On a wet Saturday night in Tallahassee, Florida State announced itself on the national stage, beating No. 8 Alabama 31-17 at Doak Campbell Stadium and opening the 2025 season with a signature upset that showcased a faster, more physical Seminoles team.
Key Takeaways
- Final: Florida State 31, No. 8 Alabama 17, at Doak Campbell Stadium (Tallahassee).
- FSU’s defense settled after a 16-play Alabama opening TD drive and controlled the rest of the game.
- QB Tommy Castellanos managed the offense efficiently: 152 passing yards, 78 rushing yards (16 carries).
- Ground game led the way: 230 rushing yards behind a cohesive offensive line and physical tight end play.
- Playmakers delivered: Squirrel White’s 40-yard catch on 3rd-and-11 set up an immediate Castellanos rushing TD.
- Jaylin Lucas (88 yards on 8 touches) rebounded from a punt miscue with a late 4th-and-1 conversion to seal it.
- Freshmen and newcomers impacted the defense, with multiple QB pressures from DL Mandrell Desir.
- Alabama QB Ty Simpson faced steady pressure as the Tide averaged just over 4 yards per play after their first drive.
Verified Facts
Florida State absorbed an early punch when Alabama marched 16 plays for a touchdown on the opening series. The Seminoles responded immediately with a scoring drive capped by a perimeter keeper from Tommy Castellanos, coming one snap after he hit Squirrel White for a diving 40-yard gain on 3rd-and-11.
From there, FSU’s defense rotated more than 20 contributors, tightened its coverage, and consistently hurried Ty Simpson. The Tide managed just over four yards per snap after that first possession. Former Alabama defensive back Earl Little Jr. set a physical tone and led FSU with nine tackles, while up-and-comers such as Ashlynd Barker, linebacker Justin Cryer, and freshman lineman Mandrell Desir produced timely stops and pressures.
Offensively, FSU blended inside zone and gap runs with jet-sweep stressors to widen the field. Castellanos finished with 152 passing yards and 78 on the ground. Jaylin Lucas totaled 88 yards on eight touches and, after a muffed punt swung field position, helped atone by converting a late fourth-and-short that effectively iced the game. True freshman Micahi Danzy flashed long speed with 56 yards and a touchdown on just three touches. Tight end Randy Pittman’s edge blocking and a cohesive line fueled a 230-yard rushing night.
The victory came against an Alabama team ranked eighth nationally and favored by 13.5 points entering kickoff. It also doubled as a successful unveiling for a “new-look” Seminoles roster and upgraded stadium presentation, underscoring the program’s reset under head coach Mike Norvell and a refreshed staff that includes defensive coordinator Tony White.
Context & Impact
FSU’s win immediately alters early-season expectations. Beating a top-10 opponent with a clear physical edge suggests the Seminoles’ portal additions, freshman class, and schematic tweaks have coalesced faster than anticipated. The performance also offers a credible defensive identity—aggressive, deep in the rotation, and fast to the ball.
For Alabama, growing pains under a new starting quarterback were compounded by protection issues and down-to-down inefficiency once FSU adjusted. The Tide will need cleaner early-down execution and answers for pressure to stabilize their offense.
For Florida State, the path forward hinges on sustaining trench dominance and mistake management. Saturday’s complementary football—the offense answering pressure moments and the defense protecting short fields—looked replicable, not fluky, which is why this result will resonate in September polls and playoff conversations.
By the numbers
| Category | FSU | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 31 | 17 |
| Rushing yards | 230 | — |
| QB (pass/rush) | Castellanos: 152 / 78 | Simpson: under pressure often |
| Explosive play | White 40-yd catch (3rd-&-11) | — |
| Key rookie impact | Danzy: 56 yds, TD (3 touches) | — |
How the game turned
- Answering score: FSU matched Alabama’s opening TD with an immediate touchdown drive.
- Defensive adjustment: After drive one, FSU’s front consistently disrupted protection and timing.
- Special teams response: Following a muffed punt, FSU’s defense forced a turnover on downs to protect the lead.
- Close-out sequence: Lucas powered through for a 4th-and-1 conversion before the two-minute mark.
Official Statements
We stayed calm after the opening drive and chose to be the aggressor in every phase.
Mike Norvell, Florida State head coach
This is the standard we wanted to set on defense—and across the team.
Justin Cryer, Florida State linebacker
Unconfirmed
- Staffing note: The original report referenced Gus Malzahn among new coaches. As of publication, that specific staff addition was not independently verified against FSU’s official directory.
- Atmospherics: Mentions of a rainbow over the stadium and the sideline dancing to “Crank That” are color details reported from the scene and were not corroborated by broadcast review.
- Postgame scene: The claim that former FSU star Dalvin Cook joined a field-storming crowd is attributed to on-site reporting; independent confirmation was not available at press time.
Bottom Line
Florida State didn’t just spring an upset—it imposed a style that travels: tough fronts, rotation depth, and a ground game that finished drives and the fourth quarter. If the Seminoles reproduce this blueprint, the conversation around their 2025 ceiling changes immediately.