Florida State pays seven figures for season opener vs New Mexico State
Florida State agreed to pay New Mexico State $1.4 million for Saturday’s season opener at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Florida State Seminoles will kick off their 2026 season against New Mexico State on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium. In a contract reported by the Tallahassee Democrat, FSU has agreed to pay New Mexico State a seven-figure sum of $1.4 million for the game. This agreement, known as a "buy game," allows larger programs to secure revenue by hosting smaller opponents for a single contest.
Florida State's payment to New Mexico State surpasses the guarantees they paid Kent State ($1.2 million) and East Texas A&M ($450,000) for their respective meetings at Tallahassee in 2025. It is only the second time these programs have faced each other, with the Seminoles winning a 36-0 victory in 1964. New Mexico State enters this season after posting a 4-8 record in 2025, after finishing under head coach Tony Sanchez.
Following Saturday's opener, FSU will host SMU in Week 2 and travel to Alabama for their Week 3 contest. Regardless of the outcome, New Mexico State will depart Tallahassee with a substantial addition to their athletic department's revenue - the $1.4 million payment for one night at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
