Florida State isn't short on skill talent to build around Daniels. Duce Robinson is coming off a 1,000-yard season and pairs with Micahi Danzy to form one of the more dangerous receiver duos in the league, and the Seminoles added Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner to a run game that already had Ousmane Kromah and Samuel Singleton Jr. The issue is whether that talent shows up behind a program that's gone 7-18 since the CFP snub, with Norvell's seat warming by the week.
SMU isn't walking in unscathed either. Lashlee lost both of his coordinators this offseason and is breaking in new voices on both sides of the ball for the first time under his tenure, even with eight of eleven offensive starters back. That continuity matters against a Florida State team desperate to get off to a good start at home in front of its own crowd for the first time hosting SMU.
The history here is short but lopsided — SMU handled Florida State 42-16 the one other time these programs met, back in 2024 at Ford Stadium. This time the road trip runs the other way, into a building the Mustangs have never played in, against a Seminoles team that knows exactly how much this opener means for the temperature around its coaching staff.
However it plays out, both fan bases have plenty riding on it. SMU wants to prove last year's breakthrough was the new normal and not a one-off, while Florida State needs any signal that 2026 looks different from the two seasons that preceded it.