Florida State and Alabama are set to play a game with a lot of subplots on Saturday afternoon, but fans will have to wait a little while at least for the much-anticipated matchup to start because of lightning in the Tuscaloosa area.
The 10th-ranked Crimson Tide and Seminoles were supposed to kick off at a little after 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, but that kickoff will be pushed back because of a weather delay. The Florida State football social media account posted the alert about the weather delay, writing that: “Lightning has been detected within 8 miles and we’re in a delay during warmups.”
FSU football’s post also instructed fans to “stay tuned for updates.”
With the Noles and Tide in a delay, Bama fans will have extra time to wonder about that revenge that their team is seeking on Saturday, with that Week 1 loss last season at Florida State still fresh in everybody’s minds.
There is also the backdrop of rumors on the future of Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, who was already on the hot seat going into the 2026 season. There have been recent rumors about former FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher being interested in a return to the program he led to the national championship in 2013.
With possible payback and coaching rumors circulating along with that lightning, Alabama and FSU fans will wait it out until kickoff arrives in Tuscaloosa.
When Florida State and Alabama finally do get under way, it will be a chance for the Crimson Tide to get that payback for that Week 1 loss last season in Tallahassee. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the chances for Bama to get that revenge on the Seminoles in 2026:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
