Florida State opened the 2026 season with a victory Saturday night, but its 34-17 win over New Mexico State offered a mixture of encouraging developments and areas that will need improvement before the competition ramps up.
The Seminoles finished with 419 yards of offense, including 217 on the ground, and held New Mexico State to 319 total yards. FSU never trailed, but the Aggies remained within 10 points until the final four minutes despite Florida State entering as a heavy favorite.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from a season-opening win that left FSU's fans with some concerns.
Winner: Ousmane Kromah
The offseason buzz surrounding Kromah carried directly into Week 0. The sophomore rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, averaging 8.2 yards per
attempt. His one-yard score with 4:01 remaining capped a 90-yard drive and finally put the game away.
Kromah looked explosive when space opened and gave Florida State a dependable option throughout the night.
Loser: Florida State’s pass defense
FSU effectively shut down New Mexico State’s rushing attack but had considerably more trouble defending the pass. Aggies quarterback Trey Hedden threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for the majority of New Mexico State’s 319 total yards. Florida State generated 3.0 sacks and an interception, but the lack of consistent pressure allowed Hedden to make enough plays to keep the Aggies competitive.
Quindarrius Jones’ end-zone interception on New Mexico State’s opening possession was a major positive, but the secondary will face significantly more dangerous passing attacks later in the season.
Winner: Florida State’s running game
A rebuilt offensive line faced its first real test and helped FSU establish a clear advantage on the ground. Florida State rushed for 217 yards, with Kromah leading a backfield that consistently moved the football. Kromah, Singleton and Quintrevion Wisner combined for 191 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
There will be much tougher defensive fronts ahead, but controlling the line of scrimmage was a positive first step, even if they struggled in pass protection.
Loser: Style points
Florida State got the result it needed, but this was not the emphatic opener expected from a team favored by more than four touchdowns. The Seminoles led 17-7 at halftime and were still protecting a 10-point advantage after New Mexico State pulled within 27-17 with 7:42 remaining. Kromah’s late touchdown finally created the 17-point final margin.
A 34-17 win makes Florida State 1-0, and that is ultimately what matters. However, with SMU coming to Tallahassee on Labor Day, the Seminoles have several areas to clean up before facing an opponent capable of punishing the mistakes New Mexico State could not.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Winners and losers from FSU's win vs. New Mexico State
