If you're an Alabama fan, you probably circled September 19th on the calendar the moment the 2026 schedule dropped. That’s the date the Crimson Tide get another shot at Florida State-a team that stunned them to open the 2025 season in Tallahassee. But now, there’s a wrinkle that has Tide fans breathing a little easier: Gus Malzahn won’t be calling plays for the Seminoles this time around.
Let’s be clear-Malzahn’s offensive approach has always sparked debate. Some Florida State fans weren’t thrilled with the heavy dose of misdirection and gadget plays last season.
They felt the offense lacked balance or leaned too hard into trickery. But here’s the thing: when it clicked, it really clicked.
And no one felt that more than Alabama.
If there’s a coach who’s consistently found a way to give Nick Saban headaches over the years, it’s Gus Malzahn. Dating back to his days at Auburn, Malzahn has more wins over Saban than just about anyone in the sport. That success didn’t stop when he left the Plains-it followed him to Tallahassee.
Case in point: the 2025 season opener. Doak Campbell Stadium was rocking, and Florida State delivered a seismic upset that set the tone for Alabama’s early-season stumble.
The Seminoles racked up 31 points, averaged over six yards per play, and only needed 14 pass attempts to do it. The real damage came on the ground-FSU ran for 230 yards and physically dominated Alabama at the line of scrimmage.
Gavin Sawchuck was the tone-setter. His fourth-quarter touchdown run, slicing through the Tide defense to seal the win, was a snapshot of just how effective Malzahn’s ground game was that day.
It wasn’t flashy-it was punishing. And it worked.
That win ended up being the high point of Florida State’s season, which fizzled out with a 5-7 record. But for Alabama, that loss lingered.
You can bet they’ve had that rematch circled for months. And now, with Malzahn out of the picture, they’re likely feeling a little more confident.
The 2026 Florida State offense will look very different. New quarterback.
New offensive line. No Gavin Sawchuck.
Head coach Mike Norvell is taking over play-calling duties. It’s a full reset for the Seminoles, and Alabama will be facing a team still trying to find its identity.
Of course, Alabama’s got its own changes to manage, but the absence of Malzahn-who’s been a thorn in their side for over a decade-is a weight off their shoulders. Since 2010, no coach has racked up more wins against Alabama with Saban on the sideline than Malzahn. That’s not an opinion-it’s a stat that speaks volumes.
So yeah, Tide fans are celebrating this news. And who can blame them? With Malzahn out of the equation, the road to revenge just got a little less complicated.