FSU-Alabama Rematch Looms Large in Week 3 of the 2026 Season
When Florida State took the field against Alabama to open the 2025 season, not many expected what came next. The Seminoles, fresh off a rough two-win campaign in 2024, shocked the college football world by steamrolling the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide, 31-17.
It was the kind of statement win that turns heads-and raises eyebrows. For FSU fans, it sparked a flicker of hope.
For Alabama, it triggered fresh questions about the direction of the program under Kalen DeBoer.
But that early-season magic didn’t last long in Tallahassee. After a 3-0 start, Florida State dropped seven of its final nine games, and the calls for Mike Norvell’s job were back in full force. Meanwhile, Alabama, despite the stumble out of the gate, still found its way into the College Football Playoff-only to come up short once again.
Now, the rematch is on the calendar. The two programs will meet again in Week 3 of the 2026 season, this time in Tuscaloosa. It won’t be a season opener, but don’t let that fool you-this game is loaded with implications.
Both teams will look a lot different than they did a year ago. Thomas Castellanos won’t be under center for FSU, and Ty Simpson is no longer the guy leading Alabama’s offense. But even with new faces at quarterback, the stakes remain sky-high.
ESPN has already pegged this as one of the top early-season games to watch-and for good reason. The pressure is mounting for both head coaches.
If both teams enter the matchup at 2-0, the loser could find their coach squarely on the hot seat. The margin for error?
Basically nonexistent.
That’s the reality in college football today. Fanbases are impatient, and expectations are relentless-especially at programs like Alabama and Florida State, where the standard is national championships, not moral victories.
For FSU, the road to Tuscaloosa won’t be easy. The week before, they’ll face an SMU team that’s more than capable of pulling off an upset.
A stumble there, followed by a lopsided loss to Alabama, could crank the temperature under Norvell’s seat to boiling. Sure, Central Arkansas offers a chance to regroup, but the real test comes when ACC play begins.
If the Seminoles can’t string together wins in conference, the Alabama result will only loom larger in hindsight.
On the flip side, a win in Tuscaloosa could buy Norvell some breathing room-at least temporarily. But make no mistake: one win won’t be enough to cool things off for good. He’ll need to follow it up with results in the ACC if he wants to keep the pressure at bay.
For Alabama, this is about redemption. Last year’s loss to FSU was a gut punch, and the Tide have had nearly a full year to stew on it. DeBoer’s squad will be looking to make a statement of their own, especially with their home crowd behind them.
This isn’t just a game between two storied programs-it’s a measuring stick. For Florida State, it’s a chance to prove last year’s win wasn’t a fluke.
For Alabama, it’s about reasserting dominance. And for both head coaches, it could be a defining moment in their tenure.
Circle Week 3. FSU-Alabama isn’t just a rematch-it’s a reckoning.