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

Florida State opened its season in Tallahassee with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State, and quarterback Ashton Daniels was the centerpiece on offense. Daniels produced both a touchdown pass and a touchdown run, finishing the game with 202 passing yards as the Seminoles took control early enough to hold off a late push by the Aggies.

Daniels contributed in two ways, first as a passer and then as a runner. The stat line described in the game recap showed 202 yards through the air, with at least one touchdown throw credited to him. He also added a rushing touchdown, underscoring that Florida State’s attack was not one-dimensional.

The final score, 34-17, suggests a game in which Florida State created enough separation to absorb New Mexico State’s scoring runs. While the recap highlights Daniels’ production, it also frames the win as a complete enough effort for the Seminoles to leave the first weekend with momentum.

For a team entering a new season, the early game picture matters as much for identity as it does for results. Daniels’ ability to both throw and run is a common foundation for mobile quarterback offenses, and a season opener is often the first chance to see how that skill set translates into points under live-game conditions.

Florida State’s next challenge will be consistency, because season openers can sometimes reflect preparation more than trends. The most practical takeaway from this one is that Daniels can drive scoring through multiple lanes, which gives the offense a cleaner path to big plays when defenses respond to the passing game.

New Mexico State, meanwhile, gets film on what worked against Florida State and what did not. With a 34-17 loss, the Aggies will likely focus on defensive adjustments and offensive execution for the next matchup, but the immediate storyline is that Florida State’s quarterback accounted for key touchdowns in the opener.