Florida State football had a disasterous 2025 campaign as they finished with a 5-7 record. This was unexpected since they beat the likes of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the opener. They lost seven of their last nine games to close the year.
Head coach Mike Norvell entered the hot-seat talk for coaches around the country. While some fans thought that he would have been fired after the Stanford loss, the administration decided to keep him around for the 2026 season.
The administration clearly thought that Norvell could get back to his winning ways of 2022 and 2023, or the buyout rate was just too high for their liking. Either way, the Seminoles hope that they can find success like it did against Alabama.
Analysts such as Paul Finebaum and Greg McElroy thought there was no way that the Crimson Tide would fall to Florida State. It is understandable since their SEC bias wouldn't allow their minds to wrap around the idea of it happening.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer looked overwhelmed at times, as the Seminoles won the game 31-17. Florida State's defense played with a special type of passion that we really didn't see for the rest of the season. Defensive back Earl Little Jr. (who transferred to Ohio State this offseason) played like a player who had a chip on his shoulder.
Ryan Coleman-Williams looks to have a bounce back against the Seminoles
Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams was a freshman who everyone in the country was talking about. If I heard one more "He is only 17" reference, I thought I would explode. However, once the Seminoles' contest started, it became apparent that Coleman-Williams was uncomfortable. He finished with five receptions for 30 yards in the game (according to ESPN Stats and Information).
The former five-star prospect seemed to hear footsteps all game and had an issue with drops. With that said, the sophomore pass catcher is looking to have a bounce-back year and performance against Florida State in 2026.
Ryan Coleman-Williams scored THREE touchdowns in Alabama’s scrimmage today 🔥
— Recruits Bama (@RecruitsBama) March 27, 2026
He received a lot of hate and disrespect last season for his number of dropped passes
Will No. 1 bounce back this season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/m4aOfzG1iS
The good news for Alabama is that Florida State has to travel to Tuscaloosa for the game. The bad news is that the Crimson Tide is welcoming in a new signal-caller once again, as Ty Simpson declared for the NFL Draft.
The Seminoles' defensive backfield could be one of the best in the conference if they continue to grow together. Ryan Coleman-Williams could be in for another long day against Florida State.