Florida State’s defense is walking into Alabama with some serious questions already attached to it.
Through two games, the Seminoles have given up 17 points and nearly 300 passing yards to New Mexico State, then turned around and allowed 430 passing yards to SMU in a loss. They do have three interceptions on the board, but the overall picture has been rough, especially against the pass.
The man in charge is Tony White, who is back after a 2025 season that had mixed results. White’s defense is built around a 3-3-5 stack, and the big feature is pressure - a lot of it. Florida State is expected to blitz from all kinds of different looks in an effort to throw offensive lines off balance.
Even with all the turnover that usually comes with college football these days, the Seminoles do have a few notable pieces back. Defensive tackle Mandrell Desir is the headliner after leading the team with 6.5 sacks last year and earning Freshman All-American recognition. His twin brother, Darryll, is now starting on the line too.
At linebacker, Florida State added Ryan Kennedy from Texas A&M, where he was a rotational pass rusher with 3.5 sacks, and Chris Jones from Southern Miss, who arrives after earning 1st team All-Sun Belt honors and putting up 134 tackles and 9.5 sacks. Jones is expected to handle the middle linebacker spot.
The secondary also has some familiar and new faces mixed in. Ashlynd Barker remains at safety as a veteran multiyear starter, while cornerback Ja’Bril Rawls is back after starting seven games last season and breaking up one pass against Alabama. The Seminoles also added CJ Richard from the FCS level, where he was an FCS Freshman All-American.
Still, the biggest issue is the pass rush, or really the lack of one. Florida State has only three interceptions, but it has also allowed 700 passing yards in two games. The run defense has been more respectable, with the Seminoles giving up 3.7 yards per carry, and Jones looks like an important part of that front.
For Alabama, this sets up as the kind of game Keelon Russell can use to take a step forward. The matchup comes in Tuscaloosa, and the Tide already have a couple of games under their belt. After what Florida State has shown so far, this looks like a strong chance for Russell to have the breakout performance Alabama has been waiting for.
The expectation here is a big day through the air for the young quarterback, with Russell topping 300 passing yards and Alabama finishing somewhere around 35 points.
In Other News...
Alabama Faces One Big Receiver Question Before Florida State
Alabamas opening stretch has already brought a few roster changes into focus, and the receiver room is one of the more interesting ones as the Crimson Tide prepare for Florida State. Noah Rogers has yet to play this season while working back from a lower-body injury, but he appears to be nearing a return at a time when Alabama is still sorting out how its newer faces fit into the offense.
Florida State comes into the matchup carrying plenty of its own uncertainty after firing its athletic director, and the pressure around Mike Norvell only adds to the stakes of the game. For Alabama, the question is less about the headline outside the program and more about how quickly Rogers can get back on the field and give the Tide another option before a challenging early-season test. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Past Jeremy Pruitt Interest Is Suddenly Back In Focus
Jeremy Pruitts fight with the NCAA has returned to the spotlight in Alabama, where the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in his lawsuit this week. The former Tennessee coach is challenging the NCAAs authority to handle the case in Alabama, putting a legal dispute tied to his firing and the punishment that followed back in front of a court with real implications for his coaching future.
Pruitt is seeking $100 million over the penalties he says stemmed from the NCAAs actions, including the six-year show-cause order that has limited his employment opportunities. The justices did not rule from the bench, so the case now moves into another waiting period while the court considers how to handle a dispute that Alabama fans have followed from the start because of where Pruitts career once intersected with their program. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets A Needed O-Line Boost Before Florida State
Alabamas offensive line should get a timely lift heading into the Florida State game, with right guard Michael Carroll expected to be available after sitting out the previous matchup because of an injury. The freshman All-America pick has been back in practice, and his return would give the Tide a more settled look up front at a point in the season when every piece matters.
Carrolls presence also matters because Alabama is preparing for a Florida State team that can challenge defenses on the ground, putting even more pressure on the Tide to be firm at the point of attack. Getting him back gives Alabama a better chance to handle those physical demands and keep its offensive plans on schedule in a matchup where line play could shape the day. [Read more 🡒]