Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Henry Sklar The Associated Press
Alabama (2-0) hosts Florida State (1-1) in a rematch of last year's surprising loss where Alabama fell 31-17. Since then, both teams have experienced contrasting fortunes: Alabama rebounded with 10 wins out of 11 games and reached the SEC Championship, while Florida State struggled after an initial 3-0 start, losing seven of their final nine games. The article focuses on how both teams have changed their rosters and coaches' outlooks as they prepare for this high-stakes game, emphasizing Alabama's renewed confidence under new coach Kalen DeBoer and Florida State’s determination to showcase their improvements despite ongoing challenges.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Florida State left last season’s opener against Alabama with a statement victory.
asserted
State → leave → victory
The Crimson Tide left with questions about where their season was headed.
asserted
season → leave → questions
The months that followed changed the outlook for both programs.
asserted
that → follow → programs
No. 10 Alabama (2-0) hosts Florida State (1-1) on Saturday to wrap up the home-and-home series a year after the Seminoles’ 31-17 stunner in Tallahassee wrongly suggested where the teams were going.
uncertain
teams → host → Tallahassee
Alabama recovered, winning 10 of its next 11 games, reaching the Southeastern Conference championship and earning a College Football Playoff berth.
asserted
Alabama → recover → berth
Florida State started 3-0 before losing seven of its final nine, missing a bowl for the second consecutive season under embattled coach Mike Norvell.
asserted
State → start → Norvell
Now, both programs have different quarterbacks and another opportunity to measure progress.
asserted
programs → have → progress
“In our minds, this is the 2026 team,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday.
asserted
DeBoer → say → minds
“I just talked to the team about that this morning.”
asserted
I → talk → that
DeBoer acknowledged that returning players and coaches remember the loss but want any additional motivation directed toward preparation.
asserted
players → acknowledge → preparation
“The people who were here, we understand what happened last year and what that was like,” Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown said.
asserted
Brown → understand → what
“And for the people who weren’t here, I’m sure they’ve seen it all over the media, so it’s not really something that needs to be overly brought up.
asserted
that → ’m → media
Everybody knows what happened.”
asserted
what → know → ?
Alabama enters the rematch after scoring 32 unanswered points to beat Kentucky 45-17.
asserted
Alabama → enter → Kentucky
Quarterback Keelon Russell overcame three first-half turnovers in his first road start, providing both encouragement and reminders of the offense’s growing pains.
asserted
Russell → overcome → pains
Florida State returns from an open date following a 27-24 loss to SMU.
asserted
State → return → SMU
Former Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels will face Alabama again, this time directing a Seminoles offense preparing for its first road game.
asserted
Daniels → face → game
“I have a lot of belief,” Norvell said.
asserted
Norvell → have → belief
“I have a lot of confidence in what I know this team can do because I’ve watched them for the last nine months.
asserted
I → have → months
Now, we get a great opponent and a great stage to go showcase all of who we are.”
asserted
we → get → all
Alabama receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams still has doubters
Drop issues for Alabama receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams started during the 2025 opener against Florida State and remain part of the conversation a year later.
asserted
issues → have → conversation
He gets a chance to squash some of those concerns Saturday.
asserted
He → get → concerns
Florida State surrendered 585 yards, including 430 passing, against SMU but forced four turnovers to help keep the game close.
asserted
State → surrender → game
Florida State needs balance on offense
Ousmane Kromah rushed for 116 yards against SMU, helping Florida State finish with 199 yards on the ground compared with 125 passing.
The Seminoles went 2-for-15 on third down.
asserted
Seminoles → need → down
Alabama has allowed opponents to convert one of 23 attempts.
asserted
opponents → allow → attempts
Norvell said Alabama’s ability to cover receivers individually allows it to commit another defender to the run, putting pressure on Florida State to produce through the air.
asserted
it → say → air
Success on early downs could help the Seminoles avoid asking their passing game to repeatedly rescue possessions.
uncertain
Seminoles → help → possessions
Ashton Daniels gets another shot at Bama
Daniels rushed for 108 yards and threw for 259 as Auburn’s starter in last season’s 27-20 loss to Alabama in the rivalry dubbed the Iron Bowl.
asserted
Daniels → get → rivalry
The Crimson Tide need to pressure him without allowing escapes that extend possessions or give receivers more time to get open.
asserted
that → need → time
His ability to gain yards outside the pocket adds another consideration for a defense trying to contain Kromah.
asserted
ability → gain → Kromah
Norvell also identified protection as a factor in getting receiver Duce Robinson more involved after he caught two passes for 25 yards against SMU.
asserted
he → identify → SMU
Freshmen EJ Crowell and Trae’shawn Brown have each scored touchdowns in Alabama’s first two games.
asserted
Crowell → score → games
Daniel Hill added 104 yards rushing against Kentucky.
asserted
Hill → add → Kentucky
The group eventually could welcome back AK Dear, who injured an ankle in the preseason.
uncertain
who → welcome → preseason
DeBoer said Dear participated in light practice last week.
asserted
Dear → say → practice
DeBoer and Grubb are seeking a dependable running game to help take some of pressure off Russell.
asserted
DeBoer → seek → Russell
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