Doak Campbell Stadium, fans FSU football’s DB s warmups
FSU and Alabama fans gathered together at the newly renovated Doak Campbell Stadium before kickoff.
Florida State and No. 8 Alabama meet in their highly anticipated season opener Saturday, Aug. 30, at newly renovated Doak Campbell Stadium. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. on ABC and both teams have plenty to prove.
The Crimson Tide enters as a heavy favorite (13.5 points), but coach Kalen DeBoer must show his players can handle the expectations placed on it. Coach Mike Norvell’s Seminoles must show marked improvement over last 2-10 debacle to give fans hope heading into the season.
Both teams have new starting quarterbacks — Thomas Castellanos transferred to FSU from Boston College, while Ty Simpson has been with the program since 2022 — and will rely on athletic defenses. Doak will also makes its debut after a $265 million renovation that was approved in 2023.
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FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos is proving to be a difference maker.
The Seminoles, nearly a two-touchdown underdog to No. 8 Alabama, lead the Crimson Tide 17-7 at the half and have scored 17 unanswered points.
Castellanos and FSU have outgained the visitors in total yards, 207-148. The Seminoles have relied on a powerful, explosive running game with 126 yards, 6.3 yards per carry. Castellanos has been a dual-threat weapon as advertised. He has completed 7 of 8 passes for 81 yards and added 56 rushing yards on 8 carries, punctuated by a 9-yard touchdown scamper.
FSU’s defense has held Alabama’s offense in check. Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson completed 10 of 14 passes for 87 yards (6.2 average) and the run game has 61 yards on 19 attempts (3.2 average).
The expected rain for Tallahassee arrived late in the second quarter, going from a light sprinkle to a downpour.
Jake Weinberg’s 45-yard field goal extended the Seminoles’ advantage over the Crimson Tide to 10 points late in the second quarter.
Micahi Danzy, who also runs track for the Seminoles, raced 32 yards for a touchdown to push the Seminoles in front of the Crimson Tide, 14-7, at the 9:13 mark in the second quarter. Danzy signed with FSU from Florida High. FSU marched 65 yards in 8 plays after the Crimson Tide missed a long field-goal attempt.
FSU and Alabama are tied at 7-7 after the opening quarter at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Crimson Tide held an edge on the stats page with 135 total yards to FSU’s 75. Alabama also had eight first downs to the Seminoles’ three. The visitors held a huge advantage on the time of possession at 11:54 to 3:06.
The teams’ new quarterbacks were solid, too. FSU’s Tommy Castellanos completed 3 of 3 passes for 21 yards and one touchdown; Alabama’s Ty Simpson completed 7 of 8 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Tommy Castellanos and the Seminoles answered the Crimson Tide’s touchdown with a touchdown of their own.
And the game is tied at 7-7.
Castellanos scrambled for a 9-yard touchdown run at the 3:04 mark in the first quarter, capping a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The scoring drive was punctuated by a 40-yard pass from Castellanos to Squirrel White.
Alabama mixed and matched in the game-opening possession to take a 7-0 lead over FSU.
The Crimson Tide marched 75 yards on 17 plays, with Ty Simpson connecting on a 2-yard touchdown pass to Josh Cuevas with 6:10 left in the first quarter. The lengthy drive consumed 8:50 off the clock. Alabama rushed 12 times for 55 yards, and converted on fourth-down early in the drive.
Ty Simpson, making his first career start for Alabama, completed 3 of 4 passes for 25 yards.
For those fans settling in on their couch to watch the FSU-Alabama game on ABC, you will have a slight wait. The Syracuse-Tennessee game is being telecast on ABC, too, and it’s still in the fourth quarter. That’s going to push the FSU-Alabama kickoff from 3:30 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. The game will also be available to watch on the ESPN App (ESPN Select or Unlimited plans).
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson will be making his first career start for the Crimson Tide.
Simpson has been with the Crimson Tide for the last three seasons, backing up Jalen Milroe in the last two. He played in 16 career games, completing 29 of 50 passes for 381 yards.
He has not thrown a touchdown pass or an interception, but has rushed for two touchdowns, along with 130 rushing yards on 22 touches.
Entering as a redshirt junior, Simpson earned the starting role after beating out Austin Mack and Keelon Russell during camp.
Will FSU coach Mike Novell and his staff have the upper hand against Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff in Saturday’s opener against the nearly two-touchdown favorite Crimson Tide?
Longtime FSU fans probably remember 1974, when heavily-favored Alabama kicked a field goal late in the game to hold off the Seminoles 8-7. After the game, Alabama’s legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant said:
“I’ve never in my life seen a team that was so much better coached than our team than Florida State was today.”
If FSU had won that game under coach Darrell Mudra, would it have changed the trajectory of the season for the Seminoles? FSU won one game, while Alabama went 11-0 but lost to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to fall short of a second consecutive national title.
“I was never so high and then so low in a minute’s span,” former FSU receiver Mike Shumann told the Democrat. “I remember coach Bryant being really animated, he was walking up and down the sideline the entire game.”
Shumann, a local star at Leon High, signed with FSU over Alabama. Elected into FSU’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991 and remembered as one of the program’s most proficient receivers, Shumann continues to follow the Seminoles from his California home.
“This is a big game for both programs,” Shumann said. “Alabama fans probably aren’t happy with last season, and their fans want to win now. Norvell has a lot of pressure on him, too. Quarterback (play) will be the key.”
First, the weather. You will still probably need your FSU poncho.
According to the latest weather forecast from the National Weather Service, Tallahassee faces a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 11 a.m.
While the chances that fans avoid rain for the entire game, the chances of a washout or hours of rain have decreased.
- 12:30 p.m.: Gages A-G and M-L open
- 1 p.m.: Legacy walk
- 1:30 p.m.: Skull session at Howser
- 1:30 p.m. : Gates J, H and K open
- 3:10 p.m.: Marching Chiefs pregame performance
- 3:15 p.m. : National anthem and Army flyover
- 3:25 p.m.: Spear Plant
- 3:30 p.m.: Kickoff
What time does Florida State vs Alabama start?
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Doak Campbell Stadium (Tallahassee, Florida)
What TV channel is Florida State vs Alabama on today?
Watch FSU vs Alabama game live on the new ESPN app
Florida State vs Alabama predictions
Florida State vs Alabama injury updates
FSU receiver Lawayne McCoy and defensive tackle Kevin Wynn are out for today’s game.
Alabama defensive lineman Tim Keenan III is dealing with a lower-body injury and is expected to miss the game.
FSU schedule 2025
Here is Florida State’s schedule and results. All times Eastern.
- Aug. 30: vs Alabama | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | Fubo
- Sept. 6: vs East Texas A&M | Noon | ACC Network | Fubo
- Sept. 13: Bye
- Sept. 20: vs Kent State | TBA
- Sept. 26: at Virginia* | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Fubo
- Oct. 4: vs Miami* | TBA
- Oct. 11: vs Pittsburgh* | TBA
- Oct. 18: at Stanford* | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN | Fubo
- Oct. 25: Bye
- Nov. 1: vs Wake Forest* | TBA
- Nov. 8: at Clemson* | TBA
- Nov. 15: vs Virginia Tech* | TBA
- Nov. 21: at NC State* | 8 p.m. | ESPN | Fubo
- Nov. 29: at Florida | TBA
*- ACC game
