Florida State beats New Mexico State 34-17

New Mexico State0-117
Florida State1-034Final
Sat, Aug 29 · Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla. · Crowd 65,915The CW

Florida State beat New Mexico State 34-17.

We had Florida State favored. It won.

Top comment in the game thread

Leave Norvell on the tarmac. I know the games in Tallahassee. Drive him to the airport and leave him there.

Q2 10:49 · r/CFB game thread · Sat, Aug 29

How it swung

Before kickoff, our ratings gave Florida State an 80% chance, and the closing betting line (Florida State was a 30.5-point favorite) put it at 99%.

Florida State led by 3 after the first quarter and by 10 at the half.

Q1Q2Q3Q40+17+17

Favored the whole way: Florida State never fell below 95%.

New Mexico State never had better than a 4% chance.

FinalFlorida State 34-17 New Mexico StateFlorida State wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4Won34-17ScoresChatter7 comments a minute3 comments a minute11 comments a minute16 comments a minute12 comments a minute19 comments a minute29 comments a minute18 comments a minute12 comments a minute10 comments a minute11 comments a minute23 comments a minute16 comments a minute13 comments a minute13 comments a minute11 comments a minute10 comments a minute12 comments a minute11 comments a minute32 comments a minute30 comments a minute24 comments a minute24 comments a minute19 comments a minute46 comments a minute63 comments a minute38 comments a minute35 comments a minute22 comments a minute31 comments a minute22 comments a minute13 comments a minute13 comments a minute11 comments a minute13 comments a minute26 comments a minute52 comments a minute32 comments a minute48 comments a minute38 comments a minute27 comments a minute24 comments a minute28 comments a minute16 comments a minute20 comments a minute17 comments a minute23 comments a minute15 comments a minute13 comments a minute18 comments a minute15 comments a minute8 comments a minute38 comments a minute30 comments a minute23 comments a minute15 comments a minute10 comments a minute9 comments a minute3 comments a minute
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50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q4Lost17-34ScoresChatter7 comments a minute3 comments a minute11 comments a minute16 comments a minute12 comments a minute19 comments a minute29 comments a minute18 comments a minute12 comments a minute10 comments a minute11 comments a minute23 comments a minute16 comments a minute13 comments a minute13 comments a minute11 comments a minute10 comments a minute12 comments a minute11 comments a minute32 comments a minute30 comments a minute24 comments a minute24 comments a minute19 comments a minute46 comments a minute63 comments a minute38 comments a minute35 comments a minute22 comments a minute31 comments a minute22 comments a minute13 comments a minute13 comments a minute11 comments a minute13 comments a minute26 comments a minute52 comments a minute32 comments a minute48 comments a minute38 comments a minute27 comments a minute24 comments a minute28 comments a minute16 comments a minute20 comments a minute17 comments a minute23 comments a minute15 comments a minute13 comments a minute18 comments a minute15 comments a minute8 comments a minute38 comments a minute30 comments a minute23 comments a minute15 comments a minute10 comments a minute9 comments a minute3 comments a minute
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q4Lost17-34ScoresChatter7 comments a minute3 comments a minute11 comments a minute16 comments a minute12 comments a minute19 comments a minute29 comments a minute18 comments a minute12 comments a minute10 comments a minute11 comments a minute23 comments a minute16 comments a minute13 comments a minute13 comments a minute11 comments a minute10 comments a minute12 comments a minute11 comments a minute32 comments a minute30 comments a minute24 comments a minute24 comments a minute19 comments a minute46 comments a minute63 comments a minute38 comments a minute35 comments a minute22 comments a minute31 comments a minute22 comments a minute13 comments a minute13 comments a minute11 comments a minute13 comments a minute26 comments a minute52 comments a minute32 comments a minute48 comments a minute38 comments a minute27 comments a minute24 comments a minute28 comments a minute16 comments a minute20 comments a minute17 comments a minute23 comments a minute15 comments a minute13 comments a minute18 comments a minute15 comments a minute8 comments a minute38 comments a minute30 comments a minute23 comments a minute15 comments a minute10 comments a minute9 comments a minute3 comments a minute

No single play moved the chance by 20 points.

No single play moved the chance by 20 points.

What fans said, play by play

The line in bold above each quote is written by our model from the thread’s comments and the play-by-play.

