Tag: FSU

Jadan Baugh’s historic outing leads Florida to rivalry win over Florida State

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Florida’s Jadan Baugh eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in a dominating, career-best outing, and the Gators deprived rival Florida State of a bowl berth by rocking the Seminoles 40-21 on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.

Baugh carried 38 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns, and DJ Lagway was 15 of 24 for 168 yards with three touchdowns and an interception as the Gators (4-8, 2-6 SEC) finally won in November.

With an interim coach and falling out of the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes this weekend, Florida snapped a four-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, Florida State (5-7, 2-6 ACC) needed another win for a bowl appearance, but the ACC school never led and lost for the third time in four games.

Tommy Castellanos went 17 of 28 for 240 yards with two TD passes and a pick; he also rushed for 77 yards and a score. Lawayne McCoy had six receptions for 117 yards and a score.

The Seminoles are now winless on the road for the second straight season; their last road victory, coincidentally, was in Gainesville in 2023.

After the Gators took a 3-0 lead on Trey Smack’s 23-yard kick, Florida’s defense stuffed the visitors’ second series with a turnover on downs, and Lagway soon found J. Michael Sturdivant on a slant for a five-yard score at 2:49 for a 10-0 lead.

However, on third-and-5 in the second quarter, Castellanos hit receiver Micahi Danzy, who hauled in a throw underneath and was shoved into the end zone by his teammates for a 13-yard TD to make it to 10-7 at 13:39.

The home side answered Florida State’s score with a nine-yard play-action pass to Tony Livingston in an epic 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 8:01 of the quarter.

Seminoles defensive back Edwin Joseph picked off Lagway to set up the half’s final score, a four-yard scamper by Castellanos as a short skirmish broke out at the goal line between the north Florida foes in the 17-14 contest.

Baugh had 101 yards in the first half to become the first 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor in 2015.

Lagway led Florida 40 yards in three plays after a turnover on downs and regained the 10-point lead with a three-yard pass to Hayden Hansen at 9:47. Baugh created separation with a 22-yard run at 2:55 to increase it to 31-14.

Smack hit from 54 for the first points of the 4th quarter. Then, Castellanos found McCoy from 17 yards out with 3:07 left.
Baugh’s TD run was the final score of the contest.

–Field Level Media

Florida State retaining Mike Norvell for 2026 season

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Mike Norvell will remain as Florida State’s head coach into the 2026 season, the school announced Sunday afternoon.

With support from Seminoles’ leadership, Norvell has pledged to institute fundamental changes in specific areas to improve performance to meet the school’s championship standard, the school’s press release said.

“FSU Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins, Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford, and I are in complete agreement that changes are needed for our program to improve,” FSU president Richard McCullough said in a statement. “Coach Norvell embraces our support in that process and agrees that success must be achieved. He continues to demonstrate an unwavering belief in this program’s future, and so do we. This decision reflects a unified commitment to competing in the rapidly evolving landscape of college football, while maintaining continuity within the program.”

The Seminoles fell to 5-6 Friday night with a 21-11 loss at North Carolina State in Norvell’s sixth season leading the program. He has a 38-33 record over his time at Florida State, but has lost 17 of the last 24 games since the 2023 Seminoles were left out of the College Football Playoff with a 13-0 record.

Norvell signed an eight-year extension that pays him over $10 million annually in February 2024 when he was being courted as a potential replacement for Nick Saban at Alabama. If Norvell was fired at this moment, he would be owed a $54 million buyout, a likely contributing factor in the decision to bring him back in 2026.

A crowded coaching carousel with vacancies already open for weeks at Penn State, LSU, Florida and Auburn, among others, also could have gone into the decision.

“This program has been built on belief, sacrifice, and putting the team first,” Norvell said in a statement. “That set of values has always guided my actions, and those of our players. The driving motivation behind this is to make certain that we are doing everything properly to obtain and retain elite players, add critical pieces, and sustain long-term success. I love Florida State, and I am fully committed to this program, and our shared goals.”

