Las Vegas oddsmakers and ESPN’s most popular college football analysts predicted that the University of Alabama would dominate the Seminoles of Florida State University. Paul Finebaum, one of FSU’s harshest critics for the past decade, predicted an easy win for Alabama and spent most of the 2024 season reveling in the reversal of fortunes for FSU fans during the Seminoles’ 2-10 campaign in 2024, which was a dramatic setback from their undefeated regular season and ACC championship in 2024.
Critiquing FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos for his remarks about Alabama not being as dominant since the retirement of Nick Saban, Finebaum said:
“You have one guy that popped off (Castellanos), and I think what he did was he just took low‑hanging fruit… you’re going with the most obvious thing about Alabama, and that’s Nick Saban, and you just crash the piñata with your baseball bat.”
“When I saw it yesterday, I laughed… I think it’s a terrible look for him and for the university.”
“It’s impossible for me to respect Florida State, and his comment just made it even worse.”March 10, 2025 — On FSU’s Value in Realignment
Discussing whether FSU could be an appealing addition to the SEC:
“I don’t know what the future of Florida State is. Other than geographically, I don’t think they offer very much.”
Regarding FSU’s chances at Alabama, Finebaum said:
“[Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer] doesn’t have a monster game at the beginning. I don’t think Florida State will even be competitive in that opening game. This is not the Florida State of five or six years ago, or even of Mike Norvell. So I think the expectations are lower.”
FSU flipped the script and defeated Alabama soundly, 31-17. Below is the postgame press conference interview with FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell.
