Florida State football will be taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide in their 2025 season opener in what will be a newly-renovated Doak Campbell Stadium. While I know that some fans are skeptical about the renovations, the stadium will be rocking and ready to go when the Crimson Tide coming to town.
Alabama was not the well-oiled machine that it once was under the legendary Nick Saban where it finished with a 9-4 record under first-year head football coach Kalen DeLoach. Crimson Tide fans have a bad taste in their mouths after their bowl loss to the Michigan Wolverines.
This looks to be a pivotal second year under DeLoach. He will have to trot out a new quarterback next season as dual-threat Jalen Milroe elected to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. The Crimson Tide has a sensational pass-catcher Ryan Williams (just so you know, he isn't 17 years old anymore).
Coming from the Milroe era, redshirt junior Ty Simpson has emerged as a favorite to win the starting job. Alabama had their A-Day spring game on Saturday where Simpson started the contest, which has a good tale-tell sign of him being the leader.
Simpson had a good command of the offense where he did have a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Mbakwe. He displays good pocket presence in the offensive scheme. While head football coach Kalen DeLoach did not announce a starting quarterback after the spring game, it looks like Simpson has a good shot.
The redshirt junior completed 14 of his 25 passes for 167 yards and he also had eight carries for 44 rushing yards and one touchdown during the 2024 season.
Florida State hired a new defensive coordinator in Tony White, who had a top-20 defensive unit with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He gave elite offenses such as Colorado and Ohio State fits.
The defense in 2025 has several new pieces that stress the importance of being physical and flying to the football. Hopefully, the Seminoles have a blueprint when August rolls around to stop the Crimson Tide's offense.