Florida State opened the 2025 season with a statement, beating No. 8 Alabama 31-17 in Tallahassee on , as quarterback Tommy Castellanos backed up his summer bravado with efficient dual-threat play and Mike Norvell’s late fourth-down gamble sparked the clinching drive.
Key Takeaways
- Final: Florida State 31, No. 8 Alabama 17, in Tallahassee.
- Tommy Castellanos totaled 230 yards (152 passing, 78 rushing) in his FSU debut.
- With under 10 minutes left, FSU converted a fourth-and-1 at its own 34; the drive ended with a 20-yard Gavin Sawchuk TD run.
- FSU controlled the line of scrimmage: over 200 rushing yards; Alabama held under 100 on the ground.
- Alabama lost a season opener for the first time since 2001 (vs. UCLA).
- Kalen DeBoer drops to 0-1 in Year 2 after a 9-4 debut season that missed the CFP.
- FSU rebounds early after falling to 2-10 in 2024, a year removed from 13-1 in 2023.
- Playoff implications: a marquee nonconference win boosts FSU and the ACC’s early profile.
Verified Facts
Castellanos, the transfer quarterback who raised eyebrows this summer by saying Alabama no longer had Nick Saban “to save them,” delivered a poised performance. He threw for 152 yards, added 78 on the ground and avoided the big mistake while extending drives with timely scrambles and option reads.
The pivotal sequence came with Florida State protecting a 24-17 lead inside the final 10 minutes. Facing fourth-and-1 at its own 34, head coach Mike Norvell kept the offense on the field. The Seminoles converted, and a few plays later Gavin Sawchuk broke free for a 20-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach.
Up front, Florida State’s offensive and defensive lines owned the night. The Seminoles rushed for more than 200 yards, repeatedly moving the pile on early downs, while the defense limited Alabama to fewer than 100 rushing yards and forced the Tide into long-yardage situations.
Historically, the result is striking: Alabama had not dropped a season opener since 2001. It also sharpens scrutiny on DeBoer’s second season in Tuscaloosa after the Tide missed the College Football Playoff in 2024.
Context & Impact
For Florida State, this is more than a Week 1 upset; it’s a credibility reset after a 2-10 2024 campaign that followed a 13-1 2023. A top-10 nonconference win positions the Seminoles favorably in an expanded CFP debate, especially if ACC peers add quality results in September.
For Alabama, the loss puts immediate pressure on a schedule that still includes Georgia, South Carolina, LSU and Tennessee. Style-point concerns fade when you lose a headliner; margin for error tightens, and the Tide’s physicality and discipline—recurring gripes from 2024—will be under the microscope.
Castellanos’ fit in Florida State’s option-heavy, QB-run-friendly approach could be a season-long storyline. If he continues to protect the football and exploit designed runs, the Seminoles’ offense becomes a high-floor, clock-controlling unit that travels well.
Early-season ACC stakes
This result strengthens the ACC’s nonconference resume and affects transitive comparisons the CFP committee will eventually weigh. Other intersectional games—such as LSU at Clemson and Notre Dame at Miami—will further shape that picture, but FSU’s win over Alabama will echo in weekly projections.
Official Statements
Castellanos’ offseason comments suggested Alabama wouldn’t be able to stop him without Nick Saban; he followed through with a clean, composed debut.
Player remarks via On3 reporting
Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson noted in July that any perceived disrespect would be addressed; Florida State controlled the response on the field.
SEC Media Days remarks
Unconfirmed
- Roster/role details in some reports—including Gavin Sawchuk’s 20-yard TD for FSU, a fourth-and-1 conversion credited to RB Roydell Williams, and staff references to a new offensive coordinator—require official team confirmation.
Bottom Line
Florida State didn’t just talk; it executed. By winning up front, leaning on Castellanos’ legs and trusting an aggressive fourth-down call, the Seminoles secured a signature September victory and a head start in the Playoff conversation. Alabama’s path is far from closed, but there’s real work to do—and little room for another misstep.