The Seminoles opened the 2025 season with a massive top 10 win over Alabama. FSU took it to the Crimson Tide for four quarters and looked like what we expect an FSU football team to look like. There have been a lot of conversations about Alabama’s decline, but that should not diminish what FSU did on Saturday or how they did it. While we won’t know how good that Bama team truly is, or FSU for that matter, until later in the season, here are 5 things I think I know about FSU after week one.
What we saw from this team on Saturday is night and day from the product we saw last season. Mike Norvell and company have somehow managed to flip the culture once again. We saw a team that played hard, fast, and physical. They displayed a level of energy and leadership that was absent from last year’s team. We saw a well-coached team that played smart and responded to adversity.
We heard this offseason about how desperate this team was to win, and that was evident against Alabama. We expected different results from what is essentially a different team, and they delivered in game one. For us fans, this team was just plain fun to watch again. It’s a small sample size, but it already feels miles ahead of last year, from the staff to the players to what we saw on the field against Alabama.
It’s hard to be certain about this next point after only one game, but it already feels like the new coordinators are a massive upgrade. We saw flashes of vintage Gus Malzahn with creative play calling and a scheme that carved the Alabama defense up for 230 rushing yards and 31 points. It’s also worth mentioning that Herb Hand, Malzahn’s OL coach, was worth his weight in gold for what this line did compared to last year’s disaster.
Meanwhile, Tony White’s defense put the clamps on Bama’s offense after the first drive. They held the Tide to just 87 yards on the ground, and 55 of that was on the first drive. They made Ryan Williams and Isaiah Horton non-factors in this game. The exciting part is that both coordinators feel there are areas their side of the ball can improve upon.
Having coordinators who can handle their own on Saturday and allow Mike Norvell to manage the game in his new CEO role feels like a winning combination. There’s a lot of season ahead, but these hires are already paying off.
One of the main questions I had going into this game was could FSU “out-physical” Alabama. That is something they made their calling card under former head coach Nick Saban. Florida State answered that question with a resounding yes! Outside of the first drive on offense, FSU manhandled the Tide the rest of the game. They won the battle in the trenches, they delivered big hits, and I thought they rattled Ty Simpson, too.
No matter what you think of this Alabama team, beating them at their own game was impressive. Being physical was something we heard both coordinators stress in the offseason, and it has clearly translated to the field. If they can maintain that type of punishing football the rest of the season, they will find themselves in a good place at the end of the year.
Tommy Castellanos talked the talk this offseason, and when it came time to walk the walk, he backed it up on the field. He was efficient and showed good poise and command of the offense. The game didn’t require him to have a Heisman-type performance, but what he did was put up 230 all-purpose yards, one touchdown, and most importantly, avoided mistakes that cost his team. He committed zero turnovers and only took one sack. He was effective with his legs when he needed to be and made some big throws when challenged by the defense.
Even after the game, he displayed leadership in how he handled the win. There will come a time when he must throw the ball 25-30 times, and not every game will be perfect, but for game one against a team like Alabama, he performed like you want a quarterback to perform, and now it’s about stacking consistent performances week after week.
We knew this Florida State team had weapons, but we saw some surprises on Saturday. Machai Dazy was a force on Saturday, taking a reverse for a touchdown and breaking another one for a big gain. Not only did he display his track speed, but he also flashed some power running through would-be tacklers. Jaylin Lucas made big plays after returning from injury. We also saw Squirrel White make an explosive play. The running backs also played well, and Kromah is as advertised. This is considering that Duce Robinson and Jayvan Boggs had a relatively quiet day. It’s nice to see the weapons we knew about step up and make big plays, but it’s also exciting to see new names step into the spotlight. This takes pressure off Tommy Castellanos, who proved to be a weapon himself.
On defense, Earl Little Jr. was a headhunter delivering crashing blows to the Alabama offense. Deante McCray and Daniel Lyons both had a good day on the defensive line, but perhaps the story of the day was freshman Mandrel Desir. He flashed constantly and made some big-time plays you would not expect from a true freshman. FSU played 25 players on defense against Alabama, with a few contributors out with injuries. If the Noles can have that kind of depth playing at a high level this season, they will be in good shape.
The key for FSU is to now carry this performance over week after week, no matter the opponent, to show that this wasn’t a flash in the pan. However, we saw what their potential could be and know they can be even better. It’s too early to start talking about playoffs or trips to Charlotte, but I feel confident in what I think I know about this team after week one. If those things hold true for every week of the season, FSU will be a contender this year. Thanks for reading and Go Noles!
Share this Article with other Nole fans!
