TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 8 Alabama football team (0-1) dropped its first contest of the 2025 campaign, falling 31-17 to Florida State (1-0) at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.

In his first career start, quarterback Ty Simpson completed 23-of-43 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Simpson added 17 yards on the ground as the result of nine rushing attempts. Kevin Riley paced the Tide backfield, closing with 31 rushing yards on five carries. 

Germie Bernard posted a career-best effort, hauling in eight receptions for 146 receiving yards. Josh Cuevas was responsible for three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown, while Rico Scott secured two catches for 19 yards and a score.

Defensively, Justin Jefferson, Deontae Lawson and Keon Sabb each produced a team-high six tackles. Sabb tallied the Tide’s lone sack, with Yhonzae Pierre and LT Overton contributing one tackle for loss apiece. 

Notes

• Alabama managed a two-yard touchdown pass to close its first drive of the 2025 season, recording a touchdown on its first drive of a new campaign for the first time since 2021 against Miami
• Ty Simpson’s two-yard touchdown pass to end the Tide’s initial drive was the first opening drive touchdown pass by a UA quarterback in his first career start since Bryce Young against Miami in 2021
• Simpson managed 254 passing yards in his first career start, the fifth-most for a UA quarterback in his starting debut in program history
• Josh Cuevas’ receiving touchdown in the first quarter was his first receiving score since last year at Wisconsin (Sept. 14, 2024)
• Germie Bernard finished with eight receptions and 146 yards, eclipsing 100-plus receiving yards for the second time in his Alabama career
• Bernard set new career-bests in both receptions (8) and receiving yards (146) on Saturday
• Bernard is UA’s first 100-plus yard receiver since his own performance against Auburn on Nov. 30, 2024
• Conor Talty’s 40-yard field goal in the third quarter was the first made field goal of his Alabama career
• Keon Sabb recorded a sack in the fourth quarter, his first in an Alabama uniform

How It Happened

First Quarter

• 6:10 – UA | In its first drive of the new season, Alabama capped an extended 16-play, 75-yard drive with Ty Simpson finding Josh Cuevas for a two-yard touchdown pass (7-0, Alabama).
• 3:04 – FSU | The Seminoles leveled the score on the ensuing possession, finding the end zone with a nine-yard rushing score to close a seven-play, 75-yard drive (7-7).

Second Quarter

• 9:13 – FSU | Following a UA missed field goal, Florida State managed an eight-play, 65-yard drive, finding the end zone with a 32-yard rushing touchdown (14-7, Florida State).
• 3:44 – FSU | The Seminoles added on to the lead, connecting on a 45-yard field goal (17-7, Florida State).

Third Quarter

• 9:13 – FSU | Florida State took advantage of an Alabama turnover on downs, needing just two plays to cover 68 yards, scoring with a two-yard touchdown run (24-7, Florida State).
• 5:59 – UA | Alabama answered the FSU touchdown with a 12-play, 53-yard drive that ended with Conor Talty splitting the uprights from 40 yards out (24-10, Florida State).

Fourth Quarter

• 11:00 – UA | Simpson produced his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, linking up with Rico Scott for a six-yard touchdown score to put an end to a seven-play, 63-yard drive (24-17, Florida State).
• 7:17 – FSU | The Seminoles padded their lead with a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive, closing the possession with a 14-yard rushing touchdown (31-17, Florida State).

Up Next

• Alabama will make its home debut against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Sept. 6
• Kickoff between the Crimson Tide and Warhawks is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. CT on SEC Network