Norvell brought in new offensive and defensive coordinators in Gus Malzahn and Tony White after last year’s 2-10 season. It sounds like more changes on his staff will now be on the way over the next few weeks.

“Our responsibility is to do what gives Florida State the strongest competitive position – not just today, but for years to come,” Alford said in a statement. “Florida State has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in its football program over the past few years with high expectations. Chairman Collins, President McCullough and I are aligned in partnering with Coach and improving our ability to compete for championships. Our mission is unwavering in putting Florida State football at the forefront of college athletics.”

–Field Level Media

Florida State, NC State battle for bowl eligibility

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There will be quite a bit at stake — just not at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings — when Florida State and North Carolina State meet Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Instead, the winner will achieve bowl eligibility with time running out in the season.

Florida State (5-5, 2-5), which will finish the regular season at Florida on Nov. 29, is winless in three road games this season.

“This year we have not been good enough (in road games),” Seminoles coach Mike Norvell said. “We are looking at every component. There are some modifications that we’re implementing throughout this week and continuing to push so (that) come Friday night on a short week, our best is going to show up.”

To complicate matters, Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh generally has been a difficult venue for Florida State.

“It’s a hostile place to play,” Norvell said.

North Carolina State (5-5, 2-4) has lost three of its last four games, giving up more than 35 points in four consecutive games.

“We got all kinds of injuries, and so guys got to duct tape it up and play for each other,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said.

North Carolina State is trying to recover from Saturday’s 41-7 loss at then-No. 15 Miami.

“They’re coming off a game that’s very uncharacteristic of how they’ve played,” Norvell said.

Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey will look for a bounce-back outing after throwing two interceptions and accounting for a season-low 120 passing yards in the Miami game — which marked the only time this year he didn’t throw for a touchdown.

Florida State has won two of its last three games, including last week’s 34-14 triumph against Virginia Tech. But the Seminoles will be without cornerback Ja’Bril Rawls for the rest of the season because of an undisclosed injury. This means true freshman cornerback Shamar Arnoux will have heightened responsibilities.

“He’s got the right mindset,” Norvell said. “I do think he’s really capable. He’s going to grow up right there in front of our eyes this week.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell after losing the game to the Pittsburgh Panthers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Florida State eager to halt slide in encounter vs. Stanford

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The good vibes of Florida State’s season-opening upset of Alabama and 3-0 start are gone.

The Seminoles (3-3, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) will look to snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday night when they travel to Northern California to meet Stanford.

Florida State’s latest setback came last weekend at home vs. Pitt as a 10 1/2-point favorite.

“We had a lot of missed opportunities in that game,” Seminoles coach Mike Norvell said.

With the 34-31 defeat, Florida State has lost eight straight ACC games and is 1-10 in conference play since the start of last season.

Stanford (2-4, 1-2) will look to extend that streak on Saturday night in an unusual ACC game that will be a first-time matchup for these programs.

Since beating Boston College on Sept. 13, the Cardinal have lost their last two ACC games, at Virginia and at SMU, by a combined score of 82-30.

Saturday’s 34-10 loss at the Mustangs, though, was closer than the final score indicated. Three plays after the Cardinal had a touchdown nullified with 6:52 remaining due to a penalty, Ben Gulbranson had a pass intercepted and returned 96 yards for a touchdown.

It was an untimely moment for Gulbranson’s first interception since Sept. 6. After he threw no touchdown passes and three interceptions in Stanford’s first two games, he had six scoring strikes without a pick before this misstep.

“I didn’t get on the plane thinking, ‘Wow, that team’s a lot better than us,’” Stanford interim coach Frank Reich said. “… There’s still a lot that needs to happen, but if we can somehow get a touchdown there and get it to a one-score game, I’m feeling like momentum is on our side and this thing is about to get interesting.”

