Two of the emblematic university football programs open their 2025 seasons on a national scene of week 1 when the n ° 8 in Alabama went on Saturday to Florida State.
The crimson tide enters the year classified in the top 10 as they seek to bounce from What is considered a season “below”: A 9-4 finish in the beginnings of Kalen Deboer after replacing Nick Saban. Alabama missed the University football Playoff, lost its bowl against Michigan and is now turning to the new quarter-Arrière leaving Ty Simpson. However, the list returns enough experience and talent to fuel another push for a dry title and an assertion in the playoffs.
Florida State’s rebound attempt is even more urgent. The seminoles followed a campgaign of the 13-1 playoff series in 2023 with a shocking collapse of 2-10 in 2024-one of the steepest drops from one year to modern university football. The free fall prompted coach Mike Norvell to revise his staff and to dive deep into the transfer portal. The first signs indicate more stability, but this opener should serve as a clear measurement stick for the proximity of Florida to join the championship conversation.
Alabama vs Florida State: need to know
BUMP AN 2 for KALEN DEBOER: While the beginnings of nine emptying of Deboer with the Alabama equaled the most victories for a crannie trainer during their first season at work, the fans are impatient to see if the “bump” of year 2 “patented is in store for 2025. The previous stops in Soux Falls (Naia), Fresno State and Washington have all seen Less an increase of three speeds on the final record of the first season. and it was not only the victories, but the distinctions in the playoffs too, because the 2nd year in Sioux Falls included a national NAIA championship and the 2nd year in Washington finished the Huskies as a finalist towards Michigan.
The new coordinators highlight Mike Norvell’s intersane adjustments: While Mike Norvell has long been a main voice in the offensive fight, he brought in a big striker to serve as an offensive coordinator with the hiring of Gus Malzahn. The former head coach of Auburn and the UCF has a lot of history with Alabama, overthrowing the tide in 2013, 2017 and 2019.
Equally important to improve the offensive and the quarter-back game constitutes the defense, and this is where the former defensive coordinator of Nebraska, Tony White, enters the image. Florida State finished with a Top 30 of the Defense of 2021-23, but saw a massive drop last season, ranking 83rd at the national level abandoning 5.77 yards per game. With modifications made to the staff, Norvell hopes that performance on the field corresponds to the potential on paper.
A rare match of blue blood programs: Even if the two schools have been pillars in the national university football conversation for 40 years, the confrontation on Saturday will only mark the sixth meeting of the series of all time between Alabama and the state of Florida. The scarcity of this match and the urgency for the two teams to start with a victory given the disappointments of 2024, has packed a lot of intrigue on what was already going to be a long-awaited game on the calendar of week 1. The Alabama runs the series of all time 3-1-1, by beating the last Florida State 24-7 in another week 1 force in 2017.
Where to watch Alabama against Florida State live
Date: Saturday August 30 | Time: 3.30 p.m. and
Location: Doak Campbell Stadium – Tallahssee, Florida
TV: ABC | Stream live: Fubo (Try for free)
Alabama against Florida State prediction, choice
While Florida State can find a more stable foot after his intersane changes, he entered this match in a disadvantage in several key areas against a team from Alabama motivated by last year’s disappointments. The crimson tide holds the front 247Sport Team Talent Ratings. Ty Simpson could have trembling moments in its first start on the road, but in four quarters, the Alabama seems equipped to cover the number. Pick: Alabama -13.5
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