Thomas Castellanos has done it again.
The same quarterback who stunned Florida State in 2024 led the Seminoles—his new team—to a shocking 31–17 upset over No. 8 Alabama Saturday in Tallahassee. One year after embarrassing FSU in their own stadium as Boston College's quarterback, Castellanos has flipped the script and rewritten his own story—now as Florida State’s rising star.
It’s a journey that sounds like a sports movie script. On September 2, 2024, Castellanos led Boston College to a 28–13 victory over No. 10 Florida State in the season opener, marking the beginning of the Bill O’Brien era in Chestnut Hill. That day, he threw for 106 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 73 yards and another score, stunning the Doak Campbell crowd. Just one year later, Castellanos returned—not as a visitor, but as FSU’s starting quarterback—and led the unranked Seminoles to one of the most significant wins of the early 2025 season.
Before the season began, Castellanos made waves with a bold prediction: “I dreamed of playing against Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”
He was right.
On Saturday night, Florida State looked like anything but a 2–10 team from a year ago. They jumped out to a 24–7 lead by the third quarter, fueled by Castellanos’ poise, playmaking, and a tenacious Seminole defense that had Alabama on its heels from the opening drive. The energy inside Doak Campbell Stadium was electric—less like the desperate rebuild of last season and more like a team reborn.
“I told them all week—this wasn’t going to be the same Florida State people saw last year,” Castellanos said after the game. “We’ve worked too hard, and we’ve been counted out too long. Tonight, we showed who we really are.”
While Castellanos didn’t post gaudy stats, he was efficient and impactful. He completed 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards, and added 78 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries—numbers that don’t leap off the page, but ones that kept Alabama’s defense off balance all night long. He extended plays, picked up critical third downs, and never let the Crimson Tide settle.
Meanwhile, FSU’s defense created chaos—forcing turnovers, pressuring Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, and setting the tone early.
The Crimson Tide, under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, suddenly look vulnerable. Alabama has now lost three of its last four games dating back to the end of the 2024 season. During Nick Saban’s legendary 17-year tenure, the Tide only suffered three losses in a season twice. The DeBoer era may still be in its infancy, but Saturday’s defeat raised serious questions about Alabama’s identity and leadership moving forward.
And while Ty Simpson has shown flashes of brilliance, inconsistency continues to plague him—along with an offensive line that struggled to contain Florida State’s front seven. Even with weapons like Ryan Williams at wide receiver, Alabama looked out of sync and uninspired. To make matters worse, a sudden downpour during the first half coincided with a crucial turnover—a fitting symbol of the storm Alabama now faces.
For Florida State, however, the forecast is looking a lot brighter.
After last year’s disastrous season, this win feels monumental—not just because of the ranking disparity, but because of the shift in energy and culture. Castellanos has injected confidence and belief into a program that was running on empty. The Seminoles aren’t just pulling off an upset—they’re sending a message.
“This is just the beginning,” Castellanos said postgame. “We’re not here to surprise people. We’re here to win.”
Whether or not Florida State climbs into the Top 25 next week remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Seminoles are no longer an afterthought in the ACC. And Thomas Castellanos, the quarterback who once torched them, now leads their charge—fearless, vocal, and dangerous.
If Saturday afternoon was any indication, Florida State may be back—and college football better pay attention.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:
- Tom Brady helps Shedeur Sanders secure a roster spot in Cleveland
- Kelce Brothers awkward college photo resurfaces after Taylor Swift engagement
- Notre Dame Football unveils new logo— first time in 60 years
- Arch Manning's Heisman odds take massive hit against Ohio State
- Tulane coach calls out Big Ten school for denying Hurricane Katrina tribute