Alabama gets Florida State at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday with a chance to put last season’s stunning opener in the rearview mirror.
The Crimson Tide is 2-0 and coming off a road win at Kentucky, where it had to dig out of a 17-13 halftime hole before pulling away for a 45-17 victory. That game served as Alabama’s first real test of the season. This one carries a different kind of edge.
Florida State is the opponent that beat Alabama to start last season in Tallahassee, and this matchup has been waiting on the calendar ever since. Kalen DeBoer has tried to cool down the revenge talk, but there’s no hiding the fact that this game means plenty to the players, coaches and fans. Alabama would love nothing more than to make a statement before SEC play ramps up next week.
The Tide is a massive favorite, and for good reason. Still, Florida State has enough talent to make life uncomfortable if Alabama gets loose with the football or repeats the sloppy stretches it showed against Kentucky. That’s the one path to keeping this thing competitive.
The betting line reflects the gap between the teams: Alabama is listed at -1700 on the moneyline, while Florida State sits at +890.
On the field, the matchup points toward Alabama’s offense having chances to land big plays. Florida State’s defense has had problems against the pass, and even though its run defense has been better, injuries in the middle at linebacker could open the door for Alabama on the ground. Michael Carroll is back in the lineup, which should give the Crimson Tide’s rushing attack another boost.
Florida State’s offense, meanwhile, looks far more limited. Ashton Daniels can be dangerous with his legs, but his arm hasn’t been much of a threat. If Alabama can bottle up Ousmane Kromah and the Seminoles’ running game, the Tide should be able to control the afternoon.
If Alabama stays clean and plays to its level, this one could get out of hand quickly.
In Other News...
Keelon Russell May Have Changed Alabamas Ceiling Faster Than Expected
For a quarterback still finding his footing, Keelon Russell made Alabama look awfully grown up against Florida State. He helped drag the Crimson Tide out of a 21-6 hole, finished 23 of 30 for 320 yards and three touchdowns, added 56 rushing yards and another score, and guided an offense that scored on seven straight possessions in a 50-36 win.
The bigger takeaway for Alabama is not just the comeback itself, but how quickly Russell appears to be raising the programs offensive ceiling. He was careful afterward to describe himself as still developing, which is probably the most intriguing part for the Tide: if this is the early version, the rest of the league has reason to pay attention. [Read more 🡒]
Danny Kanell Takes Another Shot At Alabama Over Weather Delay
The Alabama-Florida State season opener turned into a long night of stops and starts after lightning pushed the game through multiple weather delays, turning what should have been a clean first look at both teams into a test of patience. As the interruptions stacked up, CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell took to social media and questioned whether the second delay was really necessary, adding another layer of scrutiny to a game already shaped by the weather.
Kanells comments quickly drew pushback, with the response centering on the safety standards that guide lightning-related suspensions rather than the feel of the storm from a TV booth or social media feed. Weather professionals then stepped in to explain the rules behind those decisions, a reminder that these delays are not made on instinct, even when they frustrate fans and analysts alike. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets An Early SEC Reality Check In New AP Poll
The first real stretch of SEC play has already started to reshape the AP top 25, and Alabama fans can see how unforgiving that weekly grind can be. Ole Miss win over LSU gave the Rebels another boost in the league race, while Florida moved into the rankings after a road win at Auburn, a reminder that early conference games can swing the national conversation fast.
Texas A&M also took a hit after falling to Kentucky, a result that only added to the sense that the leagues middle tier is still sorting itself out. For Alabama, the early poll movement serves as a useful checkpoint on what the SEC demands week after week, with contenders, sleepers and disappointments all starting to separate a little more clearly. [Read more 🡒]