Kickoff is getting closer for Florida State’s third game of the 2026 season, and the Seminoles are heading into their first true road test of the fall with plenty to sort through on the injury front.
The setting alone is a problem. Florida State has been brutal away from Tallahassee over the last two years, going 0-11 in true road games and neutral-site matchups since being left out of the College Football Playoff late in 2023.
Now the Seminoles are walking into a rematch with No. 10 Alabama, a team that beat them last season and enters Saturday with one of the nation’s best defenses and a quarterback in sophomore Keelon Russell who looks like a rising star.
Florida State is also dealing with a long list of unavailable players. Head coach Mike Norvell has already ruled out true freshmen linebackers Izayia Williams and Daylen Green for the rest of the year, and senior Blake Nichelson is expected to miss a significant amount of time. Williams’ season-ending injury opened the door for Caleb LaVallee to step into a starting role, and Nichelson has been ruled out for an “extended period of time”.
The Seminoles have already taken more hits on defense, too. Junior safety Karson Hobbs is out with a torn ACL, while senior safety K.J.
Kirkland missed the loss to SMU because of an undisclosed injury. Kirkland was seen in pregame warmups and was moved to the No.
2 (OR) safety position with Antonio Cromartie, Jr., behind CJ Richard.
Elsewhere on the roster, Florida State also previously had defensive end Darryll Desir, sophomore wide receiver Tae'Shaun Gelsey, sophomore tight end Gavin Markey, freshman cornerback Chuck Kennon, freshman safety Jordan Crutchfield, and freshman wide receiver Devin Carter unavailable in Week 1. Gelsey was warming up before the Alabama game, but he was removed from the depth chart and replaced by EJ White.
Alabama has a few injury situations worth tracking as well. Starting right guard Michael Carroll missed the Crimson Tide’s win at Kentucky while recovering from a concussion, though he should be back Saturday.
The Tide also could get another piece back in the backfield. Sophomore running back AK Dear has a chance to play for the first time in 2026 after dealing with an ankle injury suffered in the preseason. Dear ran 19 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns last season, and his return would give Alabama even more depth alongside Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell, and Trae'shawn Brown.
Florida State’s availability picture is still being monitored closely ahead of kickoff, and more updates could come before the Seminoles and Crimson Tide square off.
In Other News...
Mike Norvell's Future Suddenly Carries A Price FSU Fans Will Hate
Mike Norvells tenure at Florida State has reached a place nobody in Tallahassee expected when he signed that massive extension last year. He is in his seventh season with the Seminoles and carries a 39-35 record, while the deal he put pen to paper on runs through 2031 and pays in the neighborhood of $10 million to $11 million annually. The timing of the conversation around his future is made even trickier by the fact that Florida State has already moved on from athletic director Michael Alford, the man who signed off on the extension.
Now the noise around Norvell has only gotten louder, fueled in part by recent on-field frustration and even a viral photo of a moving truck at his home. If Florida State were to pull the plug after the upcoming game against Alabama, the financial hit would be staggering, with a buyout around $48 million, among the largest in college football history. That figure could drop if Norvell lands another job, but for a fan base already uneasy, the size of the bill is exactly the kind of detail that makes this situation feel more complicated by the day. [Read more 🡒]
FSUs Comeback Just Took A Brutal Turn In The Backfield
Florida States offense got a major jolt in its game against Alabama when Samuel Singleton Jr. went down after a 65-yard catch and later was seen leaving the field with crutches. Before the exit, Singleton had been a meaningful part of the Seminoles attack, helping the comeback effort and giving the backfield a needed spark.
Now the focus shifts to how Florida State fills the void if he has to miss time. The Seminoles have not yet issued an official update on Singletons status, and in the meantime the burden will fall on other running backs to pick up the workload in a game that already took a brutal turn. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Showed Enough To Compete But One Problem Never Let Up
Florida State had enough offense to hang around with Alabama for long stretches, but the Seminoles could never fully get out from under the pressure in a 50-36 loss that was delayed twice by lightning. Their quarterback piled up 343 passing yards and accounted for four touchdowns, giving Florida State real stretches of momentum and keeping the game within reach even as Alabama answered repeatedly.
The problem never let up on the other side of the ball, where Alabama's quarterback was sharp and efficient, hitting 23 of 30 throws for 320 yards, three touchdown passes and another score on the ground. Florida State's three interceptions proved costly throughout the night, and even with the offense showing it can move, the Seminoles were left with the same lingering concern that kept every comeback attempt from gaining real traction. [Read more 🡒]