Florida State’s defense added two interceptions vs. Pitt to bring its season tally to eight, second most in the ACC. However, the Seminoles also allowed a season-high 321 passing yards against the Panthers.

After a strong start, Florida State has allowed eight TD passes in its last three games. The Seminoles’ defense ranks 13th (out of 17) in the ACC with 11 passing TDs allowed and is tied for 11th in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.4).

–Field Level Media

The Seminoles wore No. 35 sweat bands throughout the game in honor of Ethan Pritchard, who is still hospitalized after being shot on Labor Day.

FSU LB Ethan Pritchard released from hospital

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Ethan Pritchard, the Florida State freshman linebacker who suffered a gunshot wound to the head six weeks ago, was released from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on Thursday.

The university announced that Pritchard would be moved to Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville to continue his recovery. According to FSU’s statement, Pritchard is alert, responsive and able to communicate.

“We are thankful for the efforts, thoughts and prayers of so many people and ask that you continue to support Ethan and his family as this process continues,” the school’s statement said.

On Aug. 31, Pritchard was driving and dropping off his aunt and a child after a family party in Havana, Fla. The three were about 16 miles from Tallahassee when he was shot in the back of the head, an incident authorities have described as a case of mistaken identity.

Four arrests were made in September in connection with the incident.

“I am so thankful for everyone who has prayed for my son,” said Earl Pritchard, Ethan’s father. “There have been a lot of ups and downs over these last 39 days, and it is remarkable that Ethan and I were able to leave the hospital together today.”

Earl Pritchard specifically thanked head football coach Mike Norvell, his coaching staff and the players as well as the hospital and FSU sports medicine staffs and supporters at Seminole High School in Sanford, Fla., where Ethan played.

“Ethan has a long journey ahead of him, but I know he will continue to fight and he will do so with the full support of our FSU and Seminole County families and all who have been impacted by his story.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Tommy Castellanos (1) runs the ball during the first half against the East Texas A&M Lions at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

With QB in question, No. 8 Florida State sets out to battle Virginia

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Florida State has had time to bask in its win over Alabama.

In the three weeks since their 31-17 upset of that Top 10 team, the Seminoles have crushed East Texas A&M and Kent State by a combined score of 143-13, with a bye week in between, as they surged into the Top 10 themselves.

The No. 8 Seminoles (3-0, 0-0 ACC) now will begin a stretch of eight straight Atlantic Coast Conference games with their first road game of the season Friday night against Virginia (3-1, 1-0) in Charlottesville, Va.

The main question facing the Seminoles is whether quarterback Tommy Castellanos will be available this week. Castellanos, who has accounted for 594 passing yards, 139 rushing yards and six total touchdowns, had his lower leg “rolled up on” in the second quarter Saturday, according to Florida State coach Mike Norvell. The QB limped off the field and did not return.

Castellanos said after the game that he was “100 percent still” after the injury scare, but Norvell sent a bit more nuanced message on Monday.

“Today, (Castellanos) was able to get some work. I feel confident about where that’s going to be,” Norvell said. “Obviously, we’ll continue to see how the week plays out.”

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are coming off a 48-20 thrashing of Stanford in their ACC opener on Saturday. Virginia is averaging 45.5 points per game this season, 11th-best in the nation.

Quarterback Chandler Morris, a transfer from North Texas, has been a big part of that success, throwing for 1,050 yards and eight touchdowns. He doubled his TD total last week with four scores and 380 passing yards against the Cardinal and also has 132 rushing yards this season.

Trell Harris had 145 receiving yards and caught three touchdown passes in that game.

“This is a team that, offensively, is one of the best in the country,” Norvell said of Virginia. “… You really felt great speed and physicality in their game there Saturday night.”

The Seminoles will present the toughest challenge of the season to date for Virginia. Florida State ranks 12th nationally in scoring defense (10 ppg) and 21st in total defense (248 ypg). While the last two games were against outclassed competition, those rankings include a game in which Florida State held then-No. 8 Alabama to 17 points and 341 yards on Aug. 30.

