The Alabama Crimson Tide was able to defeat Florida State on Saturday afternoon 50-36 in a wacky game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The matchup was twice delayed by lightning in the area and once again showed a slow start for this team under Kalen DeBoer.
Seemingly every time this team has gone up against an opponent they are perceived to be above in terms of talent and ability over the last three years, they have looked sluggish to begin the game and fallen into a hole they had to climb out of. This game was no different, and after falling behind 21-6 against a Seminoles program which is nowhere near their level right now, they quickly turned things on offensively and surged into a lead by halftime.
This is now two weeks in a row after the Kentucky game in which Alabama had to fight back from a horrific start and figure things out, but for Keelon Russell and a very young offense, this one felt different.
As jittery and uncomfortable as Russell looked at the start of the game, he was equally composed and dominant once he settled in and led this offense to a 50-point explosion. It was by far Russell’s best game in an Alabama uniform, completing 23 of his 30 attempts for 320 passing yards, along with an absolutely electric long rushing touchdown in the second half.
Most importantly, he did not turn the ball over and give the Seminoles free possessions after making some horrific mistakes last week.
Keelon Russell showing off the wheels on a 57-yard TD run! pic.twitter.com/6TSlYX6Dw8
— T.J. Randall (@TJ_Randall12) September 20, 2026
The slow starts are frustrating and must be corrected as the schedule starts to heat up next month, but this is a young quarterback and young offense with almost all new starters that are growing up before our very eyes.
Perhaps most encouraging is the run game after an offseason of noise about how the Tide could not run the ball last season. Rushing for nearly 250 yards as a team, the blocking schemes and ability to get down the field by keeping the ball on the ground is night and day from what it was last season.
Defensively, things were not pretty, but Kane Wommack and the staff has proven an ability to make adjustments in season after poor performances. Fans should have faith that things will get corrected, and quickly.
In an ideal world, Alabama would get off to a great start in every game, but Saturday afternoon highlighted the resilience and potential high ceiling of this young football team in 2026. Moving forward, this team should keep getting better each and every week, and if it continues to get better, it could be a scary sight for the rest of college football.
