TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University shocked No. 8 Alabama with a 31-17 victory on Saturday, ending the Crimson Tide's impressive streak of 23 consecutive wins in season openers. New quarterback Tommy Castellanos led the Seminoles with 78 rushing yards and a touchdown, marking a significant turnaround for a team that finished last season with a disappointing 2-10 record.

The win is a major setback for Alabama, which was considered a contender for the College Football Playoff under second-year coach Kalen DeBoer. Fans and students celebrated on the field at Doak Campbell Stadium after the game, as Florida State entered the matchup as 13.5-point underdogs.

“It’s one of the reasons why I came here, for moments like these, for days like these,” Castellanos said. “We got a long season ahead. Just take it one week at a time, keep grinding.”

Under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who previously coached at Auburn, Florida State showcased a powerful rushing attack. The Seminoles finished the game with 230 rushing yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. This performance is a stark contrast to their average of just 89.9 rushing yards per game last season.

DeBoer, now 6-4 against unranked teams at Alabama, faced criticism following the loss. He acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “I choose to believe we got a good football team. But we can’t play on our heels. We’re not going to be what we think we can be, what we want to be, if that’s the case.”

Alabama struggled offensively, managing only 87 rushing yards on 29 carries. Castellanos, a transfer from Boston College, also completed 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards. Florida State's defense was effective, holding Alabama to just 6 of 17 on third-down conversions and making three crucial stops on fourth down.

Florida State's scoring included rushing touchdowns from Micahi Danzy, Caziah Holmes, and Gavin Sawchuk. Alabama's Ty Simpson, in his debut, completed 23 of 43 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, with Germie Bernard leading the team with eight catches for 146 yards.

The loss will likely impact Alabama's ranking in the upcoming polls, while Florida State, which received votes in the preseason poll, may break into the AP Top 25. Next week, Alabama will host Louisiana-Monroe, while Florida State will face East Texas A&M at home.