(BCSNN) — Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, while adding 152 yards through the air on 9-of-14 attempts as the Seminoles shocked No. 8 Alabama 31–17 on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The win snapped Alabama’s 23-game streak in season openers and marked Florida State’s first victory over a top-10 opponent since 2023.
Castellanos, a Boston College transfer making his first start for the Seminoles, led a balanced attack that racked up 230 rushing yards and controlled the tempo throughout. His 9-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave Florida State an early lead, and he later engineered two second-half scoring drives that kept Alabama at arm’s length. “We wanted to be the aggressor,” head coach Mike Norvell said. “And we were.”
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-43 passing but struggled to find rhythm after a promising opening drive. The Crimson Tide scored on their first possession but managed just 10 points the rest of the way, failing to convert key third downs and finishing with only 87 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Florida State’s ground game was led by Micahi Danzy, who rushed for 84 yards and a 32-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Caziah Holmes and Gavin Sawchuk also found the end zone, helping the Seminoles average 4.7 yards per carry—nearly triple their 2024 season average. Alabama’s Germie Bernard led all receivers with eight catches for 146 yards, including a 42-yard grab that set up a fourth-quarter score.
The Seminoles’ defense, retooled under new coordinator Tony White, held Alabama to 6-of-17 on third-down conversions and forced a key turnover in the second half. Linebacker Justin Cryer and safety Earl Little Jr. combined for 17 tackles, while the defensive front consistently disrupted Simpson’s timing.
Florida State (1–0) will host Georgia State next Saturday before opening ACC play against Syracuse on Sept. 14. With Gus Malzahn calling plays as offensive coordinator, the Seminoles appear to have found a formula that blends tempo, physicality, and quarterback mobility.
Alabama (0–1) returns to Tuscaloosa to face UL Monroe on Sept. 6, followed by a pivotal non-conference matchup against Wisconsin. Head coach Kalen DeBoer, now 6–4 against unranked opponents at Alabama, acknowledged the need for urgency. “We can’t play on our heels,” DeBoer said. “We’re not going to be what we think we can be if that’s the case.”
The upset marks just Florida State’s second win over Alabama in program history and signals a potential turning point for a team that finished 2–10 last season. For the Crimson Tide, the loss raises early questions about depth, execution, and playoff viability.
