On Aug. 30, 2025, in a raucous, newly renovated Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State seized early control against No. 8 Alabama and carried a 24-17 lead into the early fourth quarter, turning a heavyweight Week 1 showcase into a statement opportunity for Mike Norvell’s retooled Seminoles.
Key Takeaways
- Scoreline at latest update: Florida State 24, Alabama 17 (early 4Q, ET).
- Halftime: Seminoles 17, Crimson Tide 7 after three straight FSU scoring drives.
- End 3Q: Florida State 24, Alabama 10; Tide trimmed it to 24-17 to open the fourth.
- Alabama opened with a 16-play, 75-yard TD drive (8:50 consumed), then missed a field goal on its next chance.
- FSU QB Tommy Castellanos blended efficient passing with designed runs, powering Gus Malzahn’s debut offense.
- A 64-yard catch-and-run by Jay Lucas set up a short TD by Caziah Holmes, stretching FSU’s cushion in the third.
- Alabama’s new starter Ty Simpson threw the opening TD but faced pressure and fourth-down stops in the middle frames.
- Personnel notes: Alabama RB Jam Miller (collarbone) and DL Tim Keenan were unavailable, impacting rotation and push.
Verified Facts
Florida State answered Alabama’s scripted opening touchdown with a balanced march capped by a Castellanos rushing score, then kept stacking points. By halftime, the Seminoles led 17-7, having controlled tempo and the line of scrimmage for long stretches.
Alabama struggled to sustain drives after the opener, missing a field goal and later getting turned away on multiple fourth-down attempts. The Tide defense, billed as one of the nation’s best, allowed explosives and long conversions before settling in with a pair of second-half stops.
The game’s complexion swung in the third quarter when a 64-yard pass from Castellanos to Jay Lucas flipped the field and set up Caziah Holmes’ short TD run. Alabama finally punched back to start the fourth, grinding out a seven-play, 63-yard touchdown drive to draw within one score at 24-17.
Castellanos’ dual-threat profile has matched Malzahn’s scheme early, with quarterback runs and quick-game concepts stressing Alabama’s second level. Simpson showed poise on scripted looks but faced tighter windows and heavier pressure as the half progressed.
| Checkpoint | Score |
|---|---|
| Late 1Q | Alabama 7, Florida State 7 |
| Mid 2Q | Florida State 14, Alabama 7 |
| Halftime | Florida State 17, Alabama 7 |
| 3Q 5:55 | Florida State 24, Alabama 7 |
| End 3Q | Florida State 24, Alabama 10 |
| Early 4Q | Florida State 24, Alabama 17 |
Context & Impact
Alabama’s 2024 (9-4) fell short in Kalen DeBoer’s first season after inheriting Nick Saban’s dynasty. The Tide missed the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, hurt by multiple losses as double-digit favorites. This opener — Alabama’s first-ever trip to Tallahassee — offered a chance to reset that narrative, but the early deficit increased the pressure on Simpson and the offensive front.
Florida State’s 2024 collapse (from 13-1 in 2023 to 2-10) prompted a swift reboot: Norvell hired Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator and Tony White to run the defense, then hit the transfer portal hard, including landing Castellanos at quarterback. A marquee win to start 2025 would reframe FSU’s ACC outlook and restore national credibility.
The schemes are the subplot: Malzahn’s pace-and-space attack has leveraged Castellanos’ mobility and quick reads, while White’s defense has mixed looks to muddy Simpson’s picture on money downs. For Alabama, recalibrating protections and reestablishing the run-game rhythm are essential to finish the rally.
Roster & Recruiting Lens
- Florida State assembled a top-10 transfer class for 2025, adding impact pieces across WR, DL and OL.
- Alabama entered as the nation’s leader in the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, underscoring the Tide’s roster depth and expectation to contend.
“They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”
Tommy Castellanos via CBS Sports (Aug. 30, 2025)
Unconfirmed
- Attribution of a 40-yard completion to WR Squirrel White on an FSU drive was reported in live coverage; White’s roster alignment for this play has not been independently verified.
- Real-time per-play rushing averages cited midgame (e.g., 8.2 yards per rush in 2Q) reflect moment-in-time figures and may have changed subsequently.
Bottom Line
Florida State punched first and kept landing body blows behind Tommy Castellanos and Gus Malzahn’s fresh script. Alabama’s late third- and early fourth-quarter adjustments reopened a path, but the Tide must stack stops and finish drives to avoid an opening-week upset and keep early CFP momentum intact.