Alabama Crimson Tide set to receive a major boost on offense just in time for revenge game against Florida State on Saturday
The Alabama Crimson Tide missed arguably its best offensive lineman last week against Kentucky, but all signs point to that changing when the Seminoles set foot in Tuscaloosa for a rematch on Saturday.
The Alabama Crimson Tide appear poised to receive a significant boost on offense ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated matchup against Florida State. Starting right guard Michael Carroll is expected to return after missing last week’s game against Kentucky, per ESPN’s Alex Scarborough. The timing couldn’t be better for Alabama, which has waited over a year to avenge an embarrassing Week 1 loss to the Seminoles in 2025.
Alabama offensive stats vs Kentucky
- 343 total yards
- 21 first downs
- 5.4 yards per play
Carroll’s return changes the calculus for Alabama
Carroll is arguably Alabama’s best offensive lineman and certainly the Crimson Tide’s best run blocker. The film from the ECU game in Week 1 showed exactly why. That right side of the offensive line was consistently creating dents against the defensive line, generating vertical displacement, and opening running lanes all game long.
Without Carroll against Kentucky, Alabama had to shift Will Sanders from left guard to right guard. There were mishaps, and whiffs. The Crimson Tide were still able to course correct, though, turning in a massive second half led by running back Daniel Hill, who rushed for over 100 yards. That performance came without their best run blocker in the lineup.
The bottom line is this: if Alabama could do that to Kentucky in the second half without Carroll, how much better could the offense have looked with him for the entire game? He is that much of a difference maker.
Florida State presents a trenches-first challenge
Florida State brings a defensive line and overall defense that is on par with, if not better than, what Kentucky showed. Assuming Carroll does in fact play and is at or near 100%, Alabama should be in a strong position heading into this one.
This is going to be a trenches kind of game, and to have back your best trenchman is a massive sign for the Crimson Tide.
The Seminoles are fighting for their lives right now. The players, the coaches, the entire program. Florida State just fired its athletic director this week. This is a game both teams are treating as a must-win. Alabama has talked all week about the physical will it wants to impose, and the mentality it plans to carry into the matchup.
Carroll’s return gives the Crimson Tide the best possible chance to do exactly that. It will be worth watching what he does against a Florida State front that will be desperate to prove it still belongs.
