AMERICANALMANAC (Ken Jacobs) - Power outage strips technology from SMU-Florida State football game
Florida State and SMU played through a stadium power outage with key communications and replay tools missing, turning an ACC opener into stripped-down football. The 2026 Week 1 matchup was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, but the outage forced officials to wait until 9:15 p.m. ET to begin play. Players and coaches took the field […] The post Power outage strips technology from SMU-Florida State football game appeared first on American Almanac .
Florida State and SMU played through a stadium power outage with key communications and replay tools missing, turning an ACC opener into stripped-down football. The 2026 Week 1 matchup was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, but the outage forced officials to wait until 9:15 p.m. ET to begin play. Players and coaches took the field without several tools now standard in major college football. The disruption affected sideline communications, replay reviews, stadium displays and other basic game operations. USA TODAY reported that seven technology or operating features were unavailable when officials decided enough lighting had returned to play. On-field officials kept the game time and used signals to tell coaches and players how much time…Open