Florida State Upsets No. 8 Alabama 31-17 in Season Opener

The Alabama Crimson Tide, ranked No. 8, suffered a surprising 31-17 loss to the Florida State Seminoles in their 2025 season opener, revealing significant issues in their defense and execution. Despite high preseason defensive rankings and expectations, Alabama's defense struggled with effort, energy, and execution, prompting defensive coordinator Kane Wommack to address the lack of passion and the need for improvement. Florida State, under coach Mike Norvell and led by quarterback Tommy Castellanos, showed marked improvement from their 2-10 2024 season, dominating both offensively and defensively, which energized their fanbase and sparked celebrations. The loss adds pressure on Alabama's head coach Kalen DeBoer, whose team has now lost multiple games as double-digit favorites, raising questions about coaching and team focus. Social media reactions from Alabama fans expressed shock, disappointment, and calls for change, while Florida State supporters celebrated what could be a turning point toward a College Football Playoff run. Alabama will look to regroup before upcoming games against Louisiana-Monroe, Wisconsin, and the start of SEC play, as Florida State aims to build on their momentum.