FSU must stop Alabama's running game
The FSU offense has to show up and score points. However, the most important thing in this game is the FSU defense stopping or containing the Alabama run game and forcing Alabama’s inexperienced quarterback to beat them through the air.
Ty Simpson has attempted 50 passes in his college career. He’s never started a game in an atmosphere like Doak Campbell Stadium. Alabama will not want to put the game on his shoulders, so they’ll do whatever they can to take some pressure off of him.
Alabama will be without its starting running back, so I expect Simpson to run just enough to give FSU something to think about. I also expect them to use their running backs in the short passing game as an extension of their running game(and why they’ll need to tackle well in space).
Alabama has one of the better receiving units nationally, but that won’t matter if Simpson is under pressure and forced to make quick decisions. We saw Tony White school Shedeur Sanders, and the Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, last fall. I’ll take my chances with an inexperienced quarterback over not stopping their running game and getting mauled for four quarters.