TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer era is about to begin for Alabama football.
Coming off a 9-4 season in 2024, DeBoer and the Crimson Tide begin 2025 on the road with its first matchup against Florida State since 2017.
Can DeBoer, with Ty Simpson and Ryan Williams leading the Ryan Grubb-called Crimson Tide offense, and Kane Wommack leading a defense in the second year of his 4-2-5, ball-hawk scheme, lead Alabama to a Week 1 road win against the Seminoles?
Follow along for LIVE updates from Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
9:13 Q2: Florida State has a lead after a 32-yard touchdown run off a reverse by Micahi Danzy down the sideline
13:57 Q2: After Ty Simpson was sacked at midfield, Conor Talty missed a 53-yard field goal attempt short. Alabama tied with Florida State 7-7. Florida State takes over at its own 35-yard line.
Alabama and Florida State are tied 7-7 after the first quarter.
3:04, Q1: The Seminoles are on the board. after 40-yard pass play from Tommy Castellanos to Squirrel White set up a 9-yard TD scamper by Castellanos.
On his very first snap, Dijon Lee was targeted outside by Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos. On that play, Lee was beat on a 40-yard explosive to set up a 9-yard touchdown.
Dijon Lee is one of three freshmen to see the field for Alabama football in the first quarter. Lee checked in at outside cornerback while Zabien Brown moved inside to husky defensive back.
With Tim Keenan III out with an ankle injury, Jeremiah Beaman makes the start next to James Smith on the interior of the Alabama defensive line.
6:10, Q1: Ty Simpson has his first collegiate touchdown pass, finding tight end Josh Cuevas on a 2-yard play-action route for an easy score, capping off a 16-play, 75-yard drive lasting 8:50.
11:25 Q1: On his first drive as Alabama’s starting quarterback, Ty Simpson has two carries for 11 yards as a runner.
With Jam Miller out with a collarbone injury, Alabama running back Richard Young started as the Crimson Tide’s running back against Florida State.
FSU wins coin toss, elects to defer to the second half. Alabama will start on offense.
Alabama vs. Florida State is about to kick off
Tim Keenan III (ankle) and Jam Miller (collarbone) are each out for Alabama football vs. Florida State.
Ty Simpson was at the center of Alabama’s team circle after warm ups and gave an impassioned speech to his teammates before leaving the field. About 20 minutes before kickoff.
With Tim Keenan III out with an ankle injury, Jeremiah Beaman was the first nose tackle to line up next to James Smith in warm ups.
When ESPN “College GameDay” analyst Lee Corso has picked Alabama football to win, it has, more often than not, come to fruition.
And on his final “College GameDay’ appearance, the beloved ESPN analyst picked against the Crimson Tide.
Corso picked Florida State to beat the Crimson Tide in its season opener Saturday, Aug. 30.
Kadyn Proctor, Kam Dewberry, Parker Brailsford, Geno VanDeMark and Wilkin Formby lined up as Alabama’s first-team offensive line during warm ups.
Terrion Arnold and Ike Taylor, the father of Alabama freshman safety Ivan Taylor, were both seen on the Crimson Tide sideline pregame.
Alabama has not opened a season with a true non-conference road game since the 2000 season when the Crimson Tide lost to UCLA 35-24. Alabama has a 18-10-1 record in 29 previous true road season-opening games.
Overall, Alabama is 103-21-3 in season openers. The Crimson Tide has won 22-straight season-opening games, the second-longest active streak behind Ohio State (25).
Kalen DeBoer has arrived for Alabama vs. Florida State. He’s wearing a red Alabama polo tucked into black pants. He has a red Alabama ball cap on.
Ty Simpson is at the front of Alabama’s warm-up line with 60 minutes left before kickoff.
Months before Florida State’s season opener against Alabama, Seminoles quarterback Tommy Castellanos exuded confidence about the Seminoles’ chances against the Crimson Tide.
“I dreamed of moments like this,” Castellanos said. “I dreamed of playing against Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”
He later doubled down at ACC media days, saying “we stand on what I said.” Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson addressed Castellanos’ comments at SEC media days saying “I won’t forget what he said.”
“All disrespect will be addressed accordingly,” Lawson said.
After three seasons backing up Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson will make his first collegiate start for Alabama football. Simpson, with less than 200 snaps to his name, won the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback job over redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and freshman Austin Mack. Simpson was later named an Alabama team captain.
“I’m just excited and just happy,” Simpson said ahead of Alabama vs. Florida State. “My plan is just to do the best I can be, and get my guys the ball.”
Earl Little Jr. played sparingly across two seasons for Alabama football, recording two tackles across 11 games in 2022 and 2023. Little transferred to Florida State where he had 15 tackles and a sack in 12 games as a backup defensive back. He was also named Special Teams Newcomer of the Year for Florida State last season.
