No. 19 SMU heads to Florida State with seven players ruled out and three more questionable as the Mustangs open ACC play Monday night in Tallahassee.
DALLAS - SMU’s 2026 season begins Monday night at Florida State, and the Mustangs will arrive in Tallahassee dealing with a lengthy injury list.
The No. 19 Mustangs open ACC play at Doak Campbell Stadium against a Florida State team that already has one game under its belt. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN, and the latest availability report shows SMU without several pieces on both sides of the ball.
The biggest concern is in the backfield.
Running backs Link Rhodes, Christian Rhodes and EJ Kelly are all listed out, immediately testing SMU’s depth in the running game.
The Mustangs will also be without offensive lineman Abel Hoopii, linebackers Kenneth Goodwin III and Caden Marshall, and cornerback Deuce Gilbert.
Three more players remain questionable: wide receiver Daylon Singleton and safeties Ahmaad Mosses and Jaden Miller-Jones.
That’s not ideal for an opener in one of the ACC’s toughest road environments.
Florida State has injury questions of its own.
Wide receiver Tae’Shaun Gelsey, defensive back K.J. Kirkland and tight end Gavin Markey are listed doubtful. Defensive lineman Darryll Desir has moved to questionable after previously being considered probable.
The Seminoles are also without wide receiver Devin Carter and defensive backs Chuck Kennon, Karson Hobbs and Jordan Crutchfield.
Still, Florida State has several players expected to be available, including running backs Amari Thomas and Zay Parks, safety Ashlynd Barker, cornerback Quindarrius Jones and defensive lineman Kevin Wynn.
For SMU, the challenge is bigger than the injury report.
The Mustangs are trying to open another nationally relevant season after back-to-back top-20 preseason rankings, something the program hadn’t accomplished since the mid-1980s. Monday also marks SMU’s first trip to Doak Campbell Stadium.
Quarterback play, protection and whether SMU can generate enough balance without three running backs will be major early indicators.
Florida State, meanwhile, has the advantage of already having played once and gets the Mustangs at home under the lights.
That makes Monday night a difficult opener. It also makes it a revealing one.
Follow Timm Hamm on X at @IndyCarTim.
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