TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A 22-year Alabama soccer streak ended Saturday, Aug. 30, in Tallahassee, Florida, sparking a actuality the Crimson Tide got here to know properly in 2024.
With a 31-17 win in opposition to Alabama to open the 2025 season, Seminoles followers flooded Doak Campbell Stadium, celebrating its first win in opposition to the Crimson Tide since 2007 and a staff who handed the Crimson Tide its first season-opening loss since 2001.
Alabama tried to storm again, to dissuade any plans of a area storm with a fourth-quarter Rico Scott rating slicing its deficit to a single landing. However FSU stood pat, utilizing a fourth-quarter landing drive ending in a 14-yard rating by Gavin Sawchuk to safe the 14-point win.
Alabama will host Louisiana Monroe in Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Right here’s what occurred in Alabama’s Week 1 loss to the Seminoles.
Alabama’s final probability of life offensively has been snuffed. A Ty Simpson scramble for a 9-yard achieve was stopped in need of the purpose line with lower than six minutes left within the sport.
Going through a 2nd-and-10, Ryan Williams dropped a first-down reception and was rocked by an FSU defender. He was slowly helped up and went straight to the locker room with the help of two members of the Alabama medical workers
Florida State has added one other landing. Gavin Sawchuk ended a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 14-yard rating.
Alabama wolf linebacker Jah-Marien Latham was helped off the sector after successful. He was not placing weight on his left leg.
A late hit within the helmet by Alabama defensive lineman James Smith continued an FSU drive after Tommy Castellanos initially had no achieve in opposition to Deontae Lawson. The Seminoles have possession on the Alabama 46 with 8:10 left.
11:00, This autumn: Alabama has reduce Florida State’s result in one landing. A 6-yard connection between Ty Simpson and Rico Scott handed the Crimson Tide a 24-17 deficit with 11 minutes left within the sport.
Alabama is beginning to put stress on the Florida State entrance. After LT Overton ended the third quarter with the staff’s first tackle-for-loss, security Keon Sabb pressured a three-and-out with a sack. Alabama takes over at its personal 36-yard line.
Alabama heads into the fourth quarter with a 24-10 deficit in opposition to Florida State.
Going through a 4th and seven on the FSU 28-yard line, Alabama QB Ty Simpson, with a large open run lane to a primary down, shuffled a cross ahead meant for Ryan Williams, which was dropped. Alabama turns the ball over on downs and offers FSU possession.
After what appeared like a wasted drive for Alabama become a possibility. Richard Younger recovered a muffed punt on the FSU 46-yard line, giving Alabama possession.
The Alabama soccer offense has one other probability to chop into its deficit after the protection pressured one other third-quarter Florida State punt. The Crimson Tide takes over at its personal 20.
Alabama continues to wrestle to cease Florida State’s offense. On a 6-yard, third-down scramble, one which led to a primary down, Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson hit Tommy Castellanos late, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for the Seminoles. Florida State is averaging 7.8 yards per play and 5.8 yards per rush.
5:59 Q3: Alabama has reduce its deficit to 2 touchdowns after a 40-yard area purpose by Conor Talty. Talty’s area purpose was Alabama’s first factors for the reason that opening drive.
9:45, Q3: A 64-yard connection between Tommy Castellanos and Jaylin Lucas on a wide-open wheel route units up a 4-yard landing run by Caziah Holmes Florida State has 296 yards of offense and is averaging 8.5 yards per play.
Alabama’s first offensive drive within the second half ended with a turnover on downs. On a play-action cross from Ty Simpson, operating again Kevin Riley landed a yard brief on a four-yard achieve. The Seminoles take over at their very own 32-yard line.
Alabama’s protection began the second half with a press release. Helped by a false begin, the Crimson Tide pressured is first Florida State punt early within the third quarter. Alabama takes over at their very own 29-yard line.
Florida State holds a 17-7 lead at half in opposition to Alabama. Whereas Alabama holds a five-minute benefit on time of possession, the Seminoles have averaged 7.7 yards per play and have 207 yards of offense whole.
