Florida State is already flying high with their new starting quarterback, Thomas Castellanos, who seems very confident heading into the new season. It’s good to see that the team is already giving us the feeling that a new season is knocking at our door.
By the way, some might argue that Castellanos sounds a bit overconfident about their season opener against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The fun part is that he also mentioned the reason behind his confidence. It’s Nick Saban, who is no longer the head coach of the Crimson Tide.
The Dual-Threat QB Thomas Castellanos Doesn’t See Alabama Stopping Him
Boston College transfer Castellanos has thrown the first punch, hinting that college football is once again nearing a championship-level showdown. But following his bold statement, legendary coach Saban became the center of conversation.
Saban, as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, earned six of his seven national championship titles. Maybe Castellanos doesn’t want to admit it, but he couldn’t help acknowledging Saban’s legacy in a serious tone.
The 21-year-old QB made his message clear to Pete Nakos ahead of FSU’s highly anticipated Week 1 face-off with Alabama. He said, “I dreamed of playing against Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them.” He appears confident, and it’s clear he does not fear Alabama’s new head coach, Kalen DeBoer, the way he feared Saban.
NEW: Florida State QB Thomas Castellanos tells @PeteNakos_ he’s dreamed of playing against Alabama🍢
“They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”https://t.co/emSKxktkB1 pic.twitter.com/MMz1I6a4OT
— On3 (@On3sports) June 23, 2025
The dual-threat quarterback is about to play for his third college football program, joining Florida State in December 2024 after previous stops at UCF and Boston College. Standing at 5-foot-11, he has racked up over 3,600 passing yards, 19 interceptions, and 33 total touchdowns across two seasons with Boston.
But his second season with Boston was not compelling at all, as he was benched in November due to injury and performance issues. However, under head coach Mike Norvell, he now appears to be thriving. Ahead of the season opener, he reaffirmed his stance, saying, “I just don’t see them stopping me.”
The upcoming game between Florida State and Alabama will mark only their sixth all-time meeting. Coach Norvell is looking to bounce back from a disastrous 2–10 season in 2024, while Alabama is regrouping after missing the College Football Playoff.
Not only on paper, but in every way, Alabama performed far better than Florida State last season. It remains to be seen whether Castellanos’ confidence will give the Seminoles the boost they need in the new season.
