Game day has arrived in Tallahassee as Florida State football opens the season against a top-10 Alabama team inside the newly renovated Doak Campbell Stadium. Mike Norvell’s new-look Noles are hoping to do more than just show up for the game. This is a program that we’ve heard all offseason is “desperate” to get better. They are desperate to win. They have something to prove.
During my drive to Tallahassee, I had plenty of time to listen to all the national talking heads, and it was the same story repeatedly. FSU will play hard and hang tight for a half, but they don’t have a chance against the mighty Crimson Tide. We have already previewed the X’s and O’s and the Jimmys and Joes. But here are three big picture questions on my mind as I get ready to head to Doak that will ultimately determine the outcome of this game.
The Crimson Tide have earned their place among the top tier programs in college football and a big reason for that is playing a tough physical brand of football. There seems to be a belief that FSU will get overwhelmed by a Bama team that is bigger, stronger, faster and deeper. However, we have heard FSU coaches and players preach all throughout camp that being physical and creating high-level competition has been a point of emphasis.
Vanderbilt offensive tackle transfer Gunnar Hansen spoke about his former team’s defeat of Tide last year by crediting how physical they played in the trenches and knowing that is a must when you play a team like Alabama. That’s why this is the top question on my mind. To beat a team like Alabama, FSU needs to bring the fight to them. They need to punch Bama in the mouth from the opening snap. You can’t wait for Bama to bring it to you. This was a major difference between 2023 FSU and 2024. So, my question is… Can FSU bring the fight to them and out physical Alabama on their home turf?
This one is as simple as it sounds. For FSU to pull off a top 10 upset, they can’t afford to play a sloppy game. In three of Alabama’s four losses last year, they also lost the turnover battle. The Tide were 113th in penalties per game last season, too. We heard a lot about penalties and missed opportunities on turnovers being a problem early in fall camp. Tommy Castellanos has also had a history of turnover issues, but has stated taking care of the ball has been one of his biggest points of growth this offseason.
Alabama has some inexperience on its offense that could present opportunities for FSU to capitalize on. Will it all come together on Saturday? If FSU can be physical and play a clean game, they will put themselves in a good position to win this game. You start turning it over or having drive-killing penalties, and you’ll probably kill your chance to win.
All the national talking heads have Alabama pulling away from FSU late to win by multiple scores. A few even said you may be looking to change the channel late after things get out of hand. To be honest, I feel good about FSU’s starters, but I worry about the depth at certain positions. Admittedly, Alabama has a better and deeper overall roster, but they have some depth questions in the trenches, especially with two potential starters out. This is primarily where teams with depth win the game late.
In 2023, FSU rotated heavily and was in peak physical condition, to the point that they would often bully teams late. Will we see a return to that brand of football? Gus Malzahn’s offense likes to push the pace and wear defenses down by the fourth quarter. If this game were a boxing match, FSU needs to avoid the early knockout punch, but they also need to go all 12 rounds and get this to a decision. Basically, FSU needs this to be a game in the fourth quarter. Can they keep their foot on the gas and stay in the fight for the entire 60 minutes? If they play a clean, physical game for four quarters, it’s anyone’s game when the final whistle blows.
Let’s hope FSU can check off all these questions and come out on top when the dust settles on Saturday. Thanks for reading, and Go Noles!
Share this Article with other Nole fans!
