The Seminole defensive backfield is too tempting of a target for Alabama to ignore.
Rejoice, for this is the day that we Gump. And for many of you, a very happy TGIF. There is a lot of football to cover today, so let’s begin, shall we?
LSU and Ole Miss play this weekend. I’m not sure if you’ve heard. Nor am I certain how much of Kiffin’s complaints about his personal safety are BS, but Ole Miss is at least trying to prevent hot headed frat boys from the competing campuses going at it. Honestly, we should do this with all Alabama seating. People that sell their tickets to opposing fans are the worst sort of football Quisling. And I’m Norwegian with family who do did some pretty shameful shit in WWII; I know what a Quisling is when I see it.
Courtesy of IRL homie Troll Bama Troll — longtime reader, and banned by Coral Beth
“No person wearing an opposing team’s gear or colors will be allowed entrance into the student section,” the Ole Miss statement read, via Tyler Konis on X/Twitter. “Additionally, anyone found to be wearing opposing team apparel or colors in the student section will be removed.”
Mississippi's state auditor is commenting on LSU's injury report.
And while we have no clue how dangerous Saturday night is going to be for Kiffykins, we can at least enjoy the memes and shitposts for another 24 hours…like the many brilliant voiceovers from the Delta-born and raised Morgan Freeman.
In our preview yesterday, we suggested that Ashton Daniels won’t have a great day through the air, but that the Noles underneath passing game would grow annoying, as FSU whittles its way for 28-30 yard drives that yield no points. And our biggest worry is FSU’s dynamic Duce Robinson, who has wasted a world of God-given talent sticking with his home state Seminoles. He’s the best wideout the Tide has faced to date, and in terms of skill level, one of the best four or five guys Alabama will see all season.
Hunter at SI also highlights this as a matchup to watch, if not necessarily be concerned about:
Alabama Defensive Backs vs. Florida State Wide Receivers
The Seminoles have a decent amount of talented pass-catchers, as quarterback Ashton Daniels has really spread the ball around through two games. FSU wide receivers Duce Robinson, Micahi Danzy and Jayvan Boggs each have between four and six receptions for a combined 144 yards. On top of it all, running back Samuel Singleton Jr. leads the Seminoles in all receiving categories with six receptions for 94 yards and is the recipient of both of Daniels’ touchdown passes.
The variety of playmakers should keep the Crimson Tide cornerbacks and other secondary members busy. Alabama’s DB room has been labeled as one of the best in the country, and another game shutting down an air attack will add to that resume.
Because he has to ruin everything, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville (Jesus, I can’t believe I typed that), has decided for reasons of his own to oppose the PCSA because of “too much gub’mint involvement” (ignore the fact that it grants antitrust exemption, making federal involvement less likely), and has instead proposed his own simpleton solution that is, frankly, an enforcement nightmare and a litigation magnet. Even Cory Booker, no great fan of the PCSA, realizes that latter is a better opportunity than this non-proposal Tubs tossed out at the 11th hour. And, of course, there is the looming pressure from the NAACP against the bill.
With the House having peaced out for a six-week taxpayer-funded vision quest, I think we’re going to see more belated meddling, not less. Idle hands and whatnot:
“I think this clears up about 75-80% of our issues,” Calipari said at a news conference in Washington on Monday, the eve of the vote. “Nothing is perfect. This is a bite out of the apple.”
Are Democratic Senators Booker, Warnock, Rochester and Alsobrooks, and the NAACP, on the same side of the issue as Tuberville?
Not exactly.
Tuberville’s no-frills plan is simple: Athletes get five consecutive years to compete for five seasons, and one transfer without penalty; another transfer costs a season of eligibility. The NCAA enforces the rules. These elements are also included in the Saban-backed bipartisan bill.
Booker contends the measure would give the NCAA too broad powers and feature too few protections for student-athletes. Booker argues that this reverses some of the leverage athletes have gained through antitrust litigation.