Ty Simpson has struggled to search out constant motion downfield. The Alabama QB was stopped for no achieve on a third-down scamper, forcing the Crimson Tide’s third punt of the sport. Alabama trails Florida State 17-7 with lower than two minutes left
With 1:57 left within the first half, rain began pouring on Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State leads Alabama 17-7
3:46 Q2: Alabama pressured a 45-yard area purpose try from Florida State kicker Jake Weinberg after Duce Robinson dropped a particular first-down throw from Tommy Castellanos. Castellanos’ attempt to Robinson was his first incompletion of the day.
Alabama soccer’s offense has stalled. A 3-and-out, together with an incomplete cross to Josh Cuevas Ty Simpson pressured whereas being tackles, pressured the Crimson Tide’s second punt of the day. Florida State takes over at its personal 21-yard line.
9:13 Q2: Florida State has a lead after a 32-yard landing 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 area purpose try brief. Alabama tied with Florida State 7-7. Florida State takes over at its personal 35-yard line.
Alabama and Florida State are tied 7-7 after the primary quarter.
3:04, Q1: The Seminoles are on the board. after 40-yard cross play from Tommy Castellanos to Squirrel White arrange a 9-yard TD scamper by Castellanos.
On his very first snap, Dijon Lee was focused outdoors by Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos. On that play, Lee was beat on a 40-yard explosive to arrange a 9-yard landing.
Dijon Lee is certainly one of three freshmen to see the sector for Alabama soccer within the first quarter. Lee checked in at outdoors cornerback whereas Zabien Brown moved inside to husky defensive again.
With Tim Keenan III out with an ankle harm, Jeremiah Beaman makes the beginning subsequent to James Smith on the inside of the Alabama line of defense.
6:10, Q1: Ty Simpson has his first collegiate touchdown pass, discovering tight finish Josh Cuevas on a 2-yard play-action route for a simple rating, capping off a 16-play, 75-yard drive lasting 8:50.
11:25 Q1: On his first drive as Alabama’s beginning quarterback, Ty Simpson has two carries for 11 yards as a runner.
With Jam Miller out with a collarbone harm, Alabama operating again Richard Younger began because the Crimson Tide’s operating again in opposition to Florida State.
FSU wins coin toss, elects to defer to the second half. Alabama will begin on offense.
Alabama vs. Florida State is about to kick off
Tim Keenan III (ankle) and Jam Miller (collarbone) are every out for Alabama soccer vs. Florida State.
Ty Simpson was on the heart of Alabama’s staff circle after heat ups and gave an impassioned speech to his teammates earlier than leaving the sector. About 20 minutes earlier than kickoff.
With Tim Keenan III out with an ankle harm, Jeremiah Beaman was the primary nostril sort out to line up subsequent to James Smith in heat ups.
When ESPN “Faculty GameDay” analyst Lee Corso has picked Alabama soccer to win, it has, most of the time, come to fruition.
And on his remaining “Faculty GameDay’ look, the beloved ESPN analyst picked in opposition to 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 throughout heat ups.
Terrion Arnold and Ike Taylor, the daddy of Alabama freshman security Ivan Taylor, had been each seen on the Crimson Tide sideline pregame.
Alabama has not opened a season with a real non-conference street sport for the reason that 2000 season when the Crimson Tide misplaced to UCLA 35-24. Alabama has a 18-10-1 file in 29 earlier true street season-opening video games.
General, Alabama is 103-21-3 in season openers. The Crimson Tide has received 22-straight season-opening video games, the second-longest lively streak behind Ohio State (25).
Kalen DeBoer has arrived for Alabama vs. Florida State. He is carrying a crimson Alabama polo tucked into black pants. He has a crimson Alabama ball cap on.
Ty Simpson is on the entrance of Alabama’s warm-up line with 60 minutes left earlier than kickoff.
Months earlier than Florida State’s season opener in opposition to Alabama, Seminoles quarterback Tommy Castellanos exuded confidence in regards to the Seminoles’ probabilities in opposition to the Crimson Tide.
“I dreamed of moments like this,” Castellanos stated. “I dreamed of taking part in in opposition to Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save lots of them. I simply don’t see them stopping me.”
