The Week 3 clash between Florida State and No. 10 Alabama is officially over, and the Seminoles are left with more questions than answers despite putting up 36 points. The Crimson Tide was able to do whatever it wanted with the Seminoles' defense for three quarters after a close battle before heading into a 30-minute lightning delay with 2:36 left in the second quarter.
Both teams returned from the break looking completely different, as Alabama trounced the Seminoles' defense for 50 points. Florida State has plenty of issues this season involving momentum, and without true solutions, the results may continue to get worse as the season progresses. Fixing the mess might mean making some changes, and not just to the staff.
Winners:
1. Duce Robinson - WR, Senior
Florida State needed a big game out of Duce Robinson to stand a chance against the Alabama defense, and Robinson delivered in a major way. The receiver finished the game with six receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown against one of the better defenses he will face this season. The Seminoles could not have asked for much more out of Robinson, and building momentum off of his exceptional performance is going to be key moving forward.
Robinson had just five receptions for 75 yards heading into the visit to Tuscaloosa, and his performance is a reminder of what he can accomplish on the field. Quarterback Ashton Daniels had his moments, but there is still plenty that needs to be fixed at the position. More big games out of Robinson could help take the pressure off the quarterback, but the two positions rely upon each other, and a lack of consistency from Daniels could spoil the rest of the 2026 season for Robinson.
Losers:
4. The entire defensive line (again)
Generating pressure on defense has been extremely difficult for Florida State despite plenty of talent and NIL value along the line. The defensive line has been completely ineffective this season, and the skill level of the opponent frankly does not matter. Nobody along the line has been able to pressure the quarterback, and without the ability to disrupt opposing offenses, the rest of the defense is left to fend for themselves.
Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell has a talented offensive line protecting him, and there is no question about that, but virtually every blitz the Seminoles sent was immediately swallowed up. The defensive line has been allowing the game to come far too easily to opposing quarterbacks, and Florida State still needs to play the likes of Darian Mensah, Lincoln Kienholz, and Beau Pribula.
3. Ashton Daniels - QB, Senior
Putting Daniels on the loser list might be a little harsh after recording 377 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns. However, Daniels also played a key role in the loss with three interceptions that were all off-target throws. The final interception sailed right into the arms of the deep safety, effectively ending any comeback hopes Florida State had.
Was Florida State realistically going to come back against Alabama for the win, even with how the defense played? Probably not. The issue, however, is that the Seminoles cannot make careless mistakes that take away those chances. It is one thing to go down fighting; it is a whole other problem to collapse on offense and defense in a way that directly results in the loss.
2. Mike Norvell - HC
Between the quarterback situation, the overpays across the board, the embarrassing losses, the struggling defensive coordinator, and the athletic director being fired, time is up for coach Mike Norvell in Tallahassee.
With the loss in Tuscaloosa last night, Norvell lost a bit of the edge that he had left by delivering an ugly performance. Plenty of rumors fly around during the week that Florida State may not be so willing to move on from Norvell, but given the result against Alabama and the absolute collapse that took place, the energy that used to surround the time is completely gone. Even ahead of the game during the press conferences, Norvell looked defeated, and the team did not feel like a group ready to challenge a top program.
There might be a million reasons to move on from Norvell, but the most important one at this moment involves the vibe around the program. The tenacity on the field has left the team, and if Alabama was able to find that much success against the Seminoles, conference opponents like Miami could deliver a truly dominant performance.
1. Tony White - DC
There is not a ton to say about the performance of defensive coordinator Tony White and his defense, given how awful Florida State looks. Rather, the statistics should reveal just how bad the problem is for the Seminoles, and just how necessary a change is.
Florida State currently allows an average of roughly 490 yards of total offense per game, while also allowing 31 points per game. The Seminoles have allowed opposing teams to gain an average of 340.7 passing yards per game, 149.7 rushing yards per game, and 94 points through three games. Without Stanford in the ACC, Florida State would have the worst defense in the conference by a mile, and the competition is not even close.
Florida State might choose to keep Norvell around for a bit longer, but White cannot continue to lead the defense this poorly.
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