p.m. ET as a consequence of an influence outage within the stadium. The ESPN broadcast famous the ability went out simply earlier than the sport started, and after it was initially reported the sport would nonetheless start on time, it remained delayed as sundown approached in Tallahassee.
The lights flickered contained in the stadium round 7:40 p.m. ET, however remained off. ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregor mentioned officers have been working to show the ability again on.
It is not the delay folks anticipated for this sport because it was occurring as a storm warning is in impact for Tallahassee, Florida. Nevertheless, it isn’t climate that’s the challenge, however the energy.
It wasn’t till 9:15, a hour and 45 minutes after scheduled kickoff, that the sport began. Try all of the updates to that time:
Florida State vs SMU energy outage updates
The Seminoles vs. Mustangs sport was slated to start out at 7:30 p.m. ET, nevertheless it was delayed till 9:15 p.m. ET.
McGregor mentioned at 7:50 p.m. ET she spoke with an official and after they went to reset a transformer, however the “transformer blew.”
Florida State vs SMU kicks off
After an hour and 45 minutes, the sport lastly begins with SMU receiving the ball.
Watch Florida State vs SMU on Fubo (free trial)
Recreation can be performed, with limits
McGregor mentioned at 8:43 p.m. ET the sport can be performed, with kick off aimed for 9:15 p.m. ET.
Officers mentioned they believed they’ve sufficient energy to play it, however it would go on with out a number of components, with the clock coming from the sector and no coach-to-player helmet communication. There will even be no PA announcer or scoreboard.
There will not be any replay overview out there, in keeping with the ESPN broadcast.
Florida State, SMU again on discipline
Each groups are again on the sector at 9 p.m. ET to start out the warm-up interval.
Officers ‘throwing a Hail Mary’ to get energy on
McGregor mentioned at 8:25 p.m. ET officers are “throwing a Hail Mary” on its final choice to get the lights again on. If it really works, it is anticipated lights could be again on at 9 p.m. ET, and every group would get a 15-minute warm-up interval.
If not, there are no choices for the night time, and the sport might probably be moved to Tuesday, Sept. 8.
A gathering occurred with ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, each coaches and college presidents. McGregor added one other assembly will occur at 8:45 p.m. ET to try to determine the subsequent steps.
As of 8:35 p.m. ET, there isn’t any up to date kick off time.
Some Florida State and SMU gamers got here again onto the sector round 8:35 p.m. ET.
Some lights activate, sport nonetheless delayed
A number of the lights on one aspect of the stadium turned on, however the press field aspect stays with out lights.
SMU coach Rhett Lashlee: ‘Disgusted’ with energy outage
Lashlee spoke with McGregor and mentioned he was “disgusted” with the delay, however joked “we waited lengthy sufficient to play, what’s one other half-hour?”
He mentioned sport officers have been in fixed communication with updates and hoped it might get mounted inside 10 minutes of kick off. When it wasn’t, it was determined to go again to the locker room. When energy is restored, there can be a 10-minute warm-up earlier than the sport begins.
