Thomas Castellanos was terrific, but Florida State offered another clear sign of why their huge win over Alabama could be a sign of things to come in 2025
It was a banner day at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Florida State Seminoles shocked the college football world on Saturday afternoon inside Doak Campbell Stadium, defeating the #8 Alabama Crimson Tide 31-17.
The Seminoles came in as 13.5-point underdogs to the Tide, but by game’s end, it looked like Vegas had gotten the wrong team listed as the favorite. And after 60 minutes had run off the game clock, it appeared clear – or should have to those who watched – that Florida State’s convincing victory wasn’t a fluke by any stretch of the imagination.
New starting QB Thomas Castellanos was huge, even if the stats weren’t off the charts. Let’s get that out of the way first. He was slippery and made play after play against an Alabama defense that had a hard time keeping him contained while covering adequately down the field at times, particularly in the first half. Castellanos finished 9/14 passing for 152 yards, but it was his 78 yards on 16 carries that were crucial and moved the sticks. He had some bold words this offseason about the Crimson Tide, and he backed them up in a big way.
Florida State’s offensive and defensive lines carried the day and should give hope for a big leap forward in 2025
But it was where it matters the most that gives me the belief that this FSU team could be different: the lines of scrimmage. Alabama has represented for years the gold standard on both sides of the line of scrimmage. A big offensive line that wears you down over 60 minutes. A defensive front that collapses pockets and causes havoc.
It was anything but on Saturday, and Florida State’s rebuilt lines are to thank for it. Defensively, Alabama put together a methodical drive that saw the Crimson Tide take an early 7-0 lead on the opening drive. But then it was as though a switch flipped. Bama QB Ty Simpson was running for his life for much of the rest of the game, under steady pressure. FSU totaled 3 sacks, generated a ton more pressure, and added 7 tackles for loss.
On the other side of the coin, FSU’s offensive line yielded just one sack and 3 tackles for loss. The Noles leaned very heavily on the run (49 attempts to 14 passes), and they turned them into an impressive 230 yards. It was a strong showing from the Seminoles’ five up front. Conversely, Alabama could muster just 74 rushing yards on 29 carries (2.6 yards per rush).
Florida State in 2024 was a team that got flat-out outphysicaled too often on the way to the program’s worst season since 1974. Just one game into a new season, it looks absolutely nothing like the dumpster fire the program working to distance itself from in 2025. And right now, those flames look pretty far in the rearview mirror.
