Florida State stuns No. 8 Alabama

Alabama and Florida State both enter Week 1 trying to shake off the 2024 season. The Crimson Tide failed to make the College Football Playoff in Year 1 under Kalen DeBoer, while Florida State is coming off a 2-10 season.
Both programs feature new quarterbacks, too. The Ty Simpson officially begins Saturday for No. 8 Alabama. Mike Norvell went back to the transfer portal for Florida State’s next quarterback, adding Boston College transfer Thomas Castellanos in the winter portal window.
Saturday’s game at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. On3’s live blog will track the matchup with live updates, analysis and instant reaction. Follow along for the latest on Alabama at Florida State.
Final: Florida State 31, Alabama 17
08/30/2025 06:17:30 PM4Q, 5:39: Alabama turnover on downs
08/30/2025 06:07:26 PMAlabama quarterback Ty Simpson rushed for nine yards on 4th-and-10, coming 1-yard short. Florida State takes over on its 49-yard line, with the Crimson Tide having just one tight end remaining.
Ryan Williams injured
08/30/2025 06:01:34 PMAlabama wide receiver Ryan Williams was helped off the field after taking a hit to the head. After review, Florida State was not called for targeting on the play. Williams was immediately taken to the locker room.
🚨 4Q, 7:17: Florida State 31, Alabama 17
08/30/2025 05:53:21 PMFlorida State running back and Oklahoma transfer Gavin Sawchuk carried multiple Alabama defenders with him as he punched in a 14-yard touchdown. The Seminoles now lead by 14 points.
🚨 4Q, 11:00: Florida State 24, Alabama 17
08/30/2025 05:39:11 PMTy Simpson connected with Rico Scott for a 6-yard touchdown, bringing the Crimson Tide within a score. Alabama put together a 7-play, 63-yard drive over three minutes long to claw back into this game.
3Q, 0:55: Alabama turnover on downs
08/30/2025 05:22:30 PMWith a 4th-and-7 from Florida State’s 28-yard line, Alabama opted to go for it. But Ty Simpson’s pass to Ryan Williams fell incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs. Simpson opted to throw it when he could have scrambled for the first down, too.
3Q, 1:56: Florida State muffs punt
08/30/2025 05:18:20 PMFlorida State’s Jaylin Lucas muffed an Alabama punt, allowing the Crimson Tide to take over on the Seminoles’ 43-yard line.
3Q, 3:16: Florida State punts
08/30/2025 05:14:09 PMFlorida State is forced to punt following a six-play, 32-yard drive. Alabama takes over on its 20-yard line.
🚨 3Q, 5:59: Florida State 24, Alabama 10
08/30/2025 05:04:47 PMConor Talty hits a 40-yard field goal and Alabama cuts Florida State’s lead to 24-10 with 5:59 left in the third quarter.
🚨3Q, 9:45: Florida State 24, Alabama 7
08/30/2025 04:49:37 PMFlorida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos found a streaking Jaylin Lucas for a 64-yard pickup. On the next play, Caziah Holmes punched it into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown.
3Q, 10:22: Alabama turnover on downs
08/30/2025 04:46:57 PMFacing a 4th-and-5 from the Florida State 37-yard line, Ty Simpson’s pass to Kevin Riley for a 4-yard pickup fell a yard short of the first down. Florida State takes over from its 32-yard line with 10:22 remaining in the third quarter.
3Q, 12:19: Florida State punts
08/30/2025 04:39:46 PMFlorida State could not expand its lead on the opening drive of the second half, with a 5-play, 16-yard drive ending in a punt. Alabama takes over on its 29-yard line with 12:19 remaining in the third quarter.
Second half underway
08/30/2025 04:33:59 PMFlorida State returns to open the second half and will take over on its 15-yard line following kickoff.
HT: Florida State 17, Alabama 7
08/30/2025 04:13:28 PMEntering halftime in Tallahassee, Florida State leads No. 8 Alabama 17-7. Here are the stats at the half:

Weather update
08/30/2025 04:06:44 PMThe rain has started to come down in Tallahassee roughly two minutes before the half.

🚨 2Q, 3:44: Florida State 17, Alabama 7
08/30/2025 03:59:10 PMFacing a 4th-and-4 from the Alabama 17-yard line, Florida State opted to kick a field goal. Jake Weinberg converted a 45-yard field goal to extend FSU’s lead to 17-7.
Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton
08/30/2025 03:46:08 PMAlabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton is on the bike on the sidelines and spent some time in the injury tent, per the ESPN broadcast. Former Miami transfer. He is now back in the injury tent.
🚨 2Q, 9:13: Florida State 14, Alabama 7
08/30/2025 03:40:45 PMFlorida State running back Micahi Danzy blew past multiple Alabama defenders on a reverse play for a 32-yard touchdown run to put the Seminoles up 14-7 early in the second quarter.
2Q, 13:12: Alabama misses field goal
08/30/2025 03:34:24 PMFollowing the Ty Simpson 6-yard loss on a third down sack, Alabama kicker Conor Talty’s 53-yard field goal attempt fell short. Florida State starts its drive from its 35-yard line.
2Q, 13:50: Ty Simpson sacked
08/30/2025 03:33:17 PMWith Alabama facing a 3rd-and-8, Florida State brought the pressure and sacked Ty Simpson to back up the Crimson Tide’s field goal attempt. Deamonte Diggs was credited with the sack.
🚨 1Q, 3:04: Florida State 7, Alabama 7
08/30/2025 03:21:41 PMFlorida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos connected with Tennessee transfer wide receiver Squirrel White for a 40-yard pick up. On the next play, Castellanos rushed for a 9-yard touchdown to tie the game.
🚨 1Q, 6:10: Alabama 7, Florida State 0
08/30/2025 03:07:20 PMIn his first drive as Alabama’s starting quarterback, Ty Simpson strung together a 16-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 2-yard touchdown pass to Josh Cuevas. The drive spanned nearly 9 minutes.
1Q, 7:51: Alabama faces key 3rd down
08/30/2025 03:01:47 PMAlabama has put together a 12-play, 56-yard drive over the opening seven minutes at Florida State. The Crimson Tide now face a 3rd-and-6 from the Seminoles’ 19-yard line. Kalen DeBoer calls a timeout ahead of the critical 3rd down.
Kickoff
08/30/2025 02:52:14 PMAlabama starts with the ball from its 25-yard line. It’s the debut of starting quarterback Ty Simpson.
Florida State QB takes shot at Alabama
08/30/2025 02:59:48 PMFlorida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos sat down with On3 this summer and had some words for Alabama.
“People, I don’t know if they know, but you go back and watch every first game that I played in, we always start fast,” Castellanos said. “I dreamed of moments like this. I dreamed of playing against Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”