Ashton Daniels accounts for two touchdowns as Florida State opens season with 34-17 win over New Mexico State.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Ashton Daniels made a strong first impression in his Florida State debut, contributing a touchdown through the air and another on the ground as the Seminoles pulled away from New Mexico State for a 34-17 victory Saturday night. Daniels, who transferred to Florida State after spending two seasons as Stanford’s starting quarterback and appearing in four games at Auburn last season, finished 17 of 27 passing for 202 yards. He also added a rushing touchdown while throwing one interception. The Seminoles leaned on their ground game throughout the night, finishing with 217 rushing yards on 39 attempts. Florida State eventually created separation in the second half, with sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah providing one of the game’s biggest plays. Kromah broke loose for a 52-yard run in the fourth quarter, helping him finish with the first 100-yard performance of his career. He totaled 115 yards on 14 carries. The Seminoles also received a versatile performance from Samuel Singleton Jr., who was involved in nearly every phase of the offense and special teams. Singleton carried the ball nine times for 42 yards, caught four passes for 54 yards and added a 46-yard kickoff return that put Florida State near midfield. He later capped the ensuing drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Daniels connected with Singleton earlier for a 4-yard touchdown, giving the Seminoles another important scoring connection in their season opener. “I think the team did well, I think the offense did well,” Daniels said. “Obviously, there’s some plays that we want to have back. But I think that we responded very well to some negative plays, putting points on the board.”

Florida State’s performance inside the red zone was a significant improvement from last season. The Seminoles converted all six of their red-zone opportunities Saturday, coming away with four touchdowns and two field goals. Florida State converted 80.7% of its red-zone trips last season, which ranked 95th nationally, while scoring touchdowns on 59.6% of those opportunities.

New Mexico State kept the game competitive for stretches behind quarterback Trey Hedden.

The Furman transfer completed 26 of 42 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns, finding TK King and Brodie Malone-Bradford for scoring strikes. Hedden also threw an interception on the Aggies’ opening possession. New Mexico State was particularly effective on third down, converting 10 of 16 attempts, especially when Hedden had enough time to operate from a clean pocket. The Aggies struggled to establish anything on the ground, however, finishing with only 47 rushing yards on 23 attempts. “It’s a lot different when you’re playing in these money games and you walk in the locker room and there is some genuine disappointment that there was a great opportunity there,” New Mexico State coach Tony Sanchez said. “I think we all own that, myself included.”

What It Means

New Mexico State: The Aggies showed they could move the football through the air against Florida State, but their inability to run the ball ultimately limited their offense. Hedden’s passing performance gives New Mexico State something to build on heading into next week’s matchup.

Florida State: The Seminoles opened the season with a win, but the victory also exposed areas that will need improvement. Florida State welcomed 62 new players to the program, and the offensive line, passing game and pass defense all face much tougher tests once ACC play begins.

Singleton Ready for Expanded Role

Singleton’s performance could be one of the most encouraging developments for Florida State. After recording four touchdowns and only one reception a season ago, Singleton remained with the Seminoles looking for a larger role. He immediately showed his versatility in the opener by contributing as a runner, receiver and returner. “I believe in myself, I believe in what I can do,” Singleton said. If Saturday is any indication, Singleton could become one of the more important pieces of Florida State’s offense as the season progresses.

What’s Next

New Mexico State returns home next Saturday to face FCS opponent Mercyhurst.

Florida State gets additional time to prepare for its first ACC test. The Seminoles will face No. 19 SMU on Labor Day, providing an early opportunity to determine how much progress they made in their season opener.