The NAACP’s argument is particularly pointed: Black athletes make up a large share of the players generating revenue in major college football, while universities, conferences and administrators retain enormous power. The NAACP accepts that parts of the bill are beneficial — the scholarship, health-care, agent and safety provisions — but argues those benefits don’t justify the protections being granted to universities and conferences.
And, indeed, such meddling has already begun, for both good and ill. After passing another procedural hurdle, the following changes have already been made before a floor vote next week in the Senate:
Senate Commerce Committee releases a list of changes to the Protect College Sports Act: pic.twitter.com/0Ovfw7rpkc
Honestly, they should just get rid of the entire attempted ban on the superconference. Absolutely no sitting congresscritter wants a part of this if they represent a district or school in an ACC state. And with passage in the House poised to be the most contentious and narrow, that is just an own-goal when the PCSA can least afford it.
Interesting change to the eligibility wording in the latest PCSA draft, which now includes, "serious athletic injury or medical condition" as possible exceptions to the 5-year eligibility rule — if adopted by NCAA rule. The previous version of the text from August did not… https://t.co/RnzJueffPipic.twitter.com/5jcwZY6ZM2
Down in Tallahassee, things are gimmer than a dry wedding with homely bridesmaids:
Florida State‘s trip to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama feels like just the right time to go ahead and move Mike Novell’s office down to subbasement C and talk to payroll about halting his direct deposits.
A year ago, the Seminoles’ stunning upset of Alabama in Week 1 seemed to be Norvell getting the program back on track after a miserable 2024. Instead, it was a blip, and FSU finished 5-7, missing a bowl for the second straight year. (And based on sheer player attendance, most Noles missed the 2023 postseason, too.)
Things are bleak in Tallahassee, with the school making the first step toward admitting defeat this week when it fired athletics director Michael Alford. A lack of fundraising for talent acquisition seemed Alford’s primary crime, though that hardly explains the losses to schools such as Memphis and Stanford.
Being a dying man myself, I know a thing or three about accepting one’s fate, and if I’m Mike Norvell, I ask for the blindfold and a final cigarette. With Alford’s termination at AD, the stage has already been set for your own firing; nothing short of a brilliant recruiting season and an ACC title game appearance (perhaps even an ACCCG title itself) can save him. With an ACC that has Miami, explosive Virginia, and a suddenly competent and talented Va. Tech, that’s not goingt to happen. Negotiate the buyout, and then survey the jobs as they start to open. FSU may be moving first and fastest with the coaching carousel, but an expanded playoff has only made CFP appearances more of a demand and less of a luxury: we’ve not even touched the surface of how many dudes are getting fired this year; he’ll have plenty of great opportunities before him.
As in politics, the hardest thing to rectify in sports is a lack of momentum and perception, where how you’re viewed often becomes a self-licking ice cream cone: people don’t want to be recruited by a loser and they don’t want to play every down like their life depended on it for one either — Ballers want to be surrounded by other ballers. And without talent and effort, you’re never going to win games and thus change the trajectory and perception. Losing is a vicious cycle…and nothing says losing like staring down ten more games with a dead man going through the motions on the sideline.
It’s paywalled, but On3’s Charlie Potter wrote about the same thing I did in the Kentucky recap: we were all wrong about ‘Bama’s special teams this year. Far from being a question mark, the kicking game has been a field position weapon, and Talty is belting them. Again, I would stress that we’ve not seen them in must-make situations to win a game, nor in long or difficult field position, but Connor Talty is neverthless perfect, and that’s remarkable for a kid who was a 67% kicker last season.
We touched on this in our Preview yesterday, but in a game of matchups, it is the FSU defensive backfield that ought to be most concerned. They’re positively dreadful. And with FSU’s defensive strength coming along the line as run-stuffers, this could be the game we see Keelon Russell really break out.
Our buds at Bamahammer concur and expand on it. And, like us, they see a blowout coming in the revenge game no one wants to admit is about revenge.
