Tommy Castellanos 'Thankful' FSU 'Believed in Me' After Upset Win vs. No. 8 Alabama

Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos gave a shoutout to the school for believing in him following the Seminoles' 31-17 win over No. 8 Alabama on Saturday.

"They could've chose a lot of guys out of the portal," Castellanos said in an interview after the game. "They chose me. They believed in me. I'm just thankful to be here."

Castellanos finished 9-of-14 for 152 yards against the Crimson Tide, rushing for a game-high 78 yards and a touchdown.

Florida State's rushing attack was too much for Alabama to handle, compiling 230 yards and four scores on 49 attempts as a team.

Castellanos was making his first start for the Seminoles after he joined them in the transfer portal in December 2024 following a two-year stint at Boston College. He was benched in favor of Grayson James with the Eagles before entering the portal.

Saturday's win was a surprising result for a Florida State squad that wrapped up a 2-10 finish last season, but Castellanos and new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn helped the team's offense thrive against Alabama. The Seminoles scored a touchdown in every quarter of the victory.

Meanwhile, the defeat marked the Crimson Tide's first season-opening loss since 2001.