— Tallahassee, Fla. — Alabama opened its season with a 31-17 road loss to Florida State, as quarterback Tommy Castellanos and the Seminoles repeatedly exploited the Crimson Tide defense. Afterward, head coach Kalen DeBoer and senior linebacker Deontae Lawson emphasized execution and assignment discipline over game-planning as the primary culprits.
Key Takeaways
- Final: Florida State 31, Alabama 17 (season opener in Tallahassee).
- FSU averaged 4.7 yards per rush and 16.9 yards per completion.
- The Seminoles converted 5 of 12 third downs and both fourth-down tries.
- LB Deontae Lawson said preparation wasn’t the issue; execution and assignments were.
- Kalen DeBoer acknowledged breakdowns on critical downs that extended FSU drives.
- Tommy Castellanos’ mobility and FSU’s balance stressed Alabama’s run fits and coverage.
Verified Facts
Alabama’s defense struggled to get off the field in pivotal moments. Florida State went 5-for-12 on third down and a perfect 2-for-2 on fourth down, sustaining drives that bled time and set the pace. Those “money down” wins proved decisive in the second half.
The Seminoles paired efficient rushing (4.7 yards per carry) with explosive passing (16.9 yards per completion), a combination that exposed space at the second and third levels. Castellanos’ threat to run amplified misfit risks and widened windows downfield.
Lawson, a senior linebacker, rejected the notion that Alabama was caught off guard schematically. He pointed instead to details and accountability, noting that some defenders failed to execute their assignments on key snaps.
| Metric | Florida State |
|---|---|
| Yards per rush | 4.7 |
| Yards per completion | 16.9 |
| 3rd-down conversions | 5 of 12 |
| 4th-down conversions | 2 of 2 |
Context & Impact
This was a high-profile start to Kalen DeBoer’s tenure against a Florida State team comfortable leaning on a dual-threat quarterback. The outcome underscores early-season growing pains: communication, gap integrity, and tackling have to tighten before the schedule stiffens further.
The defensive tape will likely focus on leverage and eye discipline against option looks and scramble drills. Alabama has the personnel to course-correct, but consistency on third and fourth down must improve to match the program’s standard.
Official Statements
Lawson said preparation was not the issue and pointed to assignment execution, adding that some players did not do their jobs on crucial snaps.
Deontae Lawson, Alabama LB
DeBoer acknowledged defensive breakdowns on key downs and said corrections would center on fundamentals and detailed execution.
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama head coach
Unconfirmed
- Specific coverage calls or checks that led to explosive completions were not disclosed.
- No official injury updates affecting Alabama’s defensive rotation were provided postgame.
Bottom Line
Florida State’s efficiency and explosive balance exposed Alabama’s margin for error. The Tide framed the loss as a fixable matter of execution and accountability—problems that must be cleaned up quickly to prevent a ripple effect through the early season.