Alabama didn't play in Week 0, but the college football appetizer menu gave Crimson Tide fans a chance at some advanced scouting of their Week 3 opponent: Florida State.
The Seminoles will come to Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 19th in the second leg of a home-and-home series. Alabama suffered a stunning loss in Tallahassee to open last season. The win alleviated some pressure from head coach Mike Norvell, bringing belief that Florida State's 2-10 mark in 2024 was just a blip on the radar.
As it turned out, the 'Noles still weren't very good, finishing last season at 5-7, and their win over Alabama made less and less sense as the season went on and they spiraled downward while the Crimson Tide ultimately made the College Football Playoff.
Any optimism in Tallahassee for the 2026 season was quickly replaced with reality on Saturday night at Doak Campbell. Florida State won its opener 34-17 over New Mexico State, but it was in unimpressive fashion.
The defense was leaky, and Ashton Daniels looked like the Ashton Daniels he has been throughout his career. It was an uninspiring enough performance that Florida State fans are looking at Norvell as a dead man walking.
In a few weeks, Alabama's quest for revenge against Florida State for last season's embarrassing loss could come with the added opportunity of driving the final nail in Mike Norvell's coffin.
Alabama will face a desperate Florida State team in Week 3 in Tuscaloosa
One important note for Crimson Tide fans is that the Florida State team they saw play against New Mexico State in Week 0 will be demonstrably different than the team that arrives at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Week 3.
Florida State will play a desperate brand of football that could lead to a tense matchup in Tuscaloosa, or perhaps it comes with enough mistakes that Alabama is able to blow the doors off the 'Noles and send them cowering back to Tallahassee with a big decision to make on Norvell's future.
One thing that will put Alabama at a disadvantage is that FSU will have more time to prepare. Florida State will play SMU on Monday, September 7th, and then have 12 days off before traveling to Tuscaloosa to face the Crimson Tide.
Alabama, on the other hand, will face a tough SEC road game against Kentucky on September 12th, the week before welcoming the Seminoles to Bryant-Denny.
It looks like the end is near for Norvell. Florida State isn't going to be a legitimate contender in the ACC, and based on Week 0, they'll probably struggle to get to bowl eligibility.
But as Alabama fans saw last season - and as Kalen DeBoer has proven throughout his two-year tenure - that doesn't immediately mean it'll be an easy win for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama will face a motivated and desperate team from Tallahassee in a few weeks, even if everyone already knows how the Norvell story is going to end sometime this season.
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