Florida State football will take on another expanded ACC team in its fourth game of the season. But this time, it will be on the road.
In Week 5 of FSU's 2024, the Seminoles will travel to SMU. Like California, this will be the first meeting between the two programs.
It will also be FSU's first conference road game before returning to Doak Campbell Stadium to host Clemson the next week.
SMU left the American Athletic Conference with a bang. Last season, the Mustangs finished the year with 11-3, including nine wins in the AAC.
They went on to win the AAC title after defeating Tulane, 26-14, before officially joining the ACC.
Who is SMU's head coach
Rhett Lashlee will be entering his third season with SMU. He has been 18-9 throughout his tenure, including 11-3 last year, and his 2003 Mustangs won the AAC title.
He has been an offensive coordinator for five FBS teams, including SMU (2018-19). His last OC job was in Miami (2020-21) before taking the SMU head coaching job, replacing Sonny Dykes, who is now at TCU.
Last FSU vs. SMU meeting
This season will be the first-ever meeting of FSU and SMU.
SMU's top players
Offense : QB Preston Stone, 3,197 yards, 28 TDs, 6 INTs; RB Jaylan Knighton, 745 yards, seven TDs; RB LJ Johnson Jr, 576 yards, four TDs; TE RJ Maryland, 34 rec., 518 yards, seven TDs; 42 rec., WR Jake Bailey, 528 yards; WR Moochie Dixon, 25 rec., 441 yards, four TDs, 257 return yards, one TDs; WR 30 rec., Jordan Hudson, 425 yards, seven TDs, WR Roderick Daniels Jr., 370 yards, four TDs; OL Justin Osborne, OL Logan Parr, Collin Rogers, 20-27, 74 percent
Defense : DL Elijah Roberts, 37 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss' 10 sacks; LB Kobe Wilson, three tackles for loss, one sack, one INT; LB Ahmad Walker, 65 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five passes defended; one sack DB Jonathan McGill, 55 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, nine passes defended, one interception, 0.5 sack
SMU's key losses, additions
Losses: OL Marcus Bryant, OL Branson Hickman, OL Hyrin White, DL Elijah Chatman, DB Bryan Massey, DB Charles Woods, DB Chris Megginson
Additions: RB Breshard Smith, OL Savion Byrd, OL Andrew Chamblee, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, DL Tank Booker, DL Mike Lockhart, DB Jaden Milliner-Jones, DB Duece Harmon
Outlook on SMU
For two straight weeks, FSU will be the one to give both California and SMU an ACC welcome this season.
Before facing the Seminoles, the Mustangs' first four games included Nevada, Houston Christian, BYU, and TCU.
Fortunately for Lashlee, he has some knowledge against ACC opponents, especially the Seminoles.
While he was the offensive coordinator, the Hurricanes blew out the Seminoles 52-10 during the 2020 season. The Hurricanes finished that year 8-3 and 7-2 in conference.
While it's been four years, Lashlee added more depth on offense by bringing his guys from UM in the transfer portal.
SMU can scored. The Mustangs averaged 38 points a game on offense and only allowed 17 on defense.
FSU will be in a different environment at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Mustangs are 10-2 at home in the last two seasons, including winning six straight home games.
- Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at noon., ESPN
- Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
- Sept. 21 vs. California
- Sept. 28 at SMU
- Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
- Oct. 18 at Duke
- Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
- Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
- Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
- Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
- Nov. 30: Florida
- Dec. 7: ACC Championship
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Early look at Florida State football's Week 5 opponent SMU
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