Florida State stunned the college football world in the 2025 season opener, thumping No. 8 Alabama 31-17 after winning only two games in 2024. It was a win that gave FSU football fans hope for the future, and Alabama fans more reasons to question the hire of Kalen DeBoer.
Of course, FSU went on to lose seven of its final nine games after starting the season 3-0. FSU fans wanted Mike Norvell fired (again), and Alabama went on to lose in the College Football Playoff (again).
The 2025 matchup for the first of two, with FSU returning the favor by traveling to Tuscaloosa in 2026. The rematch won’t open the 2026 season, but will happen in week three with two teams with a lot of different faces.
Thomas Castellanos won’t be the quarterback for FSU, and Ty Simpson won’t be the quarterback for Alabama. However, one ESPN writer deemed the rematch one of the top games to watch early in the 2026 season:
“This pick is based partially on seeing how Alabama responds after losing this matchup last year and partially on the potential fallout from this result.” Lyles stated. “A loss for either the Seminoles or the Crimson Tide will put their coach firmly on the hot seat, assuming both teams enter this game 2-0. I think both Alabama's Kalen DeBoer and FSU's Mike Norvell are really good coaches, but knowing college football fans, the heat will be on for the loser of this one and the margin for error will become pretty much zero.”
He's not lying, except the part about calling Mike Norvell a really good coach. He's only shown that in a couple of seasons at FSU, so I'd say that's a stretch. However, he's not lying about the margin of error becoming basically zero.
FSU could help into the Alabama game with a loss against SMU the week before. They'll have a chance to capture another win against Central Arkansas before heading into ACC play. However, a blowout loss agaisnt Alabama after losing to SMU (if they lose that one) would certainly get the coils under Mike Norvell's seat extra hot early in the 2026 season.
A win for FSU would give some reprieve, but FSU would need to start ACC play off with some wins before anyone thinks about making his seat cool again. It's a game that'll likely draw big numbers because it's between two big names in college football.