Offensively, the Seminoles lead the country in scoring (58 ppg) and total offense (628.7 ypg).

If Castellanos is sidelined or if his mobility is limited, the Seminoles should be able to rely on their run game. They set a program record with 498 rushing yards vs. Kent State, and their 17 rushing touchdowns are the most nationally.

“They’re doing what (Seminoles offensive coordinator) Gus (Malzahn) has always done. He makes you defend every inch of the field,” Elliott said of Florida State’s run game. “He’s got a big offensive line, a stable of running backs and a quarterback that can make you right in the run game.”

While Castellanos’ status is questionable, Norvell said starting tight end Randy Pittman, who has missed the last two games with a lingering injury, and starting slot receiver Squirrel White (wrist), who was sidelined Saturday, are in line to return Saturday, barring setbacks.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) scores a touchdown during the first half against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

No. 7 Florida State’s record-setting rushing attack rams Kent State

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No. 7 Florida State set program records with eight rushing touchdowns and 498 rushing yards, smashing Kent State in a 66-10 win Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Seminoles (3-0) got off to a roaring start for the second straight game against overmatched competition. They racked up 356 yards over the opening 15 minutes while scoring rushing touchdowns on each of their five possessions that quarter, tying a program record with 35 first-quarter points.

Quarterback Tommy Castellanos and running back Gavin Sawchuk had two of those scores each while Micahi Danzy added another on a 64-yard reverse.

FSU finished with 775 yards of offense, marking the second straight week the Seminoles surpassed 700 yards after previously not having done so since 2000. They averaged a gaudy 9.9 yards per play.

The Golden Flashes (1-3) responded to one of those early scores on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Dru DeShields to DaShawn Martin midway through the first quarter. But that proved to be most of the offense Kent State could manage, finishing with 206 yards and dropping its 25th consecutive game against an FBS opponent.

DeShields completed 9 of 18 passes for 129 yards and one interception. He was replaced in the second half by Nolan Good, who completed 4 of 9 passes for 34 yards and led a fourth-quarter drive which ended with a field goal.

Castellanos was removed from the game in the second quarter for the second straight game, completing 10 of 13 passes for 205 yards with 54 rushing yards. However, he left the game this time with an apparent injury, limping off the field after he was rolled up on late in the first half right before a 42-minute weather delay began.

The only update provided on Castellanos’ status was that it is a lower-body injury. Castellanos told reporters after the game he was “still 100 percent.”

Danzy was the star of FSU’s firework-laden first quarter, catching a pair of passes for 112 yards and scoring on the reverse. He has rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns this season, scoring on jet sweeps in FSU’s first two games of the season.

With two more rushing touchdowns Saturday, Sawchuk is up to six total touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving) on the year.

Sam Singleton Jr. (twice) and Kam Davis added rushing touchdowns to bring the game tally to eight.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell looks on against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

No. 7 Florida State wary of Kent State team desperate to end FBS skid

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Even though Florida State was off last weekend, it was a very fortuitous bye week for the Seminoles.

FSU (2-0) rose three spots to No. 7 in this week’s AP poll while sitting at home.

The Seminoles return to action Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla., when they close out nonconference play for now against Kent State (1-2).

While the Golden Flashes have lost their last 24 games against FBS opponents, FSU head coach Mike Norvell has seen some significant improvements early this season under Kent State interim coach Mark Carney, who nearly snapped that drought Saturday.

“They’ve had a challenging offseason. The interim head coach, I think, is doing a remarkable job,” Norvell said. “… It’s a team that’s getting better.”

The bye gave the Seminoles a week to rest before a stretch of five straight games starting this week.

Although it’s still early in the season, the Seminoles’ dominant win over Alabama and 77-3 waxing of FCS foe East Texas A&M have FSU measuring up well nationally on both sides of the ball.

