The Florida State Seminoles will open their 2026 season Saturday night against New Mexico State, and the Aggies are receiving a seven-figure guarantee for making the trip to Tallahassee. According to a contract reported by the Tallahassee Democrat, Florida State agreed to pay New Mexico State $1.4 million for Saturday's game at Doak Campbell Stadium. The agreement called for the payment to be made by July 15.
The matchup is what is commonly referred to as a "buy game," with a larger program paying an opponent to play a one-off contest at its home stadium. Those guarantees can provide important revenue for Group of Six and FCS athletic departments while giving Power Four programs an additional home date.
Florida State's payment to New Mexico State exceeds the guarantees attached to two of its nonconference home games last season. The Seminoles paid Kent State $1.2 million for its trip to Tallahassee in 2025 and East Texas A&M $450,000 for its visit to Doak Campbell Stadium. FSU defeated those teams 66-10 and 77-3, respectively.
Saturday will mark only the second meeting between Florida State and New Mexico State. The programs first played on Oct. 3, 1964, when the Seminoles earned a 36-0 victory in Tallahassee. New Mexico State enters this season after finishing 4-8 in 2025, its second year under head coach Tony Sanchez.
The Aggies represent the first step in a schedule that becomes considerably more challenging for Florida State almost immediately. After Saturday's opener, the Seminoles host te No. 20 SMU Mustangs in their ACC opener before traveling to play the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 3.
#state #tallahassee #stadium
The matchup is what is commonly referred to as a "buy game," with a larger program paying an opponent to play a one-off contest at its home stadium. Those guarantees can provide important revenue for Group of Six and FCS athletic departments while giving Power Four programs an additional home date.
Florida State's payment to New Mexico State exceeds the guarantees attached to two of its nonconference home games last season. The Seminoles paid Kent State $1.2 million for its trip to Tallahassee in 2025 and East Texas A&M $450,000 for its visit to Doak Campbell Stadium. FSU defeated those teams 66-10 and 77-3, respectively.
Saturday will mark only the second meeting between Florida State and New Mexico State. The programs first played on Oct. 3, 1964, when the Seminoles earned a 36-0 victory in Tallahassee. New Mexico State enters this season after finishing 4-8 in 2025, its second year under head coach Tony Sanchez.
The Aggies represent the first step in a schedule that becomes considerably more challenging for Florida State almost immediately. After Saturday's opener, the Seminoles host te No. 20 SMU Mustangs in their ACC opener before traveling to play the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 3.
#state #tallahassee #stadium
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