By JEFFREY BATTLE

The first weekend of the 2025 college football season delivered fireworks across the nation, as heavyweights stumbled and underdogs seized the spotlight.

In the most shocking result of the slate, Florida State stunned No. 8 Alabama, 31–17, in Tallahassee. The Seminoles controlled the game from start to finish, racking up 230 rushing yards and holding the Crimson Tide to just 87 yards on the ground—their lowest opening-week rushing total since 1975. The loss snapped Alabama’s 24-year streak of Week 1 victories and sent the Tide tumbling 13 spots in the AP Top 2. Castellanos is him and will continue being him this season. He is the most overall well rounded QB this year. 

Elsewhere, Ohio State knocked off preseason No. 1 Texas, 14–7, in a defensive slugfest in Columbus, marking them as early contenders. In another top-10 showdown, LSU clipped Clemson, 17–10, in a battle of bruising defenses. Meanwhile, Miami edged Notre Dame, 27–24, in a thriller that reignited an old rivalry. Texas is with an injured Manning at the helm, and while he seems to be trying to fight it, he is still making lots of inaccurate throws. That will be interesting to see this year. 

The upset theme wasn’t confined to the Power Five. FCS programs also made headlines, with Tarleton State outlasting Army, 30–27, in double overtime, and Austin Peay dominating Middle Tennessee, 34–14. Week 1 proved, once again, that in college football, no team is safe.

For Alabama, the loss to Florida State was more than just a stumble—it was a glaring reminder that the Crimson Tide may no longer be the immovable force of college football.

Quarterback Ty Simpson’s 254 passing yards and two touchdowns couldn’t mask the Tide’s one-dimensional offense. Without a rushing attack, Alabama became predictable, and Florida State’s defense feasted. The offensive line looked overwhelmed, giving up consistent pressure and failing to open running lanes. On the other side, Alabama’s front seven was bullied at the line of scrimmage, a sight once unthinkable during the Nick Saban era.

The criticism has been swift. Commentators labeled the SEC a “joke” after Alabama’s loss, and fans questioned whether head coach Kalen DeBoer is the right man to lead the program forward. It was DeBoer’s first Week 1 loss in 24 years, and it came in embarrassing fashion.

More troubling than the loss itself was the way Alabama lost: sloppy, out-physicaled, and uninspired. This wasn’t a matter of one unlucky bounce or a last-second field goal—it was a systematic breakdown. Once feared for their discipline and dominance, the Tide looked ordinary, if not worse.

The dynasty that defined college football for nearly two decades now appears fragile. Unless Alabama can rediscover its edge in the trenches and rebuild the discipline that once made it great, “Roll Tide” risks becoming a relic of the past rather than a rallying cry of the present.

Featured image: AL.com