Nick Saban isn't worried about Alabama after upset loss

Nick Saban. Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nick Saban isn't freaking out about Alabama after loss to Florida State

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 10:31 PM ET

It wasn't the way the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide wanted to start the 2025 season. In fact, it was about as disastrous a loss as Kalen DeBoer's team could experience.

Not only did the Crimson Tide lose to an unranked Florida State team coming off a 2-10 season, but they looked bad in the process. It was a 31-17 loss that saw Alabama give up 230 yards on the ground at a 4.7 yards per carry clip.

It was so bad that former head coach and the de facto Alabama standard-bearer, Nick Saban, called it a domination by FSU.

“Obviously, for me, and for a lot of the ‘Bama fans, the disappointment [is] that Florida State dominated the line of scrimmage of both sides of the ball,” Saban said during ESPN’s "College Football Countdown" on Monday night (h/t On3).

Nick Saban on Alabama’s loss to FSU:

“For me, and a lot of Alabama fans, the disappointment is that Florida State dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”pic.twitter.com/pInWzksCMI
— Sidelines - Bama (@SSN_Alabama) September 1, 2025

Using the words "disappointment" and "domination" is a strong callout from Saban, but it's worth noting that he doesn't think the sky is falling in Tuscaloosa.

“The good news is every team has the best opportunity to improve from Week 1 to Week 2," he explained. "Because really going into the season, you don’t really know what you have for sure as a coach. You’re always very anxious about what might happen in the first game.”

What happened in the first game is that Alabama got run over by FSU. Specifically, Tommy Castellanos, who talked a whole bunch of trash this offseason, ran all over the Crimson Tide to the tune of 16 rushes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Yes, it's a bad loss, but Alabama will get a chance to lick its wounds against UL Monroe next weekend, and a home game against Wisconsin should end up being a cake walk.

If it's not, perhaps the Crimson Tide have bigger problems, but for now, Saban is right.

One loss doesn't define a team in the 12-team College Football Playoff era. The Crimson Tide have to bounce back, without a doubt, but if they lose this loss and fuel and as a reason to sharpen themselves and get better, this loss can still be the catalyst for a great season for DeBoer's squad.

Alabama has another tough road game at No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27 looming large, but if the Crimson Tide win that one, they'll be right back in the CFP hunt.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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