Mike Norvell enters a high-stakes crossroads as the Seminoles invade Tuscaloosa. Facing a revamped Crimson Tide, Florida State must overcome historical droughts to save their coach’s legacy.
As the 2025 college football season played itself out, the Florida State Seminoles pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season when they defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 31-17 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Week 1.
The Seminoles defense stood up to the challenge and held Alabama to 87 yards rushing in a decisive victory. Then the Crimson Tide reeled off eight straight wins on their way to a College Football Playoff berth.
Florida State imploded after winning their first three games, and lost seven of their final nine games to finish the season 5-7. Then the athletic administration handed coach Mike Norvell the keys to the building for one more season.
This is a do-or-die season for Norvell. Gus Malzahn retired. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos has moved on. Norvell quickly named former Auburn transfer signal-caller Ashton Daniels as his starter for the 2026 season after 15 spring practices concluded.
Florida State will be tested early in the non-conference portion, traveling to Tuscaloosa in Week 3 to play the return game with the Crimson Tide.
The Seminoles will be talented at running back, wide receiver and on defense. However, better coaching and laser-focused player development will determine the Seminoles success in the upcoming season.
Make no mistake, Alabama will be equally talented.
After a playoff win at Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide was on the short end of a 38-3 beat down to Indiana in the Rose Bowl to finish the season at 11-4.
Quarterback Ty Simpson, with just 15 collegiate starts to his credit, was drafted No. 13 overall by the Rams in the first round of last month’s NFL Draft. Alabama 10 players drafted into the league.
The Crimson Tide will still be talented in all phases of the game. At the most important position on the field, coach Kalen DeBoer will choose between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.
Neither one was named the official starter after spring practice. That will depend on one or the other separating himself in fall camp. Mack played in only four games last season, threw two touchdown passes, but mostly held a clipboard.
Russell, as a true freshman, also threw two touchdown passes. Whoever is quarterbacking the Crimson Tide will be throwing to receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. Coleman-Williams hauled in 49 passes for 689 yards and four scores, but took a step back from his All-SEC performance of 2024.
On defense, the Crimson Tide secondary will be elite with safety Bray Hubbard and cornerback Zabien Brown. Both combined for six interceptions last season, and Brown returned both of his for touchdowns, including one pick six that went for 50 yards in the playoff win over the Sooners.
Since the end of the Saban era in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has gone 20-8 the past two seasons under DeBoer.
The Seminoles will invade hostile territory in Tuscaloosa, where they have never beaten an Alabama team on the gridiron.
Alabama owns a 3-1-1 record over Florida State. To Norvell and the Seminoles, know your enemy and prepare accordingly. The Seminoles have gone 7-17 the last two seasons, and Norvell must right the ship in 2026, or go down with it.
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