FSU is tied for third nationally in points per game (54), ninth in yards per game (555.5) and tied for 14th in scoring defense (10 points per game).

In just two games this season, the Seminoles already have nine rushing touchdowns, surpassing the eight they scored in 12 games last season. With 591 rushing yards, they are well on their way to surpassing the 1,079 yards they accumulated as a team in 2024. Six different players have rushed for a touchdown, Gavin Sawchuk leading the way with three.

Norvell provided an update on linebacker Ethan Pritchard, who’s been hospitalized since being shot on Aug. 31 while leaving a family gathering. He said Pritchard, who has been sedated while in critical but stable condition, opened his eyes for the first time Sunday.

“There has been progress,” Norvell said. “… It was something that was emotional for everybody. It’s still a long process moving forward, but it puts all things in perspective, the appreciation of a blink.”

The Golden Flashes head south after coming heartbreakingly close to snapping their extended FBS losing streak, which will have reached 1,029 days by the time of this week’s game. Kent State led 14-0 over Buffalo late in the first half last Saturday and took a 28-24 lead with 2:38 left before the Bulls scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:03 remaining.

While Kent State snapped its 21-game overall losing streak in its season opener vs. FCS Merrimack College, the FBS losing streak lingers.

“Monday, sun came up. Onto Florida State,” Carney said. “I feel heartbroken still for the guys in that locker room that we weren’t able to get the result we desired against Buffalo on Saturday … I think we’ve taken huge strides there. It’s proof that we’re going in a really positive direction.”

The Flashes seem to have found something in quarterback Dru DeShields. After splitting time in the first two games, he played the entirety of the Buffalo game and completed 22 of 32 passes for 279 yards, two touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.

In three games this season, DeShields has 513 passing yards, six total touchdowns (four passing, two rushing) and no interceptions.

Freshman wide receiver Cade Wolford has emerged as an early favorite target for DeShields. A converted running back, Wolford is the only Kent State player with 100-plus receiving yards or multiple touchdown catches this season, soaring past both metrics with 223 yards and four scores.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Tommy Castellanos (1) celebrates after a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Riding high off upset, No. 14 Florida St. preps for East Texas A&M

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Florida State delivered the most shocking Week 1 result of the college football season.

Coming off a disastrous 2-10 season, the Seminoles responded in a big way last Saturday, opening with a convincing 31-17 win over then-No. 8 Alabama.

In the Associated Press, Florida State was rewarded for the upset, leaping from receiving just eight total votes and being 23 spots outside the Top 25 to No. 14 in the updated poll released Tuesday.

The team will look to carry that momentum into a different Week 2 matchup when the Seminoles meet FCS opponent East Texas A&M (0-1) on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Lions will face their second ACC opponent in as many weeks after losing 42-13 at then-No. 16 SMU on Saturday.

The Seminoles, meanwhile, entered their game as a two-touchdown home underdog but won by that margin.

“What I loved about it is that we won by two scores, and I’m kind of (ticked) off it wasn’t more,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “Because there’s a lot of areas where there were opportunities for us to be so much better.”

Led by new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and new quarterback Tommy Castellanos, the Seminoles rushed for 230 yards against an Alabama defense loaded with future NFL talent. That’s a world of difference from 2024, when Florida State ranked 129th out of 134 FBS teams in average rushing yards per game (89.9).

Castellanos led Florida State with 78 rushing yards and was one of four Seminoles with a rushing touchdown. He also led an explosive passing attack, which saw him complete 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards.

“I thought Tommy did a great job …” Malzahn said. “I thought he was really composed. The moment’s not too big for him. I think he thrives in moments like that.”

Defensively, new coordinator Tony White had a similarly strong impact in his debut. After the 2024 Seminoles were 107th in rushing defense (184.7 yards per game) and 87th in scoring defense (28 points per game), they limited Alabama to 87 rushing yards — just 32 after the first drive — and 17 points.

