Florida State Seminoles at Alabama Crimson Tide

Injuries noted

Florida State Seminoles: Izayia Williams (out for season) — Norvell said the freshman linebacker will miss the rest of the season.; Daylen Green (out for season) — Norvell said the freshman linebacker will miss the rest of the season after being injured in the SMU game.; Blake Nichelson (out) — Norvell said the veteran linebacker will miss an extended period but is expected back this season.

Alabama Crimson Tide: Michael Carroll (questionable) — DeBoer said Alabama would continue working with the offensive lineman and that his situation was headed in a good direction.; Noah Rogers (out) — DeBoer said the receiver had traveled to Kentucky but did not play and could return in the next week or two.; AK Dear (limited) — DeBoer said the running back had been doing light practice work the prior week and his availability would be reassessed in practice.

QUARTERBACK

• Ashton Daniels is FSU's confirmed starter

  6.54 Y/A

  Ashton Daniels is FSU's confirmed starting quarterback. Current game-week reporting states Daniels is preparing for his third Florida State start and will lead the offense against Alabama. 2026 line: 327 passing yards, 58.0% completions, 6.54 yards per attempt, 2-1 TD-INT over 2 games.

• Keelon Russell is ALA's confirmed starter

  8.40 Y/A

  Keelon Russell is ALA's confirmed starting quarterback. Kalen DeBoer previously named Russell the starter; current game-week reporting describes him as Alabama's starter, and Alabama's official game center lists him as the active passing leader. 2026 line: 437 passing yards, 63.5% completions, 8.40 yards per attempt, 1-2 TD-INT over 2 games.

TRENCHES

• ALA's front holds runners to 68.5 fewer yards per game

  68.5 YPG

  FSU is at 101 rushing yards allowed per game over 2 games; ALA is at 32.5 over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

PACE & SCRIPT

• ALA is scoring +17.5 points per game

  17.5 PPG

  FSU is at 29 points per game over 2 games; ALA is at 46.5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• FSU @ ALA carries a 75.5 market total

  75.5

  FSU @ ALA's 75.5 FanDuel total stands 20 points above the 55.5 median across 45 posted slate games, signaling an elevated aggregate scoring expectation versus the board. No further context is supplied on what would cause that expectation to break.

TURNOVERS

• FSU commits 1 fewer turnovers per game

  1 TO

  FSU is at 1 turnovers committed per game over 2 games; ALA is at 2 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

MISMATCH

• FSU's ball security against ALA's giveaways — 2 turnovers a game to FSU's 1

  1 VS 2

  The widest gap on this matchup's tape: turnovers / g — FSU 1, ALA 2, over 2 and 2 game samples.

COVERAGE

• ALA's secondary gives up 198 fewer passing yards per game

  198 YPG

  FSU is at 351 passing yards allowed per game over 2 games; ALA is at 153 over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

• ALA allows a third-down conversion rate 53.7 percentage points lower

  53.7 PP

  FSU is at 58.1% third downs allowed over 2 games; ALA is at 4.3% over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

REPLACEMENT

• Izayia Williams (LB) is out for the season for FSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  The freshman linebacker will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Florida State Seminoles at Alabama Crimson Tide - Matchup and Injury Report (2026-09-19) FSU football's defense faces unique challenge in Keelon Russell (2026-09-15)

• Daylen Green (LB) is out for the season for FSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  The freshman linebacker will miss the remainder of the season because of injury. FSU football's defense faces unique challenge in Keelon Russell (2026-09-15)

• Jaden O'Neal (QB) is out for the season for FSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  The freshman quarterback is listed out for the season. Florida State Seminoles at Alabama Crimson Tide - Matchup and Injury Report (2026-09-19)

• Jeremiah Beaman (DL) is out for the season for ALA

  OUT FOR SEASON

  The defensive lineman is listed out for the season with a knee injury. Florida State Seminoles at Alabama Crimson Tide - Matchup and Injury Report (2026-09-19)

• Noah Rogers (WR) is out for ALA

  OUT

  Live matchup reporting downgraded the wide receiver to out with a leg injury. DeBoer had said earlier in the week that Rogers was nearing a return but might need another week or two. Kalen DeBoer updates status of injured Tide players vs. Florida State (2026-09-14) Florida State Seminoles at Alabama Crimson Tide - Matchup and Injury Report (2026-09-19)

• Blake Nichelson (LB) is out for FSU

  OUT

  The veteran linebacker is out against Alabama and has been described as facing an extended absence. Florida State Seminoles at Alabama Crimson Tide - Matchup and Injury Report (2026-09-19) FSU football's defense faces unique challenge in Keelon Russell (2026-09-15)

SITUATIONAL

• FSU has 5 more days of rest

  12d vs 7d

  FSU travels on 12 days of rest with a bye behind it; ALA is on 7 days since its last game, a 5-day gap. That is the narrowest of the three bye-versus-normal-week gaps here.

• ALA's passing game is +57 yards per game

  57 YPG

  FSU is at 163.5 team passing yards per game over 2 games; ALA is at 220.5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.