How SMU views Florida State’s matchup after Seminoles’ lackluster start

Based solely on previous results this season, Florida State appears to be the easiest opponent SMU has faced all year.

The Seminoles are 1-3 with all three losses coming to unranked teams. They haven’t scored more than 21 points this season and the offense has struggled, especially over the last three weeks, failing to surpass 14 points.

Despite the disappointing start Florida State has had, just months after being snubbed by the College Football Playoff selection committee, Rhett Lashlee and his players at SMU view their first ACC opponent as the most dangerous yet.

“Sometimes the scariest teams are the ones that have so much talent and haven’t clicked yet,” Lashlee said. “No one missed the preseason predictions in terms of talent.”

SMU’s conference opener Saturday night will look different than it did before the season started. The Mustangs now enter as a 5.5-point favorite – a big jump from where they were when Florida State was No. 10 in the country entering the season.

But those who have expectations for the Mustangs — and a lack of expectations for the Seminoles based on their results thus far — have Lashlee and his players concerned.

Just because Florida State has lost three games doesn’t mean the Seminoles won’t still send several players to the NFL. Florida State’s defense is still elite, and the losses don’t change the fact that the team’s starting quarterback was a former five-star recruit.

“They’re a very good Florida State team, and obviously the gold standard in this league for a long time,” Lashlee said. “I feel confident that in my time here I can say that this is without a doubt the most athletic and fastest team we will have played.”

SMU’s offensive players say they have completely ignored Florida State’s record so far because, based on how the defense has played the last three weeks, it could have won those games.

“Their defense, they’ve played well the last couple games,” SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings said. “They didn’t really drop too many points, but they held on.”

As for SMU’s defense, it doesn’t address the outside noise that it comes in as a heavy favorite. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei may only have two touchdowns and three interceptions this season, but the former Clemson quarterback has been battle-tested in the ACC, coming off three consecutive 2,000-yard seasons and consecutive seasons with 20-plus touchdown passes.

“He’s a leader. He is a winner,” Lashlee said of Uiagalelei. “There’s a reason why they stay with him, because they know they can be the best version of themselves with him.”

Florida State finally broke through last week in a narrow 14-9 victory over Cal. SMU knows the program is far from reaching its full potential.

So even as favorites, the Mustangs channel an underdog mentality as a conference newcomer against its reigning champions.

“It’s only a matter of time before it all clicks,” Lashlee said. “They’ve picked up some momentum, so these are the scary and dangerous ones to watch because people perceptually think, ‘Oh, they’re having a hard time.’ There is plenty of talent there.”

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