In five trips across midfield after an opening touchdown, Alabama scored just 10 points and had three turnovers on downs.

East Texas A&M is in its fourth season at the FCS level after moving up from Division II. This is the first season in which the Lions have played any Power 4 opponents, and they’re doing for the second straight week.

“They got a big win against Alabama, so I know they’re riding high and they’re celebrating tonight …,” coach Clint Dolezel said after Saturday’s loss to SMU. “We know we’ve got a tough opponent next weekend; we’re at their place. I’m excited for the environment, excited for our kids to go out there and play.”

Against SMU, East Texas A&M was able to move the ball, losing the total yards battle 400-351, and forced as many turnovers (three) as it committed. But it managed just one touchdown in six red-zone trips, with an interception, a fumble, two made field goals and one miss.

Will Madonna, who got the start at quarterback, and Eric Rodriguez, who came off the bench but saw more action, each threw interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in the loss.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) talks with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer at Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Alabama defeated Western Kentucky 63-0. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

No. 8 Alabama, QB Ty Simpson open with rare road game at Florida State

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Kalen DeBoer’s first season leading the Alabama football program had some high highs and some low lows.

The home victory over then-No. 2 Georgia and the 42-13 road thrashing of then-No. 14 LSU were impressive, Nick Saban-esque moments. The losses to unranked conference opponents Vanderbilt and Oklahoma were decidedly not.

Those slip-ups, along with a loss at Tennessee, left the Crimson Tide as the first team out of the 2024 College Football Playoff.

Year 2 for DeBoer brings more expectations at Alabama, which starts the season ranked No. 8 in the AP poll. And it begins Saturday with a trip to Tallahassee, Fla., for a game at Florida State in a matchup of college football bluebloods which are in quite different positions entering the season.

FSU is coming off a 2-10 season in 2024, its worst record in 52 years.

“We know (FSU has) got a lot they want to prove. They want to open up their season in a big way,” DeBoer said. “I think the guys have done a great job of just focusing on us, on what we can control, being in the moment.”

Alabama has made playing in marquee opening games a bit of a tradition recently, but the Crimson Tide’s past kickoff matchups have all been played at neutral sites. This marks the first time since 2000 that the Tide start the season with a nonconference road game.

Consistency will be key for Alabama this season after it lost three games to unranked opponents in 2024. Saban, by comparison, was a remarkable 123-4 over his Alabama career against unranked opponents.

With Jalen Milroe off to the NFL, Alabama will be introducing a new starting quarterback, Ty Simpson, against the Seminoles. The No. 3 QB in the 2022 recruiting class according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Simpson has waited three years for his time to take over the reins in Tuscaloosa.

Simpson has appeared in mop-up duty of 16 games for the Tide while serving as a reserve quarterback, completing 29 of 50 passes for 381 yards and no touchdowns.

The new starter will be supported by a veteran offensive line, a talented receiver room and a defense which returns eight of its top 10 leading tacklers. However, he’ll be without top running back Bam Miller, who is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season after suffering a broken collarbone during preseason camp.

For the Seminoles, head coach Mike Norvell returns, but he brought in new coordinators in former Auburn and UCF head coach Gus Malzahn on offense and former Nebraska DC Tony White, along with an assortment of new players.

Much of the expected transformation falls on the shoulders of new FSU QB Tommy Castellanos, in from Boston College. Malzahn’s offense has historically been at its best with a mobile QB, and that’s Castellanos’ biggest strength. He amassed 1,113 rushing yards and 13 rushing TDs for the Eagles in 2023.

“We had very high expectations when he joined the program of what he would bring,” Norvell said of Castellanos. “He’s definitely provided a great spark for this team. I think guys have rallied with him this offseason, and definitely are excited to play for him.”

Alabama leads the all-time series over FSU 3-1-1, and won the last matchup in the 2017 season opener in Atlanta 24-7.

–Field Level Media