Sophomore Keelon Russell is completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 444 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions through two games, but the bigger issue for FSU is his legs: 21 carries for 77 yards and a rushing score, plus five runs of 10-plus yards. "This dude's explosive," defensive coordinator Tony White said before the Kentucky game, contrasting him with last year's more traditional pocket-mobile Alabama quarterback, Ty Simpson. "If you don't honor him, he's gonna rush for over 100 yards on you like that."

Russell was rattled early against Kentucky, with a tipped pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown, plus another interception and a fumble, before he settled in to finish 16 of 23 for 188 yards and a touchdown. FSU's defense has shown it can force mistakes; the question is whether it can do that without giving up the big plays Russell is capable of on the ground.

After ranking 125th nationally in rushing a year ago, Alabama has already piled up 382 yards on the ground through two games (48th nationally), led by junior Daniel Hill's 151 yards on just 27 carries. Hill has lost yardage on only one of those carries and already has the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.

Alabama's defense has been just as stout against the run, ranking fourth nationally and holding Kentucky to under 2 yards per carry, which matters since FSU's own run game, led by Ousmane Kromah's 231 yards and two touchdowns, has been the offense's one consistent strength.

Alabama's defense has allowed a third-down conversion on just 4.3 percent of attempts (1 of 23) through two games, the best mark in the country, while FSU's offense ranks 94th nationally at 35.7 percent. Alabama has also intercepted a pass for a touchdown in each of its first two games, the first time that's happened at the program since 2018.

Alabama is a 17.5-to-18.5-point favorite depending on the book, up from a 15.5-point line set in the offseason, and is 14-1 at home since the start of 2024. FSU hasn't played in Tuscaloosa since 1974 and has never won there, while Alabama carries an 89-game home winning streak against unranked opponents.

Henshaw said FSU built its offense around Ashton Daniels' ability to protect the ball and run, not to carry the team through the air. "We did not sign him with the idea that he would put the offense on his shoulders to go win games," he said, adding that asking a quarterback to do things outside his comfort zone is "how you get blown out."

On the late-game conservatism against SMU with the ball back in a tie game, Henshaw pointed at execution over play-calling: "In those situations, it usually comes down to players, not plays... we needed one of our stars to make a play." He also passed along two pieces of advice from Bowden himself: call plays like you're playing Canadian football, trying to convert on first or second down, and never call a run up the middle unless you're sure it'll work.

Henshaw didn't hedge on FSU's biggest defensive issue: busted coverages that leave a receiver wide open for a touchdown. "That's not on a player. That's on the coaches, because it simply cannot happen," he said, noting it's happened in each of FSU's first two games.

He also flagged tackling after contact as a bigger issue than third-down defense itself, pointing out that 303 of SMU's 430 receiving yards came after contact, per PFF. "You can live with a lot of those [third-down conversions] as long as... your guys are able to tackle them right there," he said.

Alabama opened as an 18-point favorite on BetMGM, 18.5 on FanDuel, and 17.5 on DraftKings, up from a 15.5-point line set over the offseason. This completes a home-and-home series that began with FSU's 31-17 win in Tallahassee last season, one of just seven Seminole wins since the start of 2024.

One national outlet ranked this the No. 6 game to watch in all of college football this weekend, framing it bluntly: "Can Florida State spring an upset, or will it accelerate the potential firing of head coach Mike Norvell?"

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Safety Earl Little Jr. is a starter at Ohio State with 15 tackles and a pass breakup through two games, while linebacker Justin Cryer is starting at Texas with 12 tackles and a pass breakup of his own. Wide receiver Lawayne McCoy is starting at Louisville with five catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns, and tight end Randy Pittman is starting at SMU with six catches for 77 yards and two scores.

Running back Jaylin Lucas has 14 carries for 217 yards and a touchdown at Tulane, and quarterback Thomas Castellanos scored twice, once rushing and once passing, in his Texas Tech debut Saturday.

FIU jumped out to a 14-7 lead in the first set and closed it out 25-22 despite an FSU rally that got within two points twice. FSU actually led the second set 9-6 and rallied from a six-point deficit to pull within one at 24-23, but the Panthers closed it out 25-23, then won the third set 25-16 to complete the sweep.

Kyleene Filimaua led FSU with 10 kills and eight digs, Nenu Kpea added nine kills and four blocks, and Delaney Ewing had eight kills and four blocks, but the team hit just .164 as a whole.

FSU has committed 108 service errors through eight matches, more than 40 more than its opponents, and Filimaua, the team's best player, has hit below .200 in four matches this season, with FSU losing three of them. First-year head coach Lindsay Allman's team is off to a mixed start after an upset of then-No. 16 Kansas.

FSU hosts North Alabama Monday looking to snap the skid before a tougher ACC slate that includes Louisville, Pittsburgh, SMU, and Stanford.

FSU is one of six teams in the field at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, and the other five, Stanford (No. 1), Texas (No. 3), Wake Forest (No. 6), Oregon (No. 12), and South Carolina (No. 15), are all ranked in the preseason top 15. Stroke play runs Monday and Tuesday before the top four teams advance to match play Wednesday.

FSU's win at Folds of Honor Collegiate came after overcoming the largest final-round deficit by the program since 2006, and Haruhi Nakatani, who won medalist honors there, headlines a lineup that also includes Sophia Fullbrook, Louise Landgraf, Alexandra Gazzoli, and Elin Pudas Remler.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey had four tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble in Pittsburgh's win over Atlanta, while safety Derwin James Jr. led the Chargers with 10 tackles and a pass breakup in a loss to Arizona. Cornerback Azareye'h Thomas started for the Jets and posted five tackles and a tackle for loss in a win over Tennessee.

Defensive end Jared Verse started for Cleveland and had four tackles, including a tackle for loss, while outside linebacker Josh Sweat added a tackle for loss for Arizona. Cornerback Renardo Green's interception in Thursday's international game remains the highlight of the week for FSU's NFL alumni so far.

2028 offensive tackle target Nation Farmer, who already visited FSU earlier this season, was back at Georgia's whiteout game Saturday and connected on the field with Bulldogs quarterback Jayden Wade, who told him, "You know where home is." Farmer also got time in Kirby Smart's office and has built relationships with all three Georgia offensive line coaches.

Farmer's next visits are set for Florida (Sept. 26), Auburn (Oct. 24), and Tennessee (Nov. 7), the program previously described as the clear leader in his recruitment.

The nation's No. 1-ranked receiver, Brysen Wright, was in Austin for Texas' come-from-behind win over Ohio State and called the atmosphere "crazy," spending much of the visit with receivers coach Chris Jackson. He listed Texas, Miami, Florida, FSU, and Ohio State as his top contenders, with Texas gaining real ground after the visit.

Wright's next scheduled trip is to Florida for the Ole Miss game on Sept. 26, with no other visits currently locked in.