Little is listed as Florida State’s starting rover defensive back.
The clock has started. Alabama vs. Florida State will kick off in 90 minutes.
Alabama knows Roydell Williams well. The Florida State running back spent his first four seasons of college football with the Crimson Tide, recording 1,165 yards and 13 total touchdowns from 2020-23. Williams played in four games for Florida State in 2024, recording 53 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 rushes. The Hueytown, Alabama native spent most of 2024 sidelined with an injury.
“He was a great back for us a couple of years ago,” Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson said. “I know he’s a solid player. Got a good jump cut to him. I’m very excited to compete against him.”
QB1 has taken the field. Ty Simpson has started his warm-up routine near the Florida State end zone. Nick Sheridan, Alabama’s quarterback coach, is standing right next to Simpson, handing him the football after each throw.
Warm ups are underway at Doak Campbell Stadium. Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are both throwing warm-up fade passes to receivers.
Alabama football has faced Florida State five times. The Crimson Tide has three wins against the Seminoles, including their most recent meeting in the 2017 season opener.
- Oct. 23, 1965: Alabama 21, Florida State 0
- Sept. 23, 1967: Alabama 37, Florida State 37
- Oct. 12, 1974: Alabama 8, Florida State 7
- Sept. 29, 2007: Florida State 21, Alabama 14
- Sept. 2, 2017: Alabama 24, Florida State 7
Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford are at the front of the line leading the Alabama football offensive line around the perimeter of Doak Campbell Stadium.
- Alabama at Florida State; Aug. 30, 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
- Alabama vs Louisiana Monroe; Sept. 6, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 6:45 p.m., SEC Network
- Alabama vs. Wisconsin; Sept. 13, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 11 a.m., ABC or ESPN
- Alabama at Georgia; Sept. 27, Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia; 6:30 p.m., ABC
- Alabama vs. Vanderbilt; Oct. 4, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Alabama at Missouri; Oct. 11, Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri; 11 a.m., ABC or ESPN
- Alabama vs. Tennessee; Oct. 18, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Alabama at South Carolina; Oct. 25, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
- Alabama vs. LSU; Nov. 8, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Alabama vs. Oklahoma; Nov. 15, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Alabama vs. Eastern Illinois; Nov. 22, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 1 p.m., ESPN+/SEC Network+
- Alabama at Auburn; Nov. 29, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama
One season after missing the College Football Playoff despite finishing the regular season undefeated, Florida State collapsed. The Seminoles finished with a 2-10 record, the team’s worst record since 1974. Florida State won one ACC game against California. The Seminoles started the season as the No. 10 team in the 2024 preseason Associated Press poll.
In the first season with Kalen DeBoer, Alabama football recorded its first season without 10 wins since 2007, falling to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma on the road before losing to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The Crimson Tide finished 2024 undefeated at home.
Here are a few other takeaways from Alabama’s first depth chart of 2025:
- Alabama RB order listed as Richard Young OR Daniel Hill OR Dre Washington
- Michael Carroll listed as backup right tackle behind Wilkin Formby
- DaShawn Jones listed as starting husky defensive back
- Geno VanDeMark OR Jaeden Roberts will man right guard with Kam Dewberry listed as Alabama football LG
- Dijon Lee Jr. listed as backup behind Domani Jackson
- Blake Doud OR Alex Asparuhov are Alabama’s punters
While Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer named a starting quarterback in the midst of fall camp, he declined to declare a winner between third-year sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell for the No. 2 QB role.
On Alabama’s first depth chart of the season, it indicates Mack “or” Russell.
Here are the Tuscaloosa News’ game predictions for Alabama at Florida State:
Colin Gay: New faces at offensive coordinator and quarterback could bring growing pains for Alabama football, especially on the road. But a defense heading into Year 2 of Kane Wommack’s scheme combined with veteran talent returning on both sides of the ball should give the Crimson Tide an advantage even as it starts 2025 on the road. 31-17 Alabama
Chase Goodbread: The Alabama defense can and should carry UA to victory here, starting with an edge on the line of scrimmage. Expect a rock-solid secondary to give FSU QB Tommy Castellanos problems, especially if the Crimson Tide pass rush can get to him with some consistency. Offensively, Alabama will break in a new quarterback on the road — not exactly a recipe for a points bonanza — and the UA kicking game is an open question, too. But they’ll be good enough to win by double digits. 24-13 Alabama
What time does Alabama vs. Florida State football start?
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 30
- Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Doak Campbell Stadium; Tallahassee, Florida
What TV channel is Alabama vs. Florida State on today?
- TV: ABC
- Streaming: Fubo
- How to watch online: WatchESPN or ESPN app
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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