Paul Finebaum: Everyone Misjudged Alabama
Florida State shocked No. 8 Alabama on Saturday night in Tallahassee, winning 31-17 despite being two-touchdown underdogs. The Seminoles jumped ahead early and maintained control throughout, delivering a major early-season blow to Alabama’s playoff hopes. 
The loss has sparked widespread doubt about Alabama’s chances to reach the College Football Playoff, and SEC analyst Paul Finebaum admitted he didn’t see it coming either.
“I spent a lot of time in Alabama this offseason and had a few chances to be around Kalen DeBoer,” Finebaum told Matt Barrie. “It was easy to believe in what he was saying. He emphasized how important it was to keep his roster intact — and that sounded like a big win.”
Finebaum also pointed out that many insiders, including a respected colleague who played quarterback, came away from Alabama practices convinced the team was elite, aside from some concerns about special teams.
But now Finebaum is questioning everything. “If even the most knowledgeable people were wrong about this team, what should Alabama fans think?” he asked. “Everyone got it wrong.”
He continued, “I didn’t believe Florida State could be that good — but they were. And I couldn’t imagine Alabama being this bad — but they were. Now the conversation shifts. It’s not just about how disappointing Alabama looked — it’s about what happens next. The fan base was all in. Now? They’re starting to back out.”
DeBoer, who signed a massive deal with a $70 million buyout, now faces a tough road ahead. Alabama’s schedule, once considered manageable, suddenly looks much tougher. After facing Wisconsin in a few weeks, the Tide will travel to Georgia by the end of September — a matchup that now looms large.
Beyond Georgia, Alabama still has key matchups against Tennessee (Oct. 18), at South Carolina (Oct. 25), LSU (Nov. 8), and Oklahoma (Nov. 15) — all ranked opponents in preseason polls.
Next up, Alabama will look to get on track in Week 2 with a home game against UL Monroe, kicking off at 7:45 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
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