2. FSU’s one-dimensional offense will be food for Kane Wommack’s Alabama defense
Ashton Daniels is a quarterback that Alabama knows well. He is certainly capable of making plays, but he’s always been limited as a passer, and that hasn’t changed in two weeks at Florida State.
Against SMU, Daniels managed just 125 passing yards on 23 attempts. The ‘Noles have a strong running game, with Daniels being able to make plays with his legs and a star at RB in Ousmane Kromah, but much like it was able to do against Kentucky, Alabama will be able to key on the running game because they won’t be scared of Daniels hitting shots down the field.
As they do every Friday, our friends at Roll ‘Bama Roll has their round-up of score predictions from across various media:
So what’s the best-case scenario for Florida State in Week 3?
Another win over Alabama probably isn’t changing any hearts and minds. Before Week 1’s matchup against SMU, fans were chanting “We want Jimbo,” begging for the return of a coach who betrayed them back in 2017. Seems doubtful Ole Miss fans will ever be chanting for Kiffin — no matter how bad things get in Oxford down the road. But that’s where we are at with Florida State. Anything seems better than the current mess. (Well, maybe not Willie Taggart. At least Norvell doesn’t have his players wearing turnover backpacks.)
Instead, odds are Florida State will lose to Alabama, and then the end seems inevitable. Central Arkansas is next, followed by three straight ranked foes — Virginia, Louisville and Miami.
The writing is on the wall, and it reads: “Send help.”
And, finally, your moment of levity — absolutely one of my favorite YT channels. Brian has tormented his poor mom for years, all to the delight of his dad.
That’s all for now. We’ll be back in a bit with the weekly viewing guide…after I chew down some drugs and play a little Dragon Age Origins…it’s a tough life, I swear.
I’m Erik and I help run this place. Decade-plus editor/editor in chief at SBNation’s Roll ‘Bama. Lawya by day. Recovering black metal musician. Member AP, FWAA, USBWA. Voter: Maxwell, Outland, Nagurski, Outland and others. It’s not racist if it’s funny.
Oh. Nevermind. Because one of paragraphs mentioned the NAACP?
I didn’t even think about connecting the two. That’s how far away race is from my mind.
I agree some people could read it that way. But this country is race-obsessed. I would have never even put the two thoughts together in a million years.
“Black,” means as much to me as “jerk,” “cool bro,” “short guy,” “hot chick.”…just an adjective; not a political classification.
I would love Ole Miss to win, but I fear LSU’s defensive front and running game are going to pummel them. For $50m they damn well better, eh?
Soggy_Oats
24 days ago
With each passing day, I’m more and more grateful that we didn’t hire Kiffin or Norvell. Both of those would have been disasters for different reasons.
This shit is going to be a slaughter if Alabama even thinks about showing up.
Simian meddlings? really? might wanna edit that…
Why? I was talking about people monkeying around with the bill. And it has begun already — half a dozen amendments yesterday alone?
Oh. Nevermind. Because one of paragraphs mentioned the NAACP?
I didn’t even think about connecting the two. That’s how far away race is from my mind.
I agree some people could read it that way. But this country is race-obsessed. I would have never even put the two thoughts together in a million years.
“Black,” means as much to me as “jerk,” “cool bro,” “short guy,” “hot chick.”…just an adjective; not a political classification.
I’ll change it.
Danke for the shout-out. Gotta thank by buddy John for sending me that one haha.
Figure out those gifs yet?
That Brian Kelly sign is brilliant.
Fucking Rat! Woody goes limp. I’m launching my fucking ass off! Roll Tide and Ole Miss!
I would love Ole Miss to win, but I fear LSU’s defensive front and running game are going to pummel them. For $50m they damn well better, eh?
With each passing day, I’m more and more grateful that we didn’t hire Kiffin or Norvell. Both of those would have been disasters for different reasons.
Same. Eventually Lane woulda’ been Lane