This is also the first true meeting between these programs since 1964, when FSU won 36-0. There's no rivalry, no bad blood, just a heavy favorite trying to find its footing behind a new quarterback before ACC play gets serious.
FSU's roster overhaul goes well beyond Daniels. RB Quintrevion Wisner arrives from Texas, DL Chris Jones was one of the best tacklers in all of FBS last year at Southern Miss, and four new offensive linemen came in via the portal to protect a first-year starter. That's a lot of new pieces syncing up in a season opener, which is the one thing keeping this from being an automatic laugher — new quarterback, new line, first real game reps together.
Norvell's recruiting class ranked just 53rd nationally, which is part of why the portal carried so much of this rebuild. But volume and name recognition on paper are one thing — cohesion in Week 0 is another, and that's the actual swing factor here, not NMSU's chances of pulling the upset.
For NMSU, this is about survival and reps. Sanchez needs his retooled line to hold up against a much more talented front, and there's little reason to expect the Aggies to hang around late. FSU has the size, speed, and portal-fueled skill talent to pull away in the second half even if the opening minutes are sloppy on both sides.