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FSU Delays ACC Opener vs. No. 19 SMU After Outage

9/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Florida State delayed its ACC opener against No. 19 SMU after a stadium power outage caused by a blown west-side transformer.
Officials set an 8:20 p.m. ET update and projected lights could return by 9 p.m.
The game may be postponed to Tuesday if lights cannot be restored.
Coaches Mike Norvell and Rhett Lashlee agreed to a 10-minute warm-up once power returns.

History

Historical Context

The August 14, 2003 Northeast blackout, caused by a FirstEnergy alarm-system software bug, left roughly 55 million people in the U.S. and Canada without power and forced the postponement of a Major League Baseball game at Shea Stadium. Today, Florida State’s ACC opener was delayed after a transformer failure at MetLife Stadium, underscoring ongoing concerns about stadium power reliability.

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Story summary

Florida State delayed its ACC opener against No. 19 SMU after a stadium power outage caused by a blown west-side transformer.
Officials set an 8:20 p.m. ET update and projected lights could return by 9 p.m.
The game may be postponed to Tuesday if lights cannot be restored.
Coaches Mike Norvell and Rhett Lashlee agreed to a 10-minute warm-up once power returns.

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