Alabama Puts More Pressure on Seminoles Ahead of SMU

Florida State (1-0) will take center stage Monday night in a championship-calibre game against No. 19 SMU, giving Mike Norvell and his staff a rare opportunity to watch their next opponent, Alabama (1-0), and what they saw was a dominant performance that may have added even more pressure on the Seminoles to win Monday. Monday's matchup with SMU was already seen as a big early test for Norvell and the Seminoles, but Alabama's performance has just raised the stakes. Heading to Tuscaloosa in Week 3, Florida State now has an early opportunity to make a statement against an Alabama team that looked every bit the part Saturday. The Tide controlled the game from the start, jumping out early to take a 38-7 lead into halftime. Alabama scored on each of its first four drives and added a 27-yard pick-six by Yhonzae Pierre, putting the game well out of reach. The Tide finished with 480 total yards of offense, out-gaining ECU by 318 yards in the 48-10 victory. Keelon Russell, who earned the starting quarterback job late in fall camp, could be a big problem for defensive coordinators moving forward. In his first career collegiate start, Russell looked every bit as advertised coming in as the number two recruit in the 2025 class. From the start, Russell's mobility was on full display and looks to be the trait that sets him apart. Russell's ability to make plays with his feet in the running game, while also using it to extend plays through the air, may be what elevates the Tide to another level. 'He's a playmaker,' DeBoer said. 'They have to keep their eyes on him, and when he gets out of the pocket he puts a lot of pressure on the defense.' Russell, the youngest starting quarterback since Jalen Hurts, threw for 249 yards, completing 59 percent of his passes (17-of-29) without a touchdown through the air. He did, however, find the end zone on a three-yard run late in the second quarter and lead the Tide's rushing attack with 89 yards on 13 carries. Russell's mobility adds another wrinkle for Tony White's defense to prepare for during the bye week. Against New Mexico State, White's defense allowed Trey Hedden to complete 62 percent of his passes for 272 yards and a touchdown, with a passer rating of 123.7. Russell presents a bigger challenge, considering the talent at wide receiver and his ability to make plays with his feet. Florida State's bright spot just over a week ago was their ability to run the football, led by Ousmane Kromah, who rushed for 115 yards on 14 carries while averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Finding yards on the ground could be a major challenge against Alabama. The Tide's defense held what should be a good G6 team in ECU to just two total rushing yards on 22 attempts Saturday. In the first half, with the starters on the field, the Tide held ECU to -9 yards rushing on 10 attempts. It was the type of dominant defensive performance fans had grown accustomed to seeing during the Nick Saban era. If Florida State can't consistently find positive plays on the ground, will Norvell be able to turn to the passing attack and put the game in Ashton Daniels' hands? That could be one of the biggest questions facing the Seminoles. Alabama's secondary, however, wasn't quite as dominant in the passing game, allowing seventh-year college quarterback Mitch Griffis to complete 63 percent of his passes for 137 yards. A blown coverage allowed ECU to score a touchdown, and at times, ECU receivers created separation and found open space in the coverage. For Florida State, the question isn't whether its receivers can do the same by getting open and creating separation. It's whether Norvell can scheme plays that give Ashton Daniels the time he needs, and whether Daniels can make the right reads and get the ball to those receivers. It's also about Daniels showing maturity by not trying to force things if the run game isn't finding success. He has to take what the defense gives him, make smart decisions and avoid putting the offense in bad situations. Florida State's attention remains on No. 19 SMU, but Alabama's performance Saturday provided an early warning of what awaits in Tuscaloosa. If the Seminoles want to pull off a second straight upset over the Tide, they'll need to play their best football of the last two years. Best Newest first Oldest first