The 2024 season did not unfold the way Alabama fans had envisioned. After a thrilling win over Georgia, the Crimson Tide appeared poised to make a serious national title run in Year One of the post-Nick Saban era. But the following week brought shockwaves through college football—Alabama suffered a 40–35 upset loss to none other than Vanderbilt. Yes, that Vanderbilt.
Despite the stumble, Alabama remained in contention. Still, back-to-back road defeats—including a late-season loss to new SEC member Oklahoma—ultimately shut the door on their postseason hopes. The Tide finished the regular season 9–4, their worst record since 2007, when Saban began building his empire.
For most programs, 9–4 is a solid campaign. But in Tuscaloosa, it’s grounds for crisis. The standard set by Saban is nearly impossible to match, and while head coach Kalen DeBoer inherited an impossible act to follow, patience among Alabama’s powerful boosters is already wearing thin. The whispers could grow louder if there’s another playoff miss in 2025.
Florida State Seminoles 2024 Recap: A Season Like None Other
The Florida State Seminoles went from ACC heavyweights to bottom-feeders in stunning fashion. After flirting with College Football Playoff contention the year prior, FSU finished the 2024 campaign with a dismal 2–10 record, one of the worst marks in the Power Four.
The absence of former quarterback Jordan Travis was deeply felt, but the losses didn’t stop there. Star pass rusher Jared Verse and wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson also departed for the NFL. Replacing that talent level was always challenging, but few predicted the following collapse.
Florida State failed to score more than 21 points in any game and averaged 14.8 points per contest—a massive drop from the dynamic offense that powered their previous season.
While the program hasn’t reached the sustained heights of Alabama under Nick Saban, FSU’s history and expectations still command national respect. And like Kalen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa, Mike Norvell enters 2025 with his seat beginning to heat up.
Offseason Moves
After a turbulent 2024 season that ended in a humiliating 52–3 loss to Notre Dame, it became clear that a major overhaul was imminent in Tallahassee. Mike Norvell didn’t wait long to make sweeping changes. Just one day after the blowout, he fired three key assistants: offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, and wide receivers coach Ron Duggins.
What followed was one of the most headline-grabbing staff shakeups of the college football offseason.
In a move few saw coming, Gus Malzahn stepped down as UCF’s head coach to join Florida State as offensive coordinator. Malzahn brings with him a track record of fast-paced, high-powered offensive attacks. During his coaching career, his offenses have ranked in the top 10 nationally in total offense at least seven times, whether in a head coach or coordinator role. His arrival signals an immediate pivot away from the stagnant scheme that plagued the Seminoles throughout much of 2024.
Norvell hired Tony White, the architect of Nebraska’s resurgent unit, to shore up the defense. Under White’s leadership, the Cornhuskers posted back-to-back top-20 rankings in total defense, gaining a reputation for aggressive and well-coordinated play. His 3-3-5 scheme, which blends disguise with pressure, could be what Florida State needs to bring balance and consistency to a team searching for a new identity.
On the roster side, the biggest change comes under center. The dynamic former Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos is set to take the offense’s reins. Known more for his legs than his arm, Castellanos made history last season by becoming the first quarterback in BC program history to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 in a single year. His dual-threat capability is a perfect match for Malzahn’s spread scheme.
But Castellanos won’t be alone. He’ll have new weapons to work with, including Duce Robinson, a 6-foot-6 former five-star athlete with a massive catch radius, and Marquarius “Squirrel” White, the electric Tennessee transfer known for his top-end speed and big-play potential. Restoring Florida State’s offensive firepower to the levels seen during its 2023 ACC title run will depend heavily on Castellanos developing chemistry with his new receiving corps—and quickly.
These moves show that Florida State isn’t interested in another transition year. They’re retooling for immediate relevance, and this early showdown with Alabama will be their first major test.
High Stakes Right Out of the Gate
Even though Alabama vs. Florida State will be the season opener, the implications of this matchup stretch far beyond Week 1. For Kalen DeBoer, it’s an early opportunity to silence critics and prove he’s capable of steering the Alabama dynasty into a new era post-Saban. For Mike Norvell, it’s a chance to hit the reset button and erase the bitter taste of last year’s shocking season-opening loss to Georgia Tech.
Both programs are entering 2025 with something to prove—and neither can afford to stumble out of the gate. The winner of this heavyweight clash will earn an early résumé booster in the race for the expanded College Football Playoff. More importantly, they’ll gain confidence and momentum heading into the grind of conference play.
Ultimately, all eyes will be on DeBoer. After a rocky first season in Tuscaloosa, improvement isn’t optional—it’s expected. This Florida State test will offer the first glimpse at whether Alabama has truly turned the page or if questions will continue to swirl around the Crimson Tide’s future.
