Florida State’s decision to move on from Mike Norvell could end up giving Alabama a real opening with one of its top 2027 targets.
The Seminoles made the change on Sunday after Saturday’s home loss to Clemson dropped them to 3-5. Florida State announced that university president Richard McCullough informed Norvell the move was effective immediately, with FSU Athletics Hall of Fame member Rick Stockstill taking over as interim head coach.
Norvell’s run in Tallahassee had already taken a sharp turn after the program’s 13-1 season in 2023. Florida State followed back-to-back double-digit-win campaigns in 2022 and 2023 with a 10-22 stretch since then, aside from the upset of Alabama in last season’s opener.
For Alabama, the timing matters. The Crimson Tide have been pressing hard for 4-star safety Jernard Albright, and the coaching change at Florida State could shake up his recruitment in a big way.
Albright, a Springfield, Georgia native, has been taking a close look at Alabama in recent weeks. He has visited Tuscaloosa twice over the last few weeks, including an official visit for the win over Texas A&M. That kind of repeated contact suggests real mutual interest, and with Norvell out at Florida State, Alabama may now be sitting in the strongest position.
At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Albright brings the kind of size that makes him an appealing fit for Kane Wommack’s defense. The fact that he made two trips to Tuscaloosa in October says plenty about where things stand.
South Carolina could also try to re-enter the picture. Albright was once committed to the Gamecocks before flipping to Florida State over the summer, but he has not been back to Columbia this fall. Outside of his returns to Tallahassee, Alabama is the only program he has visited.
And Albright may not be the only Florida State commitment Alabama has a shot at down the stretch. Three-star wide receiver Majay Thompson, another player the Tide pursued during the summer before he chose the Seminoles, decommitted from Florida State soon after Norvell’s firing became official.
Whether Alabama pushes back into Thompson’s recruitment remains to be seen, especially with 2027 receiver commitments already in place from 4-star Osani Gayles and 3-star in-state standout Cedrick Simmons.
In Other News...
Alabamas Playoff Outlook Just Took A Hit Before LSU
A bye week was supposed to be a quiet stretch for Alabama, but the latest FPI update still nudged the Crimson Tide in the wrong direction. Alabama slipped one spot to No. 6, while LSU climbed two places to No. 5, tightening the margin between the two teams just as the SEC race starts to sharpen and the stakes around their upcoming meeting keep rising.
The numbers also reflected how much movement came from around the league, with Missouri jumping nine spots to No. 19 after beating Arkansas and other SEC teams shifting based on recent results. For Alabama, the playoff picture barely changed but did soften a bit, with its probability dipping from 62.8% to 60.3%, while LSUs chances of beating the Tide ticked up from 55.1% to 57%, a small swing that still adds a little more pressure to the buildup. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Playoff Push Now Hinges On Fixing One Problem Fast
Alabama comes out of its bye week still very much in the College Football Playoff conversation, but the next stretch will be shaped by how quickly the offense can clean up its sluggish starts. The matchup with LSU looms as a useful measuring stick, especially with the Tide trying to get more consistent early in games while also managing injuries up front. In the meantime, the staff has kept its focus on helping quarterback Keelon Russell settle in and on making sure the offense can function more smoothly from the opening snap.
The bigger picture is just as important for Alabama, which has spent the week trying to build depth across both sides of the ball for the grind ahead. Coaches want Russell comfortable enough to avoid unnecessary mistakes, and they are also pushing younger players to grow into larger roles as the season moves on. With the playoff race still alive, the Tides margin for error will depend on whether those fixes start showing up right away. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Offense Heads To LSU With One Road Problem Exposed
Alabamas offense left Knoxville with a reminder that the road can still be a problem, even for a group that has shown plenty of firepower this season. Against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide posted season lows in yards and points while turning the ball over more than it had in any other game, a rough afternoon that put extra attention on how the unit handled pressure and noise away from home.
The trip also came with a personnel wrinkle, as offensive lineman Mal Waldrep Jr. made his first career start at center because of an injury. With LSU next on the schedule, Alabama is zeroing in on communication and the running game, two areas the players know have to travel better in a loud stadium if the offense is going to look more like itself. [Read more 🡒]