Power Outage Forces FSU-SMU Game to "Old-School" Football Without Communications

A significant power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium minutes before kickoff on Monday night forced Florida State and SMU to play their ACC game without sideline communications, turning the contest into an "old-school" football matchup. The stadium lights went out as both teams had taken the field, leading to a temporary halt in proceedings and a scramble to determine the game's status.

Officials from both schools and ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips met multiple times to discuss options. Ultimately, a decision was made at 8:45 p.m. ET to proceed with the game without any form of electronic communication. This included helmet-to-helmet communication for players, communication between coaches and coordinators, and the use of iPads on the sideline.

Both SMU and Florida State agreed to play under these conditions, despite the critical role these communication systems play in modern college football. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee noted that his team had not practiced without coach-to-player communication in over two years. The decision to play without these tools presented a significant gamble for both programs, with the outcome potentially impacting coaches facing pressure.

Fans remained engaged during the delay, with the Florida State marching band attempting to entertain the crowd. The power surge occurred just before the scheduled 7:39 p.m. ET kickoff. A key consideration for playing the game Monday night was SMU's upcoming Saturday game, making a postponement to Tuesday or later potentially problematic for the Mustangs' schedule. Florida State had the following weekend off.

Fans were credited for their patience during the unusual circumstances, with games played in the stands and the marching band providing entertainment amidst the power disruption. The officials even had to practice hand signals with coaches around 9:06 p.m. ET as they hoped for a power restoration by the second half. This event marked one of the most unusual occurrences in college football in recent years, forcing a return to a more rudimentary style of play.