Florida State’s new quarterback, Tommy Castellanos, powered a relentless rushing attack with 78 yards and a touchdown, leading the Seminoles to a stunning 31-17 upset over No. 8 Alabama on August 30, 2025, snapping the Crimson Tide’s 23-game season-opener win streak.
After a dismal 2-10 season, the Seminoles delivered a major blow to Alabama, a projected College Football Playoff contender under second-year coach Kalen DeBoer.
Castellanos, a Boston College transfer, had stirred controversy in the offseason by claiming Alabama, without legendary coach Nick Saban, couldn’t stop him. He proved his point, dominating on the ground with 16 carries more than double any other Seminole and efficiently passing for 152 yards on 9 of 14 attempts.
“This is why I came here, for games like this,” Castellanos said. “It’s a long season, so we’re just taking it one week at a time, staying focused.” Fans stormed Doak Campbell Stadium to celebrate the victory, with Florida State overcoming 13½-point underdog odds, per ESPN BET. Under new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, previously Auburn’s head coach for eight years, the Seminoles were physical, amassing 230 rushing yards at 4.7 yards per carry—far surpassing their 2024 average of 89.9 yards per game.
“We’ve been preparing for this since January,” said linebacker Justin Cryer. “This win wasn’t a shock to us, even if it surprised others. We’re just focused on getting better every day, not making grand statements.”
Alabama, which hadn’t lost a season opener since a 20-17 defeat to UCLA in 2001 under Dennis Franchione, now faces increased scrutiny on DeBoer, whose record against unranked teams dropped to 6-4, compared to Saban’s 124-4.
The Crimson Tide struggled against Florida State’s defense, managing just 87 rushing yards on 29 carries and being stopped three times on fourth down, including a critical stop with 5:39 left. This marked Florida State’s first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 19 Louisville in the 2023 ACC title game.
“We set out to be the aggressors, and our players met that challenge,” said coach Mike Norvell. Micahi Danzy, Caziah Holmes, and Gavin Sawchuk also scored rushing touchdowns for the Seminoles, while Alabama’s Ty Simpson threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 23 of 43 passes in his debut, with Germie Bernard catching eight passes for 146 yards.
