On Monday night, a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State University caused chaos before a college football game against SMU. The game, meant to conclude Labor Day weekend, faced disruption shortly before kickoff due to a power surge that plunged the stadium into darkness.

The scheduled kickoff at 7:39 p.m. ET didn’t happen as planned, sending players from both teams back to the locker room. The stadium’s situation was unfavorable, sparking jokes among fans, but it posed a real problem for organizers. Both teams decided to proceed with the game despite half the stadium lacking power.

Every twenty minutes, Florida State and SMU officials, along with ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, met to discuss alternatives in case Monday night’s game was untenable. Remarkably, fans remained through the turmoil, entertained by the Florida State marching band as games unfolded in the stands.

A decision at 8:45 p.m. ET allowed the game to go on without usual communications. This meant no helmet-to-helmet or sideline device interactions, necessitating the use of hand signals at 9:06 p.m. ET by coaches. Stadium officials hoped for power restoration by the second half.

Playing without key communications was a considerable challenge for both teams. Rescheduling for a later date wasn’t feasible due to SMU’s upcoming game against UC Davis, while Florida State prepared for a weekend off. Florida State’s head coach Mike Norvell felt pressure coming into the season, adding significance to the game’s outcome.

SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee noted the difficulty of playing without coach-to-player communication for the first time since 2024. Both teams faced the same difficulties, but the decision could impact the coaches involved.

Despite the challenges, the game offered entertainment to fans in the stadium and viewers at home. The risk was considerable for both SMU and Florida State, with much at stake.