He later doubled down at ACC media days, saying “we stand on what I stated.” Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson addressed Castellanos’ feedback at SEC media days saying “I received’t overlook what he stated.”
“All disrespect might be addressed accordingly,” Lawson stated.
After three seasons backing up Bryce Younger and Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson will make his first collegiate begin for Alabama soccer. Simpson, with lower than 200 snaps to his title, received the Crimson Tide’s beginning quarterback job over redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and freshman Austin Mack. Simpson was later named an Alabama staff captain.
“I’m simply excited and simply completely happy,” Simpson stated forward of Alabama vs. Florida State. “My plan is simply to do the perfect I might be, and get my guys the ball.”
Earl Little Jr. performed sparingly throughout two seasons for Alabama soccer, recording two tackles throughout 11 video games in 2022 and 2023. Little transferred to Florida State the place he had 15 tackles and a sack in 12 video games as a backup defensive again. He was additionally named Particular Groups Newcomer of the 12 months for Florida State final season.
Little is listed as Florida State’s beginning rover defensive again.
The clock has began. Alabama vs. Florida State will kick off in 90 minutes.
Alabama is aware of Roydell Williams properly. The Florida State operating again spent his first 4 seasons of faculty soccer with the Crimson Tide, recording 1,165 yards and 13 whole touchdowns from 2020-23. Williams performed in 4 video games for Florida State in 2024, recording 53 dashing yards and two touchdowns on 26 rushes. The Hueytown, Alabama native spent most of 2024 sidelined with an harm.
“He was an important again for us a few years in the past,” Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson stated. “I do know he’s a strong participant. Acquired a great leap reduce to him. I’m very excited to compete in opposition to him.”
QB1 has taken the sector. Ty Simpson has began his warm-up routine close to the Florida State finish zone. Nick Sheridan, Alabama’s quarterback coach, is standing proper subsequent to Simpson, handing him the soccer after every throw.
Heat ups are underway at Doak Campbell Stadium. Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are each throwing warm-up fade passes to receivers.
Alabama soccer has confronted Florida State 5 instances. The Crimson Tide has three wins in opposition to the Seminoles, together with their most up-to-date assembly within the 2017 season opener.
Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford are on the entrance of the road main the Alabama soccer offensive line across the perimeter of Doak Campbell Stadium.
One season after lacking the Faculty Soccer Playoff regardless of ending the common season undefeated, Florida State collapsed. The Seminoles completed with a 2-10 file, the staff’s worst file since 1974. Florida State received one ACC sport in opposition to California. The Seminoles began the season because the No. 10 staff within the 2024 preseason Related Press ballot.
Within the first season with Kalen DeBoer, Alabama soccer recorded its first season with out 10 wins since 2007, falling to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma on the street earlier than shedding to Michigan within the ReliaQuest Bowl. The Crimson Tide completed 2024 undefeated at house.
Listed below are a couple of different takeaways from Alabama’s first depth chart of 2025:
Whereas Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer named a beginning quarterback within 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 function.
On Alabama’s first depth chart of the season, it signifies Mack “or” Russell.
Listed below are the Tuscaloosa Information’ sport predictions for Alabama at Florida State:
Colin Homosexual: New faces at offensive coordinator and quarterback may carry rising pains for Alabama soccer, particularly on the street. However a protection heading into 12 months 2 of Kane Wommack’s scheme mixed with veteran expertise returning on either side of the ball ought to give the Crimson Tide a bonus even because it begins 2025 on the street. 31-17 Alabama
Chase Goodbread: The Alabama protection can and may carry UA to victory right here, beginning with an edge on the road of scrimmage. Anticipate a rock-solid secondary to present FSU QB Tommy Castellanos issues, particularly if the Crimson Tide cross rush can get to him with some consistency. Offensively, Alabama will break in a brand new quarterback on the street — not precisely a recipe for a factors bonanza — and the UA kicking sport is an open query, too. However they’re going to be ok to win by double digits. 24-13 Alabama
Colin Homosexual covers Alabama soccer for The Tuscaloosa Information, a part of the USA TODAY Community. Attain him atcgay@gannett.com or observe him@_ColinGay on X, previously referred to as Twitter.
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