  1. Q2 10:49NMSU scores on third down, sparking FSU fans to call for Norvell's firingQuoted at the top of the page.Tony White is the Mike Norvell of defensive coordinatorsr/CFB game thread
  2. Q2 5:34Ashton Daniels throws an interception as fans mock Mike Norvell's coachinghow the hell Norvell beat Alabama I'll never knowr/CFB game threadI’m cool with firing Norvell and the entire staff after this gamer/CFB game thread
  3. Q3 8:47FSU fans lament a dropped pass by Rawls that kills a scoring driveThat drop is the kind of thing that he will wake up in cold sweats in the middle of the night 30 years from nowr/CFB game thread
  4. Q3 7:08Fans boo Florida State after Norvell calls a risky fourth down play against New Mexico StateI know this is a scorching hot take, but I don’t think Mike Norvell knows what he’s doing.r/CFB game threadTIL that New Mexico St actually has a Nick Saban defenser/CFB game thread
Florida State’s chance to win after every play.
How to read this chartStarts from the pregame line (Florida State -30.5), at 98% for Florida State (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores. The gray band is r/CFB game-thread activity, its loudest stretches in gold. A gold diamond marks a play fans were reacting to.

Every drive

Florida State scored on 6 of its 10 drives; New Mexico State on 3 of its 10.

Florida State’s drives are teal, New Mexico State’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.

own goalgoal lineQ1New Mexico State: Interception, from 75 yards out to 24InterceptionFlorida State: Field goal, from 80 yards out to 25Field goalNew Mexico State: Punt, from 75 yards out to 76PuntFlorida State: Touchdown, from 60 yards out to 0TouchdownQ2New Mexico State: Touchdown, from 75 yards out to 0TouchdownFlorida State: Punt, from 69 yards out to 63PuntNew Mexico State: Punt, from 78 yards out to 74PuntFlorida State: Interception, from 76 yards out to 40InterceptionNew Mexico State: Punt, from 68 yards out to 68PuntFlorida State: Touchdown, from 58 yards out to 0TouchdownNew Mexico State: End of half, from 75 yards out to 69End of halfQ3Florida State: Punt, from 78 yards out to 64PuntNew Mexico State: Field goal, from 89 yards out to 21Field goalFlorida State: Touchdown, from 51 yards out to 0TouchdownNew Mexico State: Punt, from 75 yards out to 62PuntQ4Florida State: Field goal, from 87 yards out to 23Field goalNew Mexico State: Touchdown, from 75 yards out to 0TouchdownFlorida State: Touchdown, from 75 yards out to 0TouchdownNew Mexico State: Turned over on downs, from 92 yards out to 59DownsFlorida State: End of game, from 41 yards out to 46End of game
“That drop was devastating. That might haunt him the rest of his life, gd”
A fan of another team

When fans got loud

Busy

It was the third quarter that had fans talking the most.

Jump to the loudest stretch

The jump was busy; the crowd was busy.

FirstSecondThirdFourthFlorida State fansNew Mexico State fansusual

Box score

Florida State 34, New Mexico State 17

New Mexico State covered +30.5 by 13.5. The total, 51, stayed under 53.5.

New Mexico StateFlorida StateTotal yardsNew Mexico State 319Florida State 419319419Passing yardsNew Mexico State 272Florida State 202272202Rushing yardsNew Mexico State 47Florida State 21747217First downsNew Mexico State 18Florida State 201820TurnoversNew Mexico State 1Florida State 111Time of possessionNew Mexico State 28:28Florida State 31:3228:2831:32
Team totalsNew Mexico StateFlorida State
Total yards319419
Passing26 of 43, 272 yds17 of 27, 202 yds
Rushing23 for 47 yds39 for 217 yds
First downs1820
Third down10 of 178 of 14
Fourth down1 of 21 of 1
Turnovers11
Penalties8 for 68 yds7 for 65 yds
Time of possession28:2831:32

New Mexico State leaders

  • Passing Trey Hedden 26 of 42, 272 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
  • Rushing James Jones 11 for 28 yds; Dijon Stanley 4 for 17 yds
  • Receiving Brodrick Malone 6 for 96 yds, 1 TD; Tyler King 7 for 78 yds, 1 TD

Florida State leaders

  • Passing Ashton Daniels 17 of 27, 202 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
  • Rushing Ousmane Kromah 14 for 115 yds, 1 TD; Samuel Singleton 9 for 42 yds, 1 TD
  • Receiving Samuel Singleton 4 for 54 yds, 1 TD; Micahi Danzy 4 for 51 yds

No rain through the game

83° at kickoff · no rain recorded

Game-day temperatures at Doak Campbell Stadium

Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Florida State favoredNew Mexico State favored100%Win chanceFlorida StateRaininches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWindmph, average and gusts20 mph40 mphHourly wind only at this airport
Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Florida State favoredNew Mexico State favoredRain · inches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWind · miles per hour2040Hourly wind only at this airport

Drag along the chart, or step through the game.

