Bama Survives Another Slow Start, Gets Revenge on Florida State. 50-36
Weather delays and slow starts ultimately couldn’t stop the Tide.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
It’s a dangerous trend that Alabama has established in the last two weeks. Falling behind early and playing catch up for an entire half is not a positive trend, however ending games on fire on their way to big wins is one that this Tide team would like to continue.
For the second straight week, Alabama sleepwalked through most of the first half yet found their footing in time to register another big win. Last week, it was Kentucky and this week, the Tide fell behind a desperate Florida State squad before staging an epic rally to down the Seminoles 50-36 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The win avenged a brutal 31-17 loss to FSU to begin the 2025 season and the win moved the Tide to 3-0. In addition, due to losses by LSU and Texas A&M over the weekend, Bama moved up from #10 to #8 in the latest Coaches poll. First year starting quarterback Keelon Russell had his best day in a crimson uniform, connecting on 23 of 30 passes for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns against zero interceptions. The fleet footed sophomore also scored on a nifty 57-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
The game did not start well for the Tide. After an hour and forty-five-minute weather delay that delayed the opening kickoff, the Seminoles, fighting hard for embattled coach Mike Norvell, came out swinging and late in the second quarter had put 18.5-point favorite Alabama in a shocking 21-6 hole. Former Stanford and Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels was slinging the ball all over the yard and hit several deep balls against the usually reliable Bama secondary. FSU senior receiver Duce Robinson dominated Bama veteran corner Dijon Lee to the tune of 135 yards on 6 catches throughout the contest. The ‘Nole defense found gaps and pressured Russell throughout the first half, limiting points and big plays for the home team. Yet, like last week’s dominant second half performance against a good Kentucky squad (who just upset #9 Texas A&M on the road, 31-21), Kalen DeBeor’s Alabama team kept its cool and found its legs to ultimately come up with a big win.
Bama’s defense was much celebrated through the first two weeks, yet the Seminoles had defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s number, finishing the day with 471 total yards. In addition, Bama had been solid on third downs, limiting the Tide’s first two opponents to a combined 1 for 23. Yet Florida State found early success and was able to convert on 8 of 15 third down attempts. On a day when the Bama D struggled, the Tide offense had a terrific day. Led by Russell, Alabama raked up 567 yards and reached the 50-point mark against a Power 4 opponent for the first time since 2022. The offensive line carved holes for backs that are turning in big plays and, unlike last season, the unit is having a large impact and are creating a balanced offense that seems to be getting better each week. For the day, freshman Tra’shawn Brown carried the ball 12 times for 86 yards and his 20-yard scamper into the endzone with 2:15 left to play in the game sealed the contest for the home team. Daniel Hill also had a solid day, picking up 59 yards on 11 carries and freshman EJ Crowell also got into the act, gaining 51 yards on 7 carries and a touchdown. The receiving corps is getting open and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb continues to put the young quarterback and his receivers in position to make plays with a combination of short to medium completions. Overall, on Saturday the unit scored on its last nine possessions and is clicking to a degree that we have not seen during the DeBoer era.
Similar to last week in Lexington, The Tide’s opening possession went nowhere and resulted in a quick three and out. The Noles answered with an impressive 7-play, 74-yard drive that ended with Daniels finding Duce Robinson in the back of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown. On the play, Tide defender Dijon Lee lost his footing, leaving an open Robinson alone for an easy pitch and catch that put Florida State up 7-0. Bama’s offense responded with another three and out, yet on the first play of the subsequent FSU possession, a Daniels pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and Red Morgan made his first interception of the season and set the Tide offense up at the FSU 34-yard line. The Tide drive would stall at the Florida State 14 and Connor Talty’s 32-yard field goal made the score 7-3. The Seminole offense responded by marching 69 yards in just three plays, and when Ousmane Kromah rushed over the right side for a 12-yard touchdown run, Florida State had an impressive 14-3 lead at the 2:12 mark of the first quarter. The big play on the drive came from a 56-yard completion from Daniels to Micahi Danzy. The Bama offense responded and marched 50 yards in 9 plays. Talty, who is perfect on the season, nailed his second field goal of the day, this time from 43 yards out to cut the ‘Nole lead to 14-6 just 21 seconds into the second quarter. The FSU offense would respond again, this time by marching 75 yards in 9 plays that culminated in a Daniels 3-yard touchdown run to stretch the lead to 21-6 with 9:42 remaining until half.
