It is nearly time for Week 3 to kick off in Tuscaloosa as Florida State will be traveling down to play the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide away from home. The Seminoles have not exactly produced in Tallahassee this season through the 1-1 start, and now the team is tasked with trying to survive what could be the toughest challenge of the season.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer previously stated that the idea of a revenge game is not something the Crimson Tide is taking seriously despite losing in Tallahassee in 2025. Revenge may not be on his mind, but running up the score with a talented offense certainly will be. Florida State has not played like a cohesive unit this season, and there are plenty of questions that need to be answered to prevent an embarrassment at the hands of Alabama.
4. Is Ashton Daniels truly the starting quarterback?
Starting quarterback Ashton Daniels has been at the front of numerous discussions surrounding Florida State, between his job security, his estimated NIL value, and whether or not he is genuinely capable of running an effective offense. Daniels dropped to 6-21 as a starting quarterback with the loss to SMU, and he would need to put together an insane game to prevent another loss against Alabama.
Daniels previously played against the Crimson Tide in 2025 as a member of the Auburn Tigers, and despite posting 367 total yards and a touchdown, his performance was not enough for a win. Daniels would need to replicate his production and possibly then some to secure the win, so the real question is, can Daniels perform well enough to keep the starting job?
Through two games, Daniels has recorded 327 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while completing 58% of his passes. An additional 101 rushing yards and two scores on the ground is a pleasant boost. Daniels is not producing nearly enough through the air to support the offense.
Florida State will host Central Arkansas after playing Alabama, which could give backup quarterback Malachi Marshall a chance at proving himself.
3. Can the secondary fix the major communication issues?
Communication in the secondary has been a massive issue for Florida State through two games, with blown coverage and wide-open receivers becoming a mainstay. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings is an excellent player, but Florida State made things far too easy for someone that experienced and capable. Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell is much younger with less experience, but his raw talent is off the charts.
Russell might be incredibly talented, but he is still young, and a stellar performance from the secondary could force the quarterback to make mistakes. Russell threw two interceptions and lost a fumble last week against Kentucky, and a similar performance could give the Seminoles somewhat of a chance. Making changes that quickly and implementing them against a top team in the country, however, could prove to be a difficult question to answer.
2. What offensive line combination will work best long-term?
So far in 2026, Mike Norvell has been throwing whatever he can at the wall to see what sticks along the offensive line. Norvell spent the entire camp leading up to the season evaluating the offensive line, and still does not have a combination of five players who truly work well together. Some parts have been more valuable than the whole, but Florida State cannot rotate the line around all season and expect any consistency to come from that decision.
The clash against Alabama is going to seriously push the offensive line, and that pressure is going to be what gives the Seminoles' staff a clear look at who is ready and who is not. A lot of the early blame for the stalled offense is placed on the shoulders of Daniels as the quarterback, but this Florida State team could be in serious trouble without a working offensive line and the quarterback issues that are present.
1. Is the defensive line salvageable?
One of the most notable recurring themes this season has been defensive lineman Mandrell Desir drawing attention from the fans for the wrong reasons. Desir entered the transfer portal and returned to Tallahassee with a much better NIL offer, and the defensive lineman has not provided anywhere close to the production the staff expected after a highly successful 2025 season. The problem is not just Desir, however, but rather the entire defensive line and the pricetag that comes with it.
The top four defensive linemen for Florida State currently hold an estimated value of roughly $3.3 million between Desir, Rylan Kennedy, Kevin Wynn, and Daniel Lyons. The four have combined for 12 tackles and one sack through two games this season, which is far below what the Seminoles' staff expected. At this point, it is almost certain the investments will not be worth the production, which means Florida State needs to eat the loss and find the best unit possible.
Finding a true answer to the question during Week 3 against a powerhouse like Alabama may not be simple, but the game will give defensive linemen like Desir and Kennedy a chance to prove themselves. With Central Arkansas on the schedule in Week 4, the Seminoles will be given a chance to work in more players in an attempt to find a winning recipe.
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