Florida State's rollercoaster ride continues with stunning upset over No. 8 Alabama

On Saturday, the Florida State Seminoles shocked the college football world with a 31-17 win over preseason Associated Press No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide, ending Alabama's streak of 23 consecutive season-opening wins.

More improbably, it continued a dizzying three-year stretch for Florida State.

In 2023, the Seminoles entered bowl season an undefeated 13-0 but were controversially snubbed for the College Football Playoff over a one-loss Alabama after Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending leg injury in late November.

That playoff snub paved the way for last year's disastrous 2-10 2024 season, the program's worst since 1974. Florida State had the fourth-worst scoring offense in the country, averaging 15.4 points per game and only defeating one FBS program.

Head coach Mike Norvell hired Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator during the offseason, and that move instantly paid dividends against Alabama.

The former Auburn head coach installed a run-heavy game plan against the Tide, who were unable to stop an unrelenting Seminoles rushing attack.

Florida State gained 230 yards on the ground and ended the game with 49 rush attempts to 14 pass attempts.

After never establishing an offensive identity a season ago, it's a promising sign for the Seminoles that they already have the framework of what could be an outstanding rushing attack.

Saturday's win could propel Florida State as much as last year's loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland torpedoed its season. The offense stood out, and Florida State also controlled the line of scrimmage on defense, holding Alabama to three yards per carry and sacking quarterback Ty Simpson three times.

Florida State should easily enter ACC play 3-0 after going 0-3 through three games last season, with its next two games against FCS East Texas A&M and Kent State, which hasn't defeated an FBS opponent since November 26, 2022.

It's been an exhausting few seasons for Florida State, and if Saturday's win is any indication, the ride isn't over yet.