The Florida State contingent could smell blood in the water and as the famous FSU war chant echoed throughout the stadium to the annoyance of the Bryant-Denny faithful, the tension in the stands was palpable. That would, however, be the high mark for the Seminole faithful. Russell calmly and coolly responded by marching the Tide 75 yards in 12 plays, and when he hit freshman wideout Cederian Morgan on a perfectly thrown 21-yard slant to quiet the visitors, the lead was cut to 21-13 with 2:36 left in the half. The drive included a critical 4th and 2 conversion for 6 yards to Ryan Coleman-William around mid-field. At this point, a second lightning delay ensued which lasted 34 minutes and when play resumed, the flood gates would open for the Tide. Three plays after the delay, Tide safety Keon Sabb got his hand on a Daniels pass and corner Ivan Taylor made the pick at the Bama 37 with 1:37 remaining until halftime. Russell made short work of the Seminole defense and on the second play of the drive, he hit Coleman-Williams on a screen pass and the speedy junior brought it to the house from 46 yards out for his first touchdown of the young season and after a failed two-point conversion, the ‘Nole lead stood at 21-19 with 1:23 left in the half. The Bama defense would step it up and force a quick three-and-out and after a Seminole punt, the Tide offense was set up at their own 44 with 26 seconds to play in the half. Russel then threaded a perfect pass along the sideline to Brooks that set the Tide up at the FSU 16, and on the next play, Russell found tight end Kaleb Edwards in the middle of the field for another touchdown. The stunning two-minute rally culminated in a 26-21 Bama lead at half.
Florida State deserves a lot of credit as Norvell’s squad did not roll over and die. The ‘Noles first drive of the second half covered 75-yards in 9 plays, and when Daniels found Landen Thomas for a 2-yard touchdown strike, Florida State regained the lead at 28-26. But at this point, the Bama offense was cooking and they responded quickly, covering 75 yards in 8 plays. EJ Crowell took a pitch and ran in from 4 yards out to regain the lead for the Tide, 33-26 with 5:55 to go in the third quarter. It would be a lead the Tide would not relinquish. The Bama D would stiffen and force a three-and-out. Three plays later, Russell would run untouched 57 yards on a key 3rd and 3 to increase the Bama lead to 40-26. Again, the Alabama defense would respond and on 4th and 3 from the Tide 36, Norvell passed up a lengthy field goal and went for it. A Daniels pass was off target and Alabama took over. Six plays later, Talty would nail a 45 yarder to put Alabama ahead 43-26 with 9:53 left in the contest. Florida State responded quickly with a nifty drive of their own. This one covered 75 yards in just 2:26 as Daniels hit on back-to-back long pass plays of 40 and 27 yards. Daniels would score his second touchdown of the evening on the ground, this time from 6 yards out and after a successful 2-point conversion, it was back to a one possession game at 43-36 with 7:27 left to go. Alabama would respond with the drive of the game, a beautiful 9 play, 90-yard drive. Bama pounded it out on the ground with Crowell, Hill, Russell, and Brown carving the FSU defense on a drive that would take five minutes. When Brown scored untouched from 20 yards out, the final score was set at 50-36 and the payback from last year’s defeat was complete.
If the Tide could figure out how to get out of the gate quickly, this team would have a chance to have an impact on the SEC title chase and possibly the national championship race. The Tide survived poor first halves against two good teams, but playing with similar fire against the likes of Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and LSU could prove disastrous for Alabama’s title hopes. Next week’s opponent, South Carolina, visits Tuscaloosa after a hard-fought loss at home to upstart Mississippi State, and Shane Beamer’s squad will surely give Bama their best to get their first SEC win of the season. Kickoff is set for 7:00 on ESPN. Could Bama survive another slow start to Lenoir Sellers and the Gamecocks? The Bryant-Denny faithful certainly hope they do not need to find out.
