Florida State head coach Mike Norvell didn’t hesitate to back his quarterback Thomas Castellanos after the Seminoles’ shocking 31-17 upset of No. 8 Alabama, but he also made it clear that respect for the game still comes first.
Castellanos boldly claimed in June that Alabama “don’t have Nick Saban to save them,” delivered on the big stage against the Tide. He threw for 152 yards, rushed for 78 more, and scored a touchdown as Florida State controlled the game from start to finish. What many thought was reckless becamevalidated on the field in Tallahassee last Saturday.
On the Triple Option podcast, Norvell addressed Castellanos’ headline-making comments. “Tommy is a tremendous young competitor,” Norvell said. “He definitely respects the people we go against. The Alabama program deserves respect. It’s been one of the top programs in the country. But ultimately, confidence comes through the work, and I’ve watched the work.”
Norvell showed support for his players, while also trying to explain that talk means nothing without execution.
“Anybody can go out there and say what they wanna say. Better make sure that the actions are what show up.” For Castellanos, his actions matched his words, and the upset made a statement across college football. In the aftermath, Castellanos leaned into the moment even further, releasing T-shirts with his "Nick can't save them” phrase.
Back in June, Thomas Castellanos told @On3sports re: Alabama that "They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me."
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) August 31, 2025
The Florida State QB beat Alabama on Saturday and has now released T-shirts with the quote.https://t.co/ZUk5Bcyvyg pic.twitter.com/qXUhxSIYUu
For Norvell, the win was bigger than just a soundbite. Coming off a 13-win season in 2023 followed by a two-win collapse in 2024, expectations were lowered.
Yet, Florida State not only upset Alabama but also re-entered the AP rankings at No. 14. The field-storming at Doak Campbell Stadium was worth the wait.
The Seminoles now turn their attention to East Texas A&M, but carrying momentum that has reshaped the early narrative of their season.
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