First quarter, 14:53 left7:12 p.m.
New Mexico State 0, Florida State 0 · Florida State 98% to win
no rain · 82°
Jones 1-yd run
Where this weather comes fromMeasured at Tallahassee Rgnl airport, 4.2 miles away. Rain is NOAA's radar-and-gauge estimate at the stadium and wind is an airport reading; neither is measured on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet; rain radar from NOAA MRMS, through Iowa State University. Field direction from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Before kickoff

Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.

Recent games

Last three games · 2025 season

New Mexico State · 4-8

Rated 150th in our preseason ratings.

L 24-31 vs Middle Tennessee #177 of 667

lost by 7 as a 3.5-point favorite

New Mexico State lost 24-31 vs Middle Tennessee. Chance to win started at 66%, low under 1%, high 84%.

W 34-31 @ UTEP #184 of 667

won by 3 as a 4.5-point underdog

New Mexico State won 34-31 at UTEP. Chance to win started at 31%, low 1%, high better than 99%.

L 9-42 @ TennesseeTop 25 #11 of 667

lost by 33 as a 41.5-point underdog

New Mexico State lost 9-42 at Tennessee. Chance to win started at 1%, low under 1%, high 1%.

L 21-24 vs Kennesaw State #111 of 667

lost by 3 as an 11.5-point underdog

New Mexico State lost 21-24 vs Kennesaw State. Chance to win started at 28%, low under 1%, high 34%.

L 16-35 @ Western Kentucky #106 of 667

lost by 19 as a 7.5-point underdog

New Mexico State lost 16-35 at Western Kentucky. Chance to win started at 24%, low under 1%, high 47%.

L 17-24 vs Missouri State #126 of 667

lost by 7 as a 2.5-point underdog

New Mexico State lost 17-24 vs Missouri State. Chance to win started at 51%, low under 1%, high 59%.

L 27-30 @ Liberty #119 of 667

lost by 3 as an 11.5-point underdog

New Mexico State lost 27-30 at Liberty. Chance to win started at 17%, low under 1%, high 71%.

W 37-10 vs Sam Houston #177 of 667

won by 27 as a 1.5-point underdog

New Mexico State won 37-10 vs Sam Houston. Chance to win started at 51%, low 44%, high better than 99%.

L 20-38 @ New Mexico #100 of 667

lost by 18 as a 17.5-point underdog

New Mexico State lost 20-38 at New Mexico. Chance to win started at 12%, low under 1%, high 41%.

L 14-49 @ Louisiana Tech #129 of 667

lost by 35 as a 10.5-point underdog

New Mexico State lost 14-49 at Louisiana Tech. Chance to win started at 17%, low under 1%, high 25%.

W 21-14 vs Tulsa #140 of 667

won by 7 as a 3.5-point underdog

W 19-3 vs Bryant #207 of 667

won by 16 as a 19.5-point favorite

New Mexico State won 19-3 vs Bryant. Chance to win started at 92%, low 90%, high better than 99%.

Last three games · 2025 season

Florida State · 5-7

Rated 82nd in our preseason ratings.

L 21-40 @ FloridaTop 25 #38 of 667

lost by 19 as a 1.5-point favorite

Florida State lost 21-40 at Florida. Chance to win started at 42%, low under 1%, high 50%.

L 11-21 @ NC State #55 of 667

lost by 10 as a 6.5-point favorite

Florida State lost 11-21 at NC State. Chance to win started at 60%, low under 1%, high 72%.

W 34-14 vs Virginia Tech #84 of 667

won by 20 as a 13.5-point favorite

Florida State won 34-14 vs Virginia Tech. Chance to win started at 89%, low 70%, high better than 99%.

L 10-24 @ ClemsonTop 25 #23 of 667

lost by 14 as a 1.5-point underdog

Florida State lost 10-24 at Clemson. Chance to win started at 35%, low under 1%, high 36%.

W 42-7 vs Wake Forest #60 of 667

won by 35 as a 12.5-point favorite

Florida State won 42-7 vs Wake Forest. Chance to win started at 84%, low 75%, high better than 99%.

L 13-20 @ Stanford #99 of 667

lost by 7 as a 17.5-point favorite

Florida State lost 13-20 at Stanford. Chance to win started at 84%, low under 1%, high 84%.

L 31-34 vs PittsburghTop 25 #43 of 667

lost by 3 as an 11.5-point favorite

Florida State lost 31-34 vs Pittsburgh. Chance to win started at 84%, low 8%, high 92%.

L 22-28 vs MiamiTop 25 #7 of 667

lost by 6 as a 2.5-point underdog

Florida State lost 22-28 vs Miami. Chance to win started at 53%, low under 1%, high 66%.

L 38-46 @ VirginiaTop 25 #43 of 667

lost by 8 as a 6.5-point favorite

Florida State lost 38-46 at Virginia. Chance to win started at 59%, low under 1%, high 79%.

W 66-10 vs Kent State #233 of 667

won by 56 as a 45.5-point favorite

Florida State won 66-10 vs Kent State. Never in doubt.

W 77-3 vs East Texas A&M #226 of 667

won by 74 as a 43.5-point favorite

Florida State won 77-3 vs East Texas A&M. Chance to win started at 99%, low 99%, high better than 99%.

W 31-17 vs AlabamaTop 25 #8 of 667

won by 14 as a 13.5-point underdog

Florida State won 31-17 vs Alabama. Chance to win started at 22%, low 11%, high better than 99%.

Matchups

Biggest mismatch: New Mexico State’s explosive plays against Florida State, 65 points

Each row ranks the two sides among all teams. The longer the line, the bigger the mismatch.

  1. New Mexico State’s explosive plays against Florida State’s defense

    65 pointsweakerstronger50th

    New Mexico State offense, 88th percentile · Florida State defense, 23rd

  2. Florida State’s rushing EPA against New Mexico State’s defense

    39 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Florida State offense, 83rd percentile · New Mexico State defense, 44th

  3. Florida State’s EPA/play against New Mexico State’s defense

    25 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Florida State offense, 75th percentile · New Mexico State defense, 50th

Season profile, all the rows

Season profile

New Mexico StateFlorida State
EPA/play, offense
New Mexico State ·…Florida State · 75
EPA/play, defense
New Mexico State · 50Florida State ·…
Success rate, offense
New Mexico State · 31Florida State · 51
Success rate, defense
New Mexico State · 53Florida State · 26
Explosive-play rate, offense
New Mexico State · 88Florida State · 92
Explosive-play rate, defense
New Mexico State · 74Florida State · 23
Rush EPA, offense
New Mexico State · 39Florida State · 83
Rush EPA, defense
New Mexico State · 44Florida State · 26
Pass EPA, offense
New Mexico State · 20Florida State · 64
Pass EPA, defense
New Mexico State · 68Florida State · 24

The series

Florida State leads the series 1-0

1 meeting since 1964 · Florida State won the last meeting

  • 1964Florida State 36-0

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

New Mexico State fans are in a better mood than Florida State fans (98th vs 10th among FBS fanbases), even with Florida State favored.

  • Model · 80%
  • Line · 99%
  • Florida State fans · 10th
  • New Mexico State fans · 98th

Florida State favored by 30.5 · Total 53.5

How games like this usually go

Florida State by 30.5, and it went to form

50%90%Q1Q2Q3Q450%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4

Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game

The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 411 games since 2025 with a favorite of 21.5 points or more.

The market

The spread moved 2 points toward Florida State.

opened −28.5now −30.5

Spread: −28.5 → −30.5

The books’ cut: 3.1%, the margin built into the odds

Home field

Florida State is worth +7.2 points (±4.2) more at home than on the road since 2018 — top tenth of FBS, 93rd percentile.

58% at home, 30% on the road against FBS opponents (29-21 home, 12-28 away).

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads +2.5 at home vs. away over 96 games — inside the ±6.3 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.

Night kickoff — historically worth about half a point more to the home side against the number, and not much more than that. The visitors travel about 1,